When family is thousands of miles away, even a small gift can feel like a warm embrace: Lone soldiers serving in northern Israel were surprised on their birthdays with personal gifts sent directly to them from Los Angeles.
1+Behind the heartwarming surprise are volunteers from the “Otzma LaChayal” initiative. Ahead of the soldiers’ birthdays, volunteers coordinated with their families in the United States to collect personal gifts and surprises, delivering them straight to their bases in northern Israel. Alongside the packages from home, the soldiers received gift vouchers and treats—along with a powerful reminder that even when home is on the other side of the world, family remains close. Ido, one of the surprised soldiers, shared: “The moment I saw the gift from my family in Los Angeles, I was truly moved. For a second, I felt like they were right here with me. It’s a hug from home I won’t ever forget.”
1+Shani, who was also surprised on her birthday, struggled to hold back her emotion: “Wow, thank you so much. You really don’t understand how much this means to me. I wasn’t expecting this at all, especially with my family being so far away. You made my day.” Yigal, a combat fighter in a reconnaissance unit, recalled coming back from field training to find the surprise waiting: “Wow, I came back from training and suddenly saw everything you prepared, with all the soldiers gathered together. I genuinely didn’t expect it—it was an incredible and moving moment.”