Chaim Treitel, an ultra-Orthodox IDF soldier wounded during combat in Gaza, published a moving social media post over the weekend recounting his transformation from yeshiva student to frontline fighter—and his unwavering determination to return to his unit. “I told myself I’ll do whatever it takes to come back and be part of the mission I always dreamed of,” he wrote.
From the Yeshiva to the Battlefield
Treitel described his upbringing in a strictly Haredi environment that lacked connection to Israeli national symbols and military life. “As a teenager, I lived with a very specific mindset. I didn’t feel I belonged in the story of the army,” he explained, recalling childhood moments when he was moved by encounters with soldiers—but still felt excluded.
After his bar mitzvah, Treitel enrolled in a small yeshiva but found himself increasingly captivated by the outside world. He began secretly following the news using the public phone in the yeshiva, even smuggling in banned Haredi newspapers.
Overcoming Barriers and Making the Choice
When it came time to decide between continuing in yeshiva or joining the military, Treitel faced opposition. “I was considered too modern and wasn’t accepted to a larger yeshiva,” he said. But thanks to the intervention of a revered rabbi, he was eventually accepted. Still, his heart was set on something else. He finally enlisted in the IDF—fueled by a deep desire to contribute—but the reality was harder than expected.
“I dreamed of action,” he admitted. But after struggling through a fitness test just days into basic training, the glamour wore off. Still, he pushed forward with determination.
Injury and Recovery Didn’t Diminish His Resolve
A leg injury eventually reassigned him to a rear support role, which he found devastating. “I remember crying because it felt like I gave so much and now I had to step back,” he recalled. When war broke out and Treitel remained at home in recovery, he was haunted by the thought of his unit continuing on without him.
“I missed them so much,” he wrote. “I told myself—I will do everything to return.” After healing, Treitel rejoined his unit for operations in Gaza, filled with pride. “Every moment in the Strip had meaning. We were fighting to rescue hostages and make the world better.”
Loss, Longing, and Hope
Treitel’s recovery journey was shadowed by loss. “My friend Shneor was killed in Gaza while I was being discharged from the hospital. I wasn’t able to be there with them in the field.” The emotional toll weighs heavily.
“Every report of an incident—my heart races. I pray it’s not my battalion, my platoon, my friends.” He closed his post with a heartfelt prayer: “I long and pray that every living hostage is returned to their family, that the fallen receive proper burial, and that all soldiers return home safely.”
