Soldier Looks Out For Friends

By COLlive reporter

What began through a sense of camaraderie and love between fellow Lubavitchers serving in the Israeli army, has blossomed into a full-fledged home away from home.

With numerous Jewish young adults enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the diaspora – a nice amount of them from Chabad families, a special title has been coined for them: Chayalim bodedim (lone soldiers).

After arriving in Israel with little or no money and few, if any, relatives to turn to, life in Israel can be challenging at best, says Mordechai Botnick, 20, who was honorably discharged from the IDF after earning the rank of Sergeant.

The little money these soldiers receive from the army is hardly enough to cover basic necessities, let alone a proper Shabbos or Yom Tov meal, the Canadian native says.

Seeing the need, Botnick opened an organization called “The Rebbe’s Infantry” from his apartment in the Nachlaot neighborhood in Jerusalem and devotes his time to filling a gap, the effects of which he experienced first-hand when he first came from Ottawa.

“Our mandate is to provide lone soldiers with a warm, loving and inspiring Shabbos meal in a Chassidish atmosphere,” he tells COLlive.com.

From the first glimpse of the Shabbos candles and a melodious Sholom Aleichem to dessert; from fish, salads, chicken and cholent to inspiring nigunim, l’chaims and farbrengens, Botnick wishes to provide these unique soldiers with an inspiring Shabbos and Yom Tov.

“These meals have actually been one of the biggest things I’ve looked forward to during the hard weeks of training,” says Shmuly Holzman of Crown Heights, praising Botnick’s culinary skills.

For others, it was not only the good food. “Mordy’s is where I can call home, where a soldier can always find a listening ear and a home cooked meal,” says a fellow Canadian, Zushi Goldberg of Toronto.

Gedaliah Ort of Monsey, NY said he’s had “tiresome weeks in the army with stress and hardship, and Mordy’s meals have been a major source of joy, Torah, inspiration and friendship, for me and many other boys guarding Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.”

MOVING ON

While Botnick plans to begin stuying for smicha rabbinical ordination, he says he’s invested in this project that began a year ago.

“I was brought up in Ottawa where my father is a Shliach,” he says. “There are currently around 50 non Israeli Lubavitchers serving in the IDF and someone needs to look out for those who are putting their lives on the line for other Jews.”

He is asking the public to support the cause with donations that will allow him to better coordinate and deliver the following services: Guest speakers to encourage religious interaction, meals and farbrengens, financial assistance for soldiers in dire need and a relaxed chassidishe home away from home.

“Mordy’s is a place where I don’t have to feel awkwardly out of place like some lone soldier at meals. I really feel like I’m supposed to be there, like I’m with family,” said Avi Stein of Los Angeles, CA.

To support this endeavor, send a check to Mordy Botnick, 309 Crown St. Brooklyn NY 11225 or send a donation via PayPal, acct. [email protected].