October 7 changed people’s life in Israel. For many, it brought unimaginable grief, the loss of loved ones in a tragedy that should never have happened. For others, it meant being thrust into an uncertain reality: called to fight, evacuated from homes, or living under constant fear. It comes to worrying about the hostages and accepting that the life we knew before was gone.
For me, it meant one thing: I could not return to my old life. It was my time to serve my country.
In the days after the attack, my background in real estate suddenly felt irrelevant. Soldiers, especially reservists, were called up without enough helmets, ceramic vests, or other basic protective gear. The need was urgent, and the system did not respond fast enough.
I began making calls to everyone I knew, determined to raise the funds needed. Within days, we established an organization Israel Emergency Aid. Within weeks, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of people and companies in Israel and abroad, we delivered over $20 million worth of donated equipment directly to soldiers: helmets, vests, boots, thermal clothing, medical kits - whatever was needed, delivered swiftly and without bureaucracy.
The war dragged on, touching every home. Turning pain into action became my way of serving, helping soldiers, their families, those who had lost so much, and meeting countless urgent needs. I partnered with Zuriel Friedman to establish our Recovery Center for trauma survivors, which has helped over 800 reservists, and with Nir Alon from Kibbutz Sufa to found Civil Squads of Israel (Tzahi), supporting over 150 emergency response teams nationwide with equipment, training, and operational help.
Establishing the Youth Movement of Israel
That mission led me to establish the Youth Movement of Israel, a movement of young Israelis committed to strengthening our generation and tackling the challenges faced by those who carry both the defence of the country and its civic and economic weight. They pay the taxes, they raise families, they protect the borders, and too often, they are taken for granted.
Our mission is to ensure their voices are heard and their service is recognized - not only in words, but through policy and tangible solutions. We fight for a meaningful draft law that guarantees equal and respectful service for all citizens. But we wont stop there.
We will change the reality through advancing legislation to improve the lives of veterans, support those living with combat trauma, and address the economic struggles of the serving sector and their families.
We are excited about another initiative: Israel’s Reservists Appreciation Day, which will happen at the end of this year, honoring not only the soldiers, but the families who stand behind them: spouses who carry the weight at home, children who count the days until a parent returns, and parents who live with constant worry. Supporting them is not charity. It is a national responsibility.
Our work goes far beyond policy or public awareness. In the north, when evacuated communities prepared to return, we mobilized thousands of volunteers to repair, clean, and rebuild homes and public spaces so families could come back safely and quickly.
It was one example of how we operate: creating solutions at scale by combining national policy work, direct action in the field, and every tool available to meet urgent needs while building long-term resilience.
These months taught me something profound: I was born to serve my country, now as a social entrepreneur. October 7 didn’t just change my life; it redefined it.
Since that day, I have stood alongside those who carry the heaviest burden, learning one simple truth: when the state is overwhelmed, society must step in. And when people unite around shared responsibility, real change becomes possible.
There is still so much to do. But with commitment, cooperation, and the value of unity that I know the Jewish community in Israel and around the world hold dear, we can honor the sacrifices made and build a stronger, more resilient future for all of us.
This is not only Israel’s story. It is the story of what happens when people refuse to stand by and instead choose to stand together.
The author is the founder of the Youth Movement of Israel.