The journey, which was established following the death of a combat soldier from the unit, Staff Sergeant Ronen Lubarsky Z"L, became a national tradition in recent years.
This year will be the seventh year it is held, with the event taking a place of honor on the values-educational calendar of the State of Israel. This year as well, about 1,200 participants took part in it – high school students, youth group members, pre-military preparatory programs, combat fitness groups, present day combat soldiers and the families of the fallen soldiers.
The journey begins at Yad La-Shiryon at Latrun, goes through combat heritage and Jewish identity sites, and ends with an emotional ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem (including a stop at Mount Herzl). This is a personal and group journey, an in-depth experiential event, which combines a physical and mental challenge, alongside the installment of national Zionist values.
The journey emphasizes six central values: Zionism, solidarity and giving, camaraderie, responsibility, excellence and persistence. The families of the fallen soldiers, their brothers at arms and the KKL-JNF guides led the values content. Each group carried the flags of Israel and unique flags bearing the names of the fallen soldiers, in whose light they marched.
Photograph: Courtesy of the "LeOro" Association
Ifat Ovadia Luski, KKL-JNF Chairwoman: "Keren Kayemet LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund is proud to take part in this significant and values-laden initiative of the journey together with the Duvdevan Association and the "LeOro" Association. In the journey taking place on this seventh year, we are actually walking in the paths of heroes. This is a journey of commemoration and commitment, a journey into the depths of Israeli identity, into the deep roots of heroism, and into the duty of every generation to bear the torch forward".
Tamar Edrei-Dahan, Director-General of the Duvdevan Association adds: "The choice of the participants to go on the journey is a choice to continue in the footsteps of the fallen soldiers – a pathway of camaraderie, dedication and values – out of a commitment to Israeli society. The same commitment is imprinted onto the DNA of those who serve in the Duvdevan Unit and its graduates, the same commitment that is expressed in practice in the lives of the unit's fallen soldiers. I thank the families that collaborate with us and choose to take part in the activities of the Duvdevan Association throughout the year, and hand us the most valuable thing – the memory of their sons".
Photograph: Courtesy of the "LeOro" Association
The journey, which is the high point of the annual educational activity (of the "LeOro" Association in full and emotional cooperation with Keren Kayemet LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund and the Duvdevan Association), not only commemorates the fallen soldiers, but also awakens a sense of belonging, responsibility and Jewish identity within the participants' consciousness. This, out of a choice to act and work for the society and the state, in their light.
The goal of the "LeOram" journey, is to strengthen the Israeli identity among teenagers – eying significant military service.
After all, being Israeli means: understanding that our past was written in sacrifice, the present with action, and the future – is in our hands. Together.