Former Israeli CEO Battles Severe PTSD After War Service in Body Identification Unit

Avraham Shapira, 40, a former successful CEO and family man from Beit She'an, has been profoundly affected by his reserve military service during the recent war. Serving at Camp Shura, he was tasked with the harrowing duty of identifying and handling the bodies of fallen soldiers and victims. This experience triggered a severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and clinical depression, drastically altering his life.

Before the war, Shapira managed projects at a startup and held leadership roles in local government. However, after his deployment, he struggled with intense psychological symptoms, including emotional numbness, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. His daughter’s painful remark, "Dad, you were the king of the world and now you are a rag," encapsulates his dramatic personal decline. He was hospitalized multiple times and is now recognized as a disabled veteran with 60% permanent disability.

Shapira also describes a crisis of faith, as his PTSD has distanced him from his religious practices. Once a Torah teacher and spiritual pillar for his family, he now finds it difficult to participate in communal prayers or study. Despite halachic exemptions from fasting, he wrestles with spiritual doubts and emotional pain, especially during significant religious observances like Tisha B'Av.

His family remains a central support, though the burden on his wife and children is heavy. Shapira emphasizes the need for society to treat families of trauma survivors as if they have a severely wounded member, acknowledging the challenges they face. He urges friends and community to persistently offer support, even when it is difficult.

In coping with his trauma, Shapira has found solace in new creative outlets such as woodworking and writing poetry, which help him express his inner turmoil. He hopes to raise awareness about the invisible wounds of war and the importance of empathy and understanding for those suffering from PTSD.

Summary: Avraham Shapira, a former CEO from Beit She'an, suffers from severe PTSD and depression after serving in the Israeli military’s body identification unit during the recent war. His condition has led to disability, a crisis of faith, and significant family challenges, while he seeks healing through creativity and public awareness.

Points: - Avraham Shapira developed severe PTSD and clinical depression after war service identifying fallen soldiers. - He is now a disabled veteran with 60% permanent disability and receives intensive mental health treatment. - PTSD caused a crisis in his religious life, distancing him from prayer and Torah study. - His family bears a heavy emotional burden, highlighting the need for societal support. - Shapira uses woodworking and poetry as therapeutic outlets to cope with trauma. - He calls for greater awareness and empathy toward trauma survivors and their families.

Topic: security

Entities: {"people":["Avraham Shapira"],"organizations":["Israeli military"],"places":["Beit She'an","Camp Shura"]}