Hi,
I did write to you about the many donations we got, but those are all things sent to us by good people. The next step is asking for donations for things you wish to have, or better say to Shnor.
This word, like many more in Hebrew, comes from Yiddish. It was used to describe how the Old Yishuv lived on donations money from Jews abroad and were not productive. As you can understand from the connection, this word has a negative connection. The phrase Shnor culture refers to communities that prefer to live on donations than working (like Ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel). The Shnor was sometimes used by Jews to steal money collected for other, as Hayim Nahman Bialik mentioned in his poem In the City of Slaughter (as happened here when people collected money for soldiers and the people of Gaza surroundings).
At this point, we are acting as the Old Yishuv, asking for Shnor from Jews abroad for fighting gear. Yes, it is different, but it is still an issue as we now ask fighting gear, as the IDF is missing equipment (makes sense as this is the largest emergency drafting ever).
You can say it is because we are just a regular battilion. But those are also elite units asking for Shnor for soldiers. For example, asking for donations of Lowa shoes for a company just finished her training.
I can say from first hand that it is not only for the war (but has been increased in this war) and most, if not all, of elite units are Shnor for equipment such as shoes, leathermans, and softshells.
Take Care
Gad
Our Haix shoes we had Shnor from US communities
A Whatsapp massage asking for Shnor for Lowa shoes for a company just finished her training.