Why The ISO?

The ISO is unique in that it speaks directly to Israel’s very existence—without the small percentage of citizens deployed for combat, Israel could not defend her borders or maintain a sovereign, democratic state. The ISO recognizes that for the Israel Defense Forces to operate with full devotion and energy, that same devotion and energy must be sent right back. We deliver this in the form of on-site entertainment, care packages, letters, and other tangible proofs that people all over the world have the soldiers in their hearts.

Our inspiration for the organization comes from the United Service Organization (USO). Every year, the United Service Organizations (USO) spends more than $35 million to ensure that American troops are well stocked not just in ammunition and training, but also in morale and spirit. Its mission statement speaks of “extending a touch of home to the military” (uso.org), and at the ISO we take the service a step further for the Israeli forces. We provide a touch of love from all over the world. Recent articles featured in mainstream Israeli and American newspapers have written about the problem of morale within the Israeli military. Our mission is to make sure that every soldier feels like a hero.

In addition, the ISO acts to combat the anti-Israel and anti-IDF media bias which is a vital service in building morale and assuring that soldiers remain in high spirits. The ISO also works to educate the public about how the Israeli soldiers react bravely and honorably in the face of real-time ethical and moral dilemmas. They endanger themselves to limit collateral damage, and, with your help, we can let the soldiers know that they are not forgotten.