The subject of “lone soldiers” has come to light during the current war in Gaza. A “lone soldier” is a soldier in the IDF who has no family in Israel to support him or her. They could be a new immigrant, a volunteer from abroad, an orphan, or an individual from a broken home. Recently, a heartbreaking letter was sent to “Nevut,” an organization that was founded in 2017 to facilitate the successful transition of IDF Lone Soldier Veterans into civilian life by providing essential resources, programming, and support. The soldier wrote:
“I am a sergeant in the IDF reserves. Since leaving the army in 2020, I have lost many friends. I didn’t lose them to terror attacks or natural causes. I lost them to suicide. Since my release from reserve duty in January, I have already lost several friends. Being in a war is something that most people can’t imagine. You can see pictures, videos, and read news reports, but you can’t see or feel the rounds of ammunition flying past your head. We watched our friends dying in our arms. We were released from reserve duty and are trying our hardest to go back to civilian life. We try to be calm and sleep at night. We try to forget the images of our friends being killed. We try to get over the sadness and madness of war.”
To fill the unique needs of Lone Soldiers, such as the one in the letter, Nevut seeks to connect these soldiers with others to form a community of like-minded people who have experienced the same situations: comrades who can understand the thoughts, emotions, and reactions of their brothers in arms because they have been there too. Since its inception, Nevut has helped many soldiers in all aspects of their lives. They help soldiers pay for therapy, provide support for chagim, and find them places to sleep or give them a respite from the brutal realities of a world ravaged by the horrendous attacks of October 7 and the ensuing war.
With the war still ongoing, the psychological repercussions on the soldiers and their spouses and families have become a paramount concern. Recognizing the profound impact of such conflict on mental health, Nevut introduced a comprehensive training program in Psychological First Aid that aims to equip participants with essential skills to support and provide psychological assistance to those affected by the war.
Divided into three modules, the program addresses the unique challenges faced by parents, spouses, and the soldiers themselves, offering practical tools to navigate the emotional fallout of the current crisis.
The number of soldiers struggling with their mental health is soaring. Active-duty soldiers, reservists, and even veterans who fought in previous wars are grappling with newly-ignited PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Nevut is taking the lead to ensure that these heroes receive the listening ear, resources, support, and healing they so desperately need. Nevut’s dedicated staff works closely with social workers and mental health professionals to address the needs of the soldiers. Additionally, the organization provides support to soldiers’ spouses and parents at no charge through a team of dedicated mental health professionals who have offered services to Nevut.
Nevut’s Tzemed program pairs soldiers and facilitates a “buddy” system whereby they can connect and relate to each other’s struggles and experiences, building a relationship with one another and checking in with each other. Soldiers, spouses, and parents also form their own group chats to provide support.
However, the greatest impact is seen in Nevut’s events and retreats, such as their recent Shabbaton at Hunter Mountain.
At the helm of this organization is Rabbi Ari Abramowitz, Nevut’s founder and executive director. Possessing a passion to provide lone soldier veterans with all the resources they need for a smooth, seamless transition into civilian life, Ari is dedicated to providing every Nevut member with an empowering and uplifting experience. That he feels their pain is not surprising. From 2009 to 2019, he served as a lone soldier in the Kfir Combat Unit of the IDF and is now part of the Carmeli Brigade Reserve Unit, still returning yearly for miluim. After completing his service and settling back into life in Monsey, he began noticing the challenges faced by the other lone soldiers he knew. “We were no longer in Israel, where there is a natural understanding and appreciation for veterans,” he said. “Additionally, we lacked the support systems available to U.S. Army veterans in the United States. We found ourselves basically alone, navigating the transition from military to civilian life.”
For many lone soldiers, the sudden transition to civilian life represents an enormous hurdle that they can’t handle alone. Accustomed to the structure, purpose, and camaraderie of military life, they leave the military feeling alone and devoid of purpose, often battling the huge challenge of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, Ari discovered that over 600 lone soldiers were returning to America each year. Spurred to action, he founded Nevut, which means “to navigate” in Hebrew, to facilitate their transition into civilian life by providing essential resources and support. Nevut has recently expanded its mission to assist young men and women through the IDF drafting process and during their service. Nevut is dedicated to supporting the soldiers and empowering their success throughout the entire process.
For David Devor, Chairman of the Board of Nevut, his mission is truly a labor of love. As the parent of a lone soldier, he is deeply invested in Nevut’s success, and has been actively involved with the organization since its inception seven years ago. Despite the demands of his business, David and his lovely wife, beloved members of our community, frequently fly to Israel to render love and support for our beloved chayalim. “When people ask me how each mission differs, I tell them that the hugs are lasting longer,” said David. “The connections with the soldiers are priceless, whether before the war, during the war, and G-d willing, after the war is finally over. The visits we make and the hugs we receive are appreciated by the chayalim more than you can imagine. When I show up at an army base and see a soldier’s eyes light up, I think to myself, ‘This could be my son, my nephew, my friend’s son.’ These are all our children, and they are craving a bit of home, which is what we try to provide for them on a continuous basis.”
David added, “Before the war, my wife and I, Boruch Hashem, had six children. After getting to know the soldiers in the Nevut community, we feel we have hundreds of children.”
Rabbi Abramowitz adds, “The aftereffects of the traumas these soldiers are exposed to will not appear five or ten years from now. We are seeing the emotional toll of war zone deployment and the disastrous effects it is having on the soldiers and their families already. This is something that can’t wait. We have to deal with it now before it becomes a new crisis.
“I try to imagine a time when we will not have to deal with these struggles and I pray for the day when these soldiers won’t have to feel alone. In order for that day to come, we have to deal with this immediately. Our commitment is to empower each individual with the knowledge, strength, resources, and support they need to foster resilience and psychological well-being in the face of adversity.”
Truly our unsung heroes, the Lone Soldiers are our children—many of them are barely out of their teens. They are risking their lives for Klal Yisrael, now it’s our turn to give back to them. Nevut ensures that our returning Lone Soldiers receive the critical support and resources they need to navigate a successful transition to civilian life. Please help facilitate their journey by supporting the exemplary work of Nevut. Tizku leMitzvos and continued nachas!
For further information, please visit Nevut.org.
Rochelle Maruch Miller is a contributing editor for the Five Towns Jewish Times. She is a journalist, Creative Media Consultant, lecturer, educator, and writes for magazines, newspapers, websites, and private clients. She welcomes your comments at RochelleMiller04@aol.com. Read more of Rochelle Maruch Miller’s articles at 5TJT.com.
