Expo Tel Aviv Hosts Massive Errands Day for IDF Lone Soldiers
Expo Tel Aviv hosted a massive Errands Day for over 8,000 lone soldiers serving in the IDF, offering centralized government and bureaucratic services under one roof.
More than 8,000 lone soldiers currently serve in the Israel Defense Forces, including over 3,300 new immigrants who chose to move to Israel alone without family support. Beyond the rigorous demands of military service and ongoing combat operations, these soldiers must independently manage housing, bureaucracy, legal documents, and daily life in Israel.
To address these challenges, the annual Lone Soldier Appreciation Week concluded with a massive 'Errands Day' event at Expo Tel Aviv. Organized by the IDF, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), Nefesh B'Nefesh, and the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers, the event brought together more than 70 government ministries and service providers under one roof.
Key government agencies, including the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Population and Immigration Authority, and the Ministry of Transport, set up mobile service stations to process driver's license conversions, issue biometric passports and identity cards, and assist with immigrant rights. The event spared soldiers from navigating complex bureaucratic hurdles on their own.
"Lone soldiers leave behind their families, friends, and entire lives abroad to serve Israel," said Shraga Weisman, director of the Nefesh B'Nefesh and FIDF lone soldier program. "Errands Day ensures they do not have to face bureaucracy alone, showing them that Israeli society deeply appreciates their dedication."
