Reservist Couple Navigates War on Two Fronts: Combat and Home
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Reservist Gilad Rand and his wife Orit have navigated three years of war since the October 7th attacks, with Gilad serving multiple long rotations in Gaza and Orit managing their home and children alone. The couple described the immense personal and familial challenges of prolonged reserve duty and the difficulty of explaining the conflict to young children. They emphasized the critical role of community support and the need for widespread responsibility from leadership down to citizens to overcome the ongoing conflict and its consequences.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Reservist Gilad Rand and his wife Orit have endured three years of war, with him serving in Gaza and her managing their home and children.
- The couple highlighted the unsustainable nature of frequent and lengthy reserve duty rotations, exceeding 100 days annually.
- Orit described the difficulty of explaining the ongoing war and her husband's prolonged absences to their young children.
- Gilad has become an advocate for reservists' needs amidst public debates on conscription and equitable service.
- Community support has been crucial for the Rand family, providing both practical and emotional assistance.
- The couple stressed the importance of taking responsibility at all levels of society as a key lesson from the past three years.
Three years after the October 7th massacre, reservist Gilad Rand and his wife Orit reflect on their lives, which have been dramatically altered by the ongoing conflict. Gilad, a reservist in the Armored Corps, was called up immediately after the holiday of Simchat Torah and has since endured multiple long reserve duty rotations, including one that lasted three consecutive months. His wife, Orit, has managed their home and young children alone, grappling with the emotional toll of his absence and the constant worry for his safety.
Gilad described the immediate shift in focus upon receiving his call-up notice, emphasizing the necessity of concentrating entirely on the mission and his fellow soldiers, trusting Orit to manage the home front. Orit detailed the challenges of explaining the war and his absence to their young children, particularly their daughter Nitzan, who was only ten months old when the war began. She explained that as Nitzan grew older, it became increasingly difficult to explain why her father was away for extended periods.
The couple highlighted the unsustainable nature of frequent and lengthy reserve duty rotations, with Gilad noting that over 100 days a year is not a normal reality. Orit recalled a particularly difficult period when Gilad was called up just a week after their youngest daughter was born. These experiences have led Gilad to become an active participant in advocating for reservists' needs and rights, particularly in light of public debates surrounding conscription and the burden of service.
They emphasized the critical importance of community support, citing their own experience with the "Re'ut" community in Jerusalem, where they are active members. The community's recognition of their contributions, including being chosen as "Bride and Groom of the Torah" during Simchat Torah for two consecutive years, has provided significant emotional and practical assistance. They believe this communal support is vital for reservists and their families, offering strength and encouragement.
Reflecting on the past three years, Gilad and Orit stressed the paramount importance of taking responsibility across all levels of society, from individual soldiers to national leadership. They believe that true responsibility, which was lacking before October 7th, involves actively engaging with challenges and not dismissing warnings. Their message to the public is to continue looking out for one another, taking responsibility for the collective good, and contributing to the nation.