Israel – The Dance Between The Tanks On The Israeli-Lebanese Border

Israel – On the Israeli-Lebanese border, Uriel Kramer is in uniform, trying to defend the region from Hezbollah’s rockets. “If they’re shooting Katyushas, we are going to be here,” Kramer, 35, says. “If somebody is shooting at me, I want to stop them shooting.”

Kramer is part of a recent call-up of thousands of reservists to fight Hezbollah militants. He is part of a forward artillery and tank unit pounding shells into southern Lebanon, to push Hezbollah from the border.

As Kramer works the tanks that fire, a surreal scene unfolds. About 35 Breslov Chasidic Jews from Tzfas arrive in vans with loudspeakers blaring chants to their founder, Rabbi Nachman, set to Israeli disco music. The group stops and begins dancing and chanting atop the vans. They dance among the soldiers, some of whom dance with them.

When a tank’s cannon roars, one of the dancers jumps in surprise, then starts gyrating again. Others pass out Torahs and white caps emblazoned with their chant.

Kramer explains over the roar of guns and the blare of disco music and loudspeaker chanting. “They believe, you will be as happy as them without needing any money. “But they are very funny people — they are dancing and happy, and they will talk to anyone. They are very cute.”

Kramer reiterates he will stay here as long as it takes to make his country safe.

“Believe me, I want to go home, though,” he admits. “than here, dirty without showering” for a week.