"Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front," a poignant coming-of-age documentary film, will be shown at Congregation Ohev Shalom on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, at 7 p.m. Most of the film is in Hebrew with English subtitles. This documentary follows five diverse Israeli high school graduates as they enter the army at age 18. Through this compelling documentary you begin to truly understand and digest the fact that in their young hands, and others like them, rests the responsibility of protecting and defending Israel.

From surfing and making music on the beach one day, to packing up, leaving home and family the next to begin training in the IDF, we see the difference between our 18-year-olds looking forward to college and university life in the United States, and their counterparts in Israel.

Following the film, an IDF soldier, brought to Orlando by the Friends of the IDF, will speak and answer questions.

This film, a program of Congregation Ohev Shalom's Israel Advocacy Committee, is co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and Friends of the IDF. It will be shown free of charge and the entire community is invited to attend. "We hope parents will bring their teenagers to see this documentary," stated Daniel Coultoff, a member of the committee. "We want our kids to connect to Israel, to know its history, and value Israel's role in our lives as Jews and as Americans."

The documentary has been screened on over 100 U.S. university campuses as well as in Jewish Film Festivals across the country. "The side-by-side blending of strength with humanitarian values is one the IDF pursues. We are very pleased to be bringing this message and this film to Orlando," commented Rikki Hanin, another member of the Ohev Shalom Israel Advocacy Committee.

Come a little early on Jan. 24 and pick up information from various pro Israel Organizations in Orlando, and speak to some of their members. AIPAC, Friends of the IDF, JNF, Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and the Zionistas plan to participate.