Some of my friends have granddaughters who are going into the army this week, and they are worried that they will not be able to share anything with them in the future. I had to comfort them – that their jobs were just beginning. There is lousy food in the army. And such small portions! So they will not only have to send care packages every week, but they will also be going to the base on Saturdays with lunch. We always called that the Shnitzel patrol.

And on the weekend that they come home, they bring back all their laundry and it has to be done before they go back to the base. Ironed.

Whatever the fierce appearance of the Israeli army – it is based on parents who cook and clean and iron, parents who make sure there are warm socks and good hiking boots, parents who listen to the complaints about the mean commander.