Israeli Combat Veterans Confront Politicians Over Truths and Silence on Death and Trauma

The article explores the pervasive cultural silence and denial surrounding death, especially in parent-child relationships, highlighting psychiatrist Irvin Yalom's view that fear of death is a powerful, constant force often suppressed throughout life. Yalom illustrates how children are deeply troubled by death, yet parents frequently avoid honest conversations to shield them from this harsh reality. The author recounts a personal experience of overcoming her own fears to engage her young son in a candid discussion about mortality, revealing how children often adapt to their parents' anxieties rather than express their own.

The piece also touches on the complex personal life of Israeli President Zalman Shazar, referencing poet Rachel Bluwstein’s work that may allude to Shazar’s secretive relationships, symbolizing hidden emotional struggles. This theme of concealed pain and trauma extends to Israeli combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who recently confronted members of the Knesset during a committee hearing. Despite their pleas for understanding and respect, the Knesset passed amendments to the Disabled Persons Law benefiting veterans while simultaneously approving a Basic Law on Torah Study that facilitates exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men from military service.

The author, a pacifist, expresses solidarity with the veterans and condemns political hypocrisy and dishonesty, accusing leaders of prioritizing political gain over soldiers’ lives. She draws a parallel to the Talmudic story of Rabbi Eliezer, who was ostracized and denied communal support in his final days, symbolizing the painful consequences of silence and exclusion. The article concludes by calling for open dialogue about difficult truths, responsibility, and genuine efforts to address societal and personal suffering rather than perpetuating silence and falsehoods.