Respite for IDF Soldier and Family

July 22nd, 2024 |HaTikva Aid

On October 7th, Israel was expecting to awaken to a peaceful Shabbat and celebration of the eighth day of Sukkot. Instead, we woke up to the news that a war had begun. That same day, Yinon received a call from his commander telling him to report for reserve duty. After quickly packing, he kissed his wife and 4 children goodbye, not knowing what awaited him or his family. Yinon was sent to perform counter-terrorism operations in dangerous locations in Judea and Samaria. Yinon and his team were involved in complex combat situations in which they personally apprehended high-value terror targets.

After his initial call-up, he was unable to return home for 5 months, except for a few very brief visits. The stress on his wife and children, not knowing for sure if their father was safe, was difficult to bear. After finally receiving a longer release from service, HaTikva Project was thrilled to be able to send Yinon, his wife, and their children on a respite retreat in the USA. This retreat gave them the time and space they needed to decompress and reconnect as a family before returning back to Israel.