Behind the Uniform

Relieving soldiers' strain for the High Holidays

by KR

0 Comments | Thursday, September 03, 2026 under Holidays for IDF Soldiers

The Personal Cost Behind the Uniform

It's easy to see an IDF soldier in uniform and think of duty, strength, and purpose. Those qualities are certainly real. But what we don't see is the personal cost behind every uniform - a man or woman who has put their life on pause in order to serve. They work so hard and miss so much during that service - time with family. Holidays. Weddings. Birthdays. Reservists, especially, miss semesters of university. Jobs and steady paychecks. Spouses managing households alone. First days of school for their children who know their father or mother constantly disappears - often for weeks at a time.

They do this eagerly and without complaint because they understand what's at stake and they enable the rest of the country to go about its daily life - going to work, sending kids to school, sitting down to a Shabbos meal - without having to think twice about our safety. That security is thanks to chayalim who give up their own comfort and stability so that ours stays intact.

But when a soldier comes from a family already struggling financially or is facing financial hardship himself, the challenges of service can be even more difficult to navigate.

When Financial Hardship Follows Them Home

One “miluima” (the increasingly common nickname for a reservist wife and mother), who we'll call Naomi, recently shared what life has looked like since her husband received his Tzav Shmona (call-up) yet again - his fifth round in just over a year. Her youngest wakes up in tears most nights. Her older son has become short-tempered and withdrawn. Her bright daughter is struggling so much that her grades have slipped.

At the same time, the family’s finances have deteriorated. With her husband repeatedly absent from work, Naomi has been forced to cut her hours in order to be more available for her kids, further reducing the family’s income. His prolonged absences have also taken such an emotional toll on the children that several now need professional mental health care - care the family is struggling to afford. The more they need help, the harder it is to pay for it, creating a painful cycle of emotional and financial strain. The strain this family once expected to be temporary has become their everyday reality.

And unfortunately, this story is not unusual - it's just one version of what's happening across the country. For many soldiers, financial hardship is just another part of the reality they face. Many grew up in families already struggling to cover rent, groceries, utilities, and other basic household expenses. When every shekel is already accounted for, an unexpected medical bill, car repair, or even a particularly expensive week at the supermarket puts the family in a difficult position.  

For others, the challenge is having no family support to fall back on. There are lone soldiers who’ve come from abroad while relatives remain in other countries. And there are those who were born here but, due to any number of challenging circumstances, have little or no contact with parents or other family members, making them lone soldiers in the fullest sense of the term.

When Yom Tov Adds Another Financial Burden

And then come the High Holidays, when the financial pressures already weighing on these soldiers and their families become even more difficult. There are additional meals to prepare, more food to buy, holiday clothing and other expenses - costs that can be manageable for a family with financial breathing room, but overwhelming for one struggling to make ends meet.

For any soldier already worrying about basic expenses, Yom Tov can become another source of financial stress. 

Giving Soldiers One Less Thing to Worry About

This is where B'ezri's High Holiday campaign for IDF soldiers makes a real impact. This year, we are distributing $500,000 in Yom Tov assistance to 2,300 soldiers in need, helping them prepare for the High Holidays without adding another financial burden to an already difficult situation. The assistance is provided in a way that gives soldiers something especially valuable: choice and dignity.

Rather than receiving a predetermined package of food, chayalim can use a gift card or a code on their phone at the supermarket to purchase the foods they and their families actually need and want for Yom Tov. They can choose the ingredients for their favorite dishes, pick up the foods their children enjoy, and make their own decisions about what belongs on their holiday table.

No matter the method, they can pay at the store easily - there is no separate line, no special process, and no need to explain their circumstances to anyone. They can shop, scan, and check out - just like everyone else.

A Holiday with Dignity

And that matters.

Because when someone is already carrying the weight of financial hardship, the last thing they need is to feel embarrassed about needing help. B'ezri's High Holiday assistance takes one more worry off their shoulders while allowing them to prepare for Yom Tov in the way that feels right for their family. After everything these soldiers are doing for the country, helping them put food on their holiday tables is a small but meaningful way we can be there for them.

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