The other morning, I was walking my dog when I saw a sight seen in every neighborhood in Israel: a parent getting into the car with their child in uniform, likely taking them to a bus depot enroute to their IDF base.
The soldier was clad in soiled red paratrooper shoes and a dust-covered rifle. His shoulder insignia indicated his paratrooper brigade. It was apparent that he was heading to Gaza's battlefield. That prompted two opposite instincts in me. Frist, I wanted to hug him and wish him well, sharing a prayer for his safe return. The other instinct was to avoid his face, fearing that if he should be killed in Gaza, I would be forever scarred by that last image of him walking to his father's car and to his tragic fate.
We remain a country at war. Unbelievably, two years have passed already since the worst tragedy in Israel's history. It is incredible that after so many wars lasting "only" six days to ten months, fought against formidable Arab armies, we are engaged in a seemingly endless war against a terror organization. In the multiple wars within a war, as we fight Hamas, we managed to defeat Hezbollah, we helped replace the regime in Syria, we eliminated most of the Houthi leadership in Yemen, and we beat Iran's formidable air defenses in 12 days.
Yet, somehow the Hamas war continues, hostages remain in Gaza, and young-and not so young-men and women continue heading to the battlefield after but a few days' rest, home-cooked meals, and goodbye hugs to spouses, parents, and children.
Two years of excruciating war, 48 hostages in Gaza's hellholes, 20 of whom (at most) are still alive. More than 900 soldiers have been killed and over 15,000 wounded, each a life shattered forever. Thousands of our houses were destroyed, tens of thousands of us displaced. And it isn't over yet.
The economic costs are staggering, with everyone incurring the direct and indirect expense of waging war involving so many workers. The toll on our mental health is unprecedented as well, with hundreds of thousands needing therapy and the mental health field stretched such that it is unable to provide enough therapists. Hundreds of thousands of reservists on the battlefield have had their lives upended, their financial stability eroded, and their marriages and families under unimaginable pressure. Countless reservists have died by suicide, unable to take the sights and sounds of the battlefield or the upending of their "normal" lives.
Internationally, Israel is suffering rapidly growing isolation with the hatred too often translated into antisemitic attacks merely because of our shared faith. For the first time in many years, Israelis find that they need to hide their identity and even avoid speaking in Hebrew when traveling abroad.
At the same time, amid two years of war, not all is dark. Israelis have rediscovered an individual and collective resilience. Our international borders are safer than before October 7, and we are rebuilding the north, the south, and even Kibbutz Nir Oz, where families are starting to return this month. The solidarity of our sisters and brothers in the Diaspora has been a source of strength and the support we received has been as heartwarming as it is crucial, with JUF taking a leadership role aiding tens of thousands of Israelis.
But with all our resilience and with all our military might and economic power, we will not truly start rebuilding our country until all of the hostages return. Our leadership must end the suffering of our hostages and ensure a proper burial for those brutally murdered. Only when they are all home can we start breathing again. And rebuilding.
As for the soldier living on my street, I did end up looking at him as he was walking to his father's car. I couldn't help it. I of course pray that no harm shall come to him. I don't know his name, but I look at the evening news every night, fervently hoping not to see his face on the screen. Praying that he-and all our other soldiers and hostages-will live to see the end of this war.
Ofer Bavly is a JUF Vice President and the Director General of the JUF Israel Office.
