Comments on A blank checkTypePad2009-12-21T11:01:37ZDavid Bognerhttps://www.treppenwitz.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.treppenwitz.com/2009/12/a-blank-check/comments/atom.xml/359 Officers commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a77cf18a970b2009-12-25T19:02:23Z2009-12-25T19:02:23Z359 OfficersThe IDF is very lucky. We were given the same "check" four years ago and went very far with it....<p>The IDF is very lucky. We were given the same "check" four years ago and went very far with it. Good luck, Meir, from all of your friends at WFD. Kol Tuv.</p>
<p>-EK & SAM</p>Alissa commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a772b7de970b2009-12-22T18:45:33Z2009-12-22T18:45:33ZAlissahttp://altmanaliyah.blogspot.com/Sometimes with Sar-El (the volunteer army program), you get more than you bargain for - like having your very first...<p>Sometimes with Sar-El (the volunteer army program), you get more than you bargain for - like having your very first day of your two-week service be the day after the IDF goes into Gaza.</p>
<p>My friend who experienced this did much more than warehouse work; his tasks, while menial, were crucial and freed up soldiers who would have otherwise been stuck doing these jobs (and likely would have been frothing at the mouth in frustration at not being "in it," if I know soldiers). His intended 8 hour days turned into much more. On top of this, my friend was asked/ordered to stay an extra week. Which he gladly did. </p>
<p>Of course this doesn't compare to real army service, and usually it is menial chores, but sometimes it's not. And in Israel, you never know when it might be "not."</p>
<p>Anyhoo, beautiful post. And the "blank cheque" is a beautiful, and apt, analogy. Thank you. And thank you Beth, Bobby and Meir.</p>Noa commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef01287675677b970c2009-12-22T17:12:18Z2009-12-22T17:12:18ZNoaWhat a wonderful post. Tell Meir that if he decides to do the Kiwi holiday thing after Army service, there...<p>What a wonderful post. Tell Meir that if he decides to do the Kiwi holiday thing after Army service, there is always a bed for him with us. My hubby also did the Volunteers for Israel programme, and thoroughly enjoyed serving in this way.</p>Noa commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef012876756778970c2009-12-22T17:12:15Z2009-12-22T17:12:15ZNoaWhat a wonderful post. Tell Meir that if he decides to do the Kiwi holiday thing after Army service, there...<p>What a wonderful post. Tell Meir that if he decides to do the Kiwi holiday thing after Army service, there is always a bed for him with us. My hubby also did the Volunteers for Israel programme, and thoroughly enjoyed serving in this way.</p>Ofra Leon commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a770cfbc970b2009-12-22T06:16:32Z2009-12-22T06:16:32ZOfra LeonAnother P.S. At the ripe old age of 50 I deed the 'Volunteers for Israel' program myself just days before...<p>Another P.S.<br />
At the ripe old age of 50 I deed the 'Volunteers for Israel' program myself just days before the break of the first Intifada. No warehouse work for me, they put me to do repair work on tanks and millitary vehicles as well as assambling metal protective gear against rocks and granades on jeeps befor sending them to the Gaza strip. </p>Ofra Leon commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef01287673cfcc970c2009-12-22T06:06:40Z2009-12-22T06:06:40ZOfra Leon" Yes, but your son is a big time officer/doctor. You think they're going to waste taht kind of talent?!...<p>" Yes, but your son is a big time officer/doctor. You think they're going to waste taht kind of talent?! :-)"</p>
<p>Trepp, my son wasn't borne a big time officer/doctor. He did duty in Lebanon, yehuda and shomron and gaza in the worst of times both as a tank commander and as a doctor and he is not yet tired of it/ </p>Baila commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef012876721523970c2009-12-21T21:26:10Z2009-12-21T21:26:10ZBailahttp://www.illcallbaila.blogspot.comI smiled when I saw that picture. We actually know Meir, he grew up in the same shul we "grew...<p>I smiled when I saw that picture. We actually know Meir, he grew up in the same shul we "grew up" in back in the old country. He worked with youth groups in the shul (maybe he actually ran them, I don't recall) when my kids were attending. A really nice guy. We were thrilled to run into him a while back at a bar mitzvah when he told us of his army plans. We wish him all the best as he embarks on his army service.</p>val commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef01287671cebd970c2009-12-21T20:12:53Z2009-12-21T20:12:53Zvalhttp://bogieval.blogs.com/valcentric/Very nice.<p>Very nice.</p>Sarah commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76e8ef3970b2009-12-21T19:14:45Z2009-12-21T19:14:45ZSarahhttp://www.chayyeisarah.blogspot.comWah! Tears in my eyes!