Find out what one Woodsburgh family is doing in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces

When Woodsburgh resident Mario Alex Joseph volunteered with Sar-El, an Israel-based organization that helps with logistical support on Israel Defense Forces bases he didn’t know he would making a connection for his family’s small business.

From Feb. 1 to 8, Joseph was part of roughly 40 volunteers from around the world — many are Jewish, many are not, all over 35 — he said that were assigned to the Tze’elim IDF training base in the Negev Desert. The volunteers also regrouped in a Bedouin area in the desert.

“I felt like an 18-year-old,” Joseph said about being embedded with the unit even if it was just for a week. “The experiences were life-changing. Being where the music festival was wearing an IDF uniform, the people that were there grieving.”

The Re’im music festival was the site of the first Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

“Being there it was hard to speak,” he added about seeing what he called a “killing field,” saying that he thought about, “where I fit into the chains of time.”

One of those links of time fell into Joseph’s lap as he struck up a conversation with an IDF soldier who was not as interested in what Joseph does for a living — he’s a matrimonial attorney — as much as what Joseph and his children do as a “fun business.”

“The soldier said that’s badass,” Joseph said about HoodSkulls® that designs and markets after market products such as hood accessories for Jeeps, Broncos and trucks. “That is validating and so a day went by, I said, I would love to outfit these Rubicons, she already contacted some people.”

In April, whether in person or by freight, Joseph and his kids: Samuel and Serena, both Queens College students and Sophia, who attends Cooper Union, will be donating up to 40 products for the base’s small fleet of Jeep Rubicons.

For the kids, who all wanted to join the IDF during their gap year between high school and college and didn’t because of their parents’ concerns, being able to contribute like this is thrilling. All three sent quotes through Facebook Messenger.

“We are proud Jews who believe in Israel’s right to defend herself,” Samuel said. “Our teams feels privileged to be contributing to the IDF and hopes to continue our partnership with the Israeli Army long after Hamas and its allies can only be found in the archives of history.”

Serena who is applying to law school said: “In these challenging times it’s a privilege to contribute, in our own unique way, to the brave men and women who defend our homeland every day. Our support is a symbol of our heartfelt gratitude and solidarity with the IDF, who protect our home country with courage and dedication.”

“We are beyond thrilled to share our design and support for the IDF, adding badassery to an already badass unit,” Sophia said.

Another deal could be cooking as well. On the last day that Joseph was on the base, he began talking with a IDF colonel after noticing his hat didn’t match his uniform. The colonel was wearing the hat of a friend who is a U.S. Marine.

The conversation continued, and once again the colonel was not stirred by Joseph’s profession as much as HoodSkulls®.

The colonel then told Joseph about his son, Omer Pearl, part of the Israeli team that raced in the Dakar Rally that was in Saudi Arabia this year. The two have exchanged texts.

“So proud to be part of this family and parent to these kids,” said mother and wife, Naomi.