Israel and the IDF represent a diverse and multi-ethnic country and army, home to a multitude of cultures, races, and religions.
Israel, though, is predominantly Jewish because Israel is the biblical homeland and the vibrant heart of Jewish tradition.
In a world so vast and populous, the Jewish nation is minuscule, comprising just 0.2% of the global population, or around 14 million people. To put this in perspective, New York City alone is home to over 8 million residents, the same amount of Jews living in Israel.
Because of this, every Jew is sacred and valuable, and each new member added to the ranks is cherished.
This sentiment is shown by the pure emotions exhibited on this IDF soldier’s face as she recites the Shema to complete her conversion.