JERUSALEM (JTA) — About 30 Americans who serve in Israel’s military attended a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the American Jewish Committee.
The Nov. 25 dinner for the lone soldiers, as the Americans who come alone to Israel and serve in the army are known, was held at the AJC offices in Jerusalem. The soldiers were from several Israel Defense Forces units.
It marked the ninth consecutive year that AJC has hosted the meal "as a means of saying thank you for answering the call to serve and protect the people of Israel," according to the organization.
A seat at the table remained empty in honor of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza for five years.
