Monday night, this university became the first college to screen Jerusalem U’s new movie, Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front.
Jerusalem U makes films to educate and empower millions of people across the globe and ensure a connection to Israel and Judaism. Beneath the Helmet is a coming-of-age story about five Israeli high school graduates who are starting the next chapter of their lives: becoming Israel Defense Forces paratroopers.
In Israel, most high school graduates must join and serve in the Israel Defense Forces. They have the option to join immediately after graduation or take a year off by participating in a yearlong preparatory army leadership program.
First Lt. (Res.) Aviv Regev, 24, whom the film featured as an Israeli deputy platoon commander, attended the screening in the Hoff Theater, hosted by Shalom Zionists, also known as “SHAZAM,” and discussed his experiences in the Israeli army with the audience of about 40 people.
Regev was 19 when he enlisted in the army and he commanded about 300 soldiers during his service.
After four years and four months serving Israel as a soldier, Regev paired with Jerusalem U. Now, he is traveling across the country to show the movie and speak with audiences.
“It’s incredible to have your story turned into a film,” Regev said. “Having the opportunity to share it with students makes it even more amazing.”
Beneath the Helmet depicts how “young men and women are protecting not only their homes, but the shared values of peace, equality, opportunity, democracy, religious tolerance and women’s rights,” according to the film’s website.
“Always being a human, no matter what position you are, is the most important lesson I grasped in the army,” Regev said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re talking to or who you’re commanding; whether it’s a cook or truck driver, they have problems too and need to be treated with respect.”
The filmmakers at Jerusalem U were granted unprecedented access to the lives of these young people, who were away from their families and homes while training to defend Israel.
The film showed scenes of the eight-month program for paratrooper basic training.
“I felt as if I had really watched them go through their training,” senior kinesiology major Sara Schankerman said. “I felt proud of them. They reached a huge accomplishment, and it was so amazing to see it.”
Regev said he hopes viewers of Beneath the Helmet take inspiration from the movie and recognize the strength of human spirit the movie shows.
“I don’t like to say I spent my time, but rather that I invested my years,” Regev said. “The skills I got from the army will be with me for the rest of my life. I did a lot of growing up in a short time.”
