Frequently Asked Questions
The questions and answers here have been abbreviated to give
information applicable to the largest number of visitors. Therefore, answers
may not include all options available for a given situation. For more specific
information, please leave a comment for us in the Contact Us section or email
us at admin@alufstone.org.
Q: What is Aluf
Stone?
A: Per our mission statement, Aluf Stone is the veterans association of volunteers from outside Israel who served in the Israel
Defense Forces. Please see the About Us
section.
Q: What does Aluf Stone do?
A: Aluf Stone serves as the
organizational platform for sustaining the bonds of friendship between its
members. Additionally, Aluf Stone seeks
to preserve the historical record of contributions made by its members to the
state of Israel
through service in the Israel Defense forces.
Aluf Stone holds quarterly meetings
in the metropolitan New York
area, and encourages chapters from throughout the world to hold meetings as
well. Annually, Aluf Stone commemorates the
contribution and sacrifice of members at the Mickey Marcus Memorial Ceremony at
West Point Military Cemetery. Please see the section on Mickey Marcus.
Aluf Stone also serves the
important function of helping recently discharged veterans adjust to life in
their home communities. If you are a
volunteer that was recently discharged, please Join Now.
Q: Who can join Aluf
Stone?
A: Aluf Stone is a membership organization exclusive to men and
women from all over the world who volunteered in the Israel Defense Forces
(from outside Israel)
for a significant amount of time (9 months or more). Most member of Aluf Stone entered the IDF in one
of the following ways: Aliyah, Machal ’48-’49, Mahal 2000, Mahal Nachal Haredi,
Mahal Hesder, Returning Israeli, Tzofim Garin Tzabar. If this does not describe you, but you think
you should still be a member, please leave a comment in the Contact Us section.
Q: Can non-members
attend events?
A: Some Aluf Stone events are open to family and friends of Aluf
Stone members. Please speak with a
current member.
Q: Is Aluf Stone part
of the Israel
Defense Forces or the Israeli Government?
A: Aluf Stone is not part of the Israel Defense Forces or the
Israeli Government. Aluf Stone is run by
members, for members.
Q: Who will know if I
am a member?
A: Member names will never be displayed publicly on www.alufstone.org. Member contact information is only searchable in
the password-protected members-only section.
Photographs will be visible on the
public site, unless a member requests otherwise.
Q: Why “Aluf Stone”?
A: Aluf Stone is named after David Daniel
"Mickey" Marcus. Colonel Mickey Marcus, a native New Yorker and a
graduate of West Point, served with
distinction in the U.S. Military in WWII and its aftermath. At the request of
David Ben Gurion, Mickey Marcus volunteered to serve as a strategic military
advisor to the nascent IDF during the 1948 War of Independence. The US War
Department granted leave to Colonel Marcus, a reservist in the US
military, under the condition that he disguise his true name and rank. The
Haganah gave him the code name "Michael Stone" and Ben Gurion
personally named him Israel's
first major general, or "Aluf".
Please see the full biography of Mickey Marcus in the About Us section.
Q: Are there any
obligations once I am a member?
A: There are no obligations for joining
Aluf Stone. However, the true impact of
Aluf Stone membership comes from member participation.
Q: How can I help
Aluf Stone?
A: Aluf Stone appreciates any and
all donations. Donations go towards
website and event costs as well as advertising costs used to attract new
members.
At this time, donations to Aluf
Stone are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes. We plan to apply
for 501(c)(3) status in the future. Please visit our Donation page and make a
donation today using a secure PayPal connection.