For so many young Israelis, finishing the army isn’t just the end of one chapter — it’s the beginning of another. Within weeks of trading uniforms for backpacks, thousands set off across South America, India, the Far East, or even closer to home, searching for freedom, identity, and sometimes a bit of healing. What is it about post-army travel that makes it such a defining rite of passage in Israeli life? And what does this journey reveal about Israeli culture itself?

Today on Sababoosh, we’re diving into one of the most iconic rites of passage in Israeli life: the post-army backpacking trip.

To help us unpack this cultural phenomenon, we’re joined by Professor Chaim Noy. His doctoral research examined the travel narratives of Israeli backpackers. Professor Noy is the Chair of the School of Communication at Bar-Ilan University, now in his fifth year in that role. He previously served as Chairperson of the Israeli Communication Association, and before that, spent several years as a tenured associate professor at the University of South Florida.