<p>Wah! Tears in my eyes!</p>Noa commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef012876717644970c2009-12-21T18:35:48Z2009-12-21T18:35:48ZNoaKol Hakavod to Meir...having gotten to know him peripherally over the past few months, I think your couch will be...<p>Kol Hakavod to Meir...having gotten to know him peripherally over the past few months, I think your couch will be missing a pair of butt cheeks--but let's hope those smiling female soldiers make good use of them! Giyus kal!</p>treppenwitz commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76e531e970b2009-12-21T18:08:43Z2009-12-21T18:08:43Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.comroberti ... I'm curious about your math. Please show your work. :-) chairwoman ... If it makes you feel any...<p>roberti ... I'm curious about your math. Please show your work. :-)</p>
<p>chairwoman ... If it makes you feel any better, I think I made his mother cry too. :-)</p>
<p>Ofra Leon... Yes, but your son is a big time officer/doctor. You think they're going to waste taht kind of talent?! :-)</p>
<p>Ilana-Davita... The program you are talking about is 'Volunteers for Israel'. While a very nice program, it is not really army service. Generally participants work on a base doign warehouse work or other menial tasks. The MACHAL program is real army service (in this case in a combat unit) with a minimum committment of 18 months. <br />
</p>Ilana-Davita commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76e4713970b2009-12-21T17:54:12Z2009-12-21T17:54:12ZIlana-Davitahttp://ilanadavita.wordpress.com/Beautiful post. It reminded me of some friends who traveled to Israel about five years ago and served in the...<p>Beautiful post. It reminded me of some friends who traveled to Israel about five years ago and served in the army for a few weeks, although neither of them is Israeli. They were about 65 at the time.</p>Ofra Leon commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0128767147ee970c2009-12-21T17:38:04Z2009-12-21T17:38:04ZOfra LeonP.S. When the IDF draws on on the check, the "check" is happy to oblige :)<p>P.S.<br />
When the IDF draws on on the check, the "check" is happy to oblige :)</p>Ofra Leon commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76ddc52970b2009-12-21T15:55:55Z2009-12-21T15:55:55ZOfra LeonI gave such a blank check myself 25 years ego and the IDF is stil drawing on it to this...<p>I gave such a blank check myself 25 years ego and the IDF is stil drawing on it to this day.</p>chairwoman commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76dd89d970b2009-12-21T15:52:29Z2009-12-21T15:52:29Zchairwomanhttp://www.chairwoman-of-the-bored.blogspot.comTears to my eyes, David B.<p>Tears to my eyes, David B.</p>roberti commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76d9f9a970b2009-12-21T14:50:25Z2009-12-21T14:50:25Zrobertii'm glad david didn't ask us; because we would not have wanted him not to write anything- but we are...<p>i'm glad david didn't ask us; because we would not have wanted him not to write anything- but we are happy he did- and especially happy to see that picture- and besides- meir deserves 89% of the credit anyway-</p>treppenwitz commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76d9110970b2009-12-21T14:31:58Z2009-12-21T14:31:58Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.comVicki... Especially in light of the number of Israeli teens who dodge the draft... it's nice to see someone who...<p>Vicki... Especially in light of the number of Israeli teens who dodge the draft... it's nice to see someone who isn't obligated volunteering to serve.</p>
<p>Rabba bar bar Chana... Actually I don't ask them. But I thought they would want to see their son's smiling face as he walks into his first morning of army service. Being abroad they missed out on this oh-so-Israeli experience.<br />
</p>Rabba bar bar Chana commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef012876708d72970c2009-12-21T14:18:03Z2009-12-21T14:18:03ZRabba bar bar Chanahttp://toratezra.blogspot.comIt's wonderful to hear about such generous and giving people. But if they wanted to give quietly and without publicity,...<p>It's wonderful to hear about such generous and giving people. But if they wanted to give quietly and without publicity, is it ok with them that you're publicizing it on your blog?</p>Vicki commented on 'A blank check'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0120a76d7158970b2009-12-21T13:50:52Z2009-12-21T13:50:52ZVickihttp://www.vickiboykis.comExtremely touching post and way to put perspective on the situation. I've known many such blank checks and all are...<p>Extremely touching post and way to put perspective on the situation. I've known many such blank checks and all are extremely commendable. </p>