New Initiative Aims to Provide a Home for Soldiers Lacking Family Support

As holidays approach, many soldiers face the difficult question of where they will spend them, especially those without immediate family in Israel or with strained family relationships. This includes lone soldiers who immigrated alone, Israeli soldiers with no stable home environment, and increasingly, young Haredi men whose military service can alter their connection to their communities.

Menahem, a combat soldier who uses a pseudonym, described the feeling of isolation during holidays. "In the army, you are part of a team. There are people around you all the time and you know exactly what your role is. Precisely when they tell you 'Shabbat Shalom, enjoy at home,' you suddenly feel you don't have what others have. During holidays, it's even more pronounced. You don't want people to pity you, and you don't want to constantly look for a family to host you. You want to know there's a place you can simply go to and feel at home."

Kfir Traub, through his work with the Arzi'eli organization, encountered this need repeatedly. He observed that beyond the battlefield, soldiers often face the challenge of finding a place to stay during weekends and holidays when their friends return home. This led to the initiative to establish a home for lone soldiers in Ariel.

"For a long time, we reached out to soldiers, brought food, equipment, treats, and everything possible. But at some point, we understood there's one thing you can't bring to the base, a home," Traub explained. "You meet a fighter who gives his all, and then the weekend comes, and you realize he has nowhere to truly return to. For me, that's where the idea was born. Not to give him another meal, but to give him a key."

The new home in Ariel will cater to soldiers from diverse backgrounds, including secular, religious, and Haredi individuals, as well as immigrants and Israeli soldiers facing personal or familial challenges. The project is coordinating with IDF officials involved in integrating Haredi soldiers, acknowledging that while the need for a home is universal, individual requirements may differ. The goal is to create a true sense of belonging, with volunteers knowing the soldiers by name, sharing meals, and offering personal support beyond their military service.

With Rosh Hashanah approaching, the Arzi'eli organization is actively fundraising to complete and operate the home. Traub emphasized that the ultimate measure of success is ensuring that when a commander tells a lone soldier they are discharged for the weekend, the word "home" has a tangible destination.