Kosher Jerky for Lone Soldiers
A lone soldier, someone serving in the IDF without family in Israel, has no one at home sending the weekend food package other soldiers get. A box of kosher jerky and biltong from abroad is a small way to fill that gap: it keeps for months, needs nothing, and it is a taste of the country they left. Here is what to send and how.
Who lone soldiers are
Lone soldiers (chayalim bodedim) serve in the IDF without immediate family in Israel. Many come from the US, Canada, the UK and elsewhere. On leave, they often return to an empty apartment or a kibbutz room rather than a family home, which makes practical support from abroad matter more.
Why dried beef suits them
- No fridge or kitchen. Base life and a shared apartment both suit shelf-stable food.
- Keeps for months sealed. One package lasts.
- Protein. Soldiers burn a lot.
- A taste of home. American-style jerky, or biltong for South African soldiers, is hard to find in Israel.
What to send one soldier
| Package | Contents |
|---|---|
| A thank-you | A sampler and a few minis |
| A month's supply | About 1 lb in sealed minis, mixed flavors |
| For the apartment | A pound of bulk sliced to share with roommates |
For amounts for a whole unit, see how much biltong to send in a soldiers' care package.
Getting it there
- We ship within the US only, so send it through an organization that collects in the US, or with someone flying over.
- Check current rules on importing meat before ordering.
- Several organizations support lone soldiers with packages and housing. Ask them what they accept and where to send it.
- Some units and organizations specify accepted kashrut certifications. Check ours against their list.
Sending from a community
Shuls and schools often adopt lone soldiers. For a group order, see running a community care-package drive, or talk to us.
See our certified Glatt Kosher kosher beef jerky and biltong.
Try it: Kosher Jerky Care Package Planner. Enter how many people and how long; get the number of minis.
