Prominent Rabbi Reveals PTSD Struggle After Identifying Oct. 7 Victims

Rabbi Menachem Perl, a well-known halachic authority and head of the Tzomet Institute, has publicly disclosed his personal battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his service identifying bodies of victims from the October 7th Hamas attacks. Perl, who previously served as head of the halacha branch in the Military Rabbinate, volunteered at Camp Shura, a military facility near Ramla used for identifying the deceased.

Perl described the intense emotional toll of the work, particularly after identifying the body of a relative of an employee at his institute. He recounted experiencing nightmares, anxiety attacks, and even unintentionally harming himself or his wife during sleep. After two months of service, he requested to be released due to his deteriorating mental state.

Following his service, Perl sought professional help, undergoing extensive therapy for about a year and a half. He also experienced a severe anxiety attack while abroad, which prompted him to seek further treatment, including a period at a secure psychiatric facility. He now uses a service dog to help manage his daily life, a decision he made after careful consideration, emphasizing his belief in not hiding his struggles.

Perl is now leading an initiative to establish a specialized treatment center for Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) soldiers who have suffered trauma. He explained that existing rehabilitation frameworks often do not adequately cater to the specific cultural and religious needs of the Haredi community, leading some to forgo necessary treatment. The proposed center aims to provide a supportive environment that respects their lifestyle and values, with the first facility planned for the Jerusalem area.

The initiative has garnered support from individuals like Aryeh (a pseudonym), a 31-year-old Haredi reservist who served in body identification and struggled to reintegrate into family and work life due to PTSD. He shared that current rehabilitation options were unsuitable due to issues like gender mixing and non-kosher food. Clinical social worker Yehoshua Klafish also highlighted the need for culturally sensitive care for Haredi soldiers who performed "holy work" and now require healing.