Behind the Uniform

Every soldier has a story

by KR

0 Comments | Sunday, March 15, 2026 under Holidays for IDF Soldiers

Wartime in Israel.
On any given morning, bus stations and train platforms across the country are awash in shades of olive green.
It's the color of IDF soldiers getting ready to travel, their huge bags on their backs.
In quieter times, that scene - large groups of soldiers - usually appears before Shabbos and holidays, as they eagerly head home for a short break so they can do laundry, catch up with their families, have a good meal.
But during war, the scene appears more frequently, and for the most part the soldiers aren’t going home - they’re going to base.
From a distance they kind of blend together.

The Stories Behind the Uniform

You can’t know that the soldier waiting for the bus on a bench is from a single parent home, and would normally spend any time off working to help his mother afford groceries.
The one on the phone lost his job months ago, after his previous (fourth!) round of miluim, and creditors are calling.
That soldier davening, off to the side? He's struggling to support his wife and three young children while continuing to serve.
The one tying his boot lace has no family at all.
Each uniform represents a life beyond the base - responsibilities, families, and financial pressures that don’t pause just because a war is taking place. In fact, they increase.

How the Campaign Began

B’ezri has been running its IDF Holiday campaign for 10 years. We began reaching out to help soldiers from needy backgrounds when we learned how widespread the problem was. Soldiers weren't able to buy food for their holidays?? We couldn’t imagine them struggling to pay for groceries or sitting down to empty tables on a Yom Tov. They do so much for the country, and we knew we had to do something to make a difference, to give back.
So in our first year we helped 40 soldiers with holiday expenses, and it made a huge impact - so big, that the program grew quickly and today we help over 2,500 soldiers twice a year - on Pesach and for the High Holidays.

The Challenge of Pesach

Anyone who’s made Pesach knows it’s one of the most expensive holidays - even in peaceful times. For many soldiers facing the added financial strain of war, the increased costs are completely out of reach.
Serving on the front lines (many won't even be able to come home for the holiday), this campaign brings soldiers tremendous comfort, knowing their families are cared for while they continue their service. Because within that vast “sea of olive green” are so many men and women carrying responsibility far beyond what anyone can see from across a train platform.

Here's what we can do

This Pesach, we have the opportunity to help 2,580 of them - ensuring that while our chayalim protect the country, their families can prepare for Yom Tov with dignity and peace of mind. Our Pesach campaign is providing gift cards from a major supermarket chain (with branches across the country) to soldiers in units across Israel. Our relationships with army commanders countrywide help us identify soldiers who are in tremendous need and would benefit most from our support. The cards are distributed and the soldiers can shop at the store branch of their choice. When they get to check out, they pay using the same cards anyone else may have gotten as a gift or perk. Not only is it a dignified way to get them the help they need. It shows our soldiers we stand behind them, as they constantly stand on the front lines for all of us.
 

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