In The Jerusalem Post’s “Healing Israel: A Nation in Trauma” special, CEO of Israel Daily News Shanna Fuld interviewed Eitan Turjeman and Hovav Perelmuter, members of Brothers For Life (BFL), about how combat-wounded IDF soldiers are healing together, following October 7 and the Israel-Hamas war.
Perelmuter, a former combat engineering commander, shared how psychological wounds affected him after a traumatic attack during his service.
“I thought everything was okay,” he said. “But over time, I noticed something was different. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t go outside.” He felt an immediate sense of belonging upon entering BFL’s Beit Ha’achim (“House of the Brothers”). “From the first step inside, I instantly felt connected.”
Turjeman, a pediatric dentist and father of three, was critically injured in a Gaza mission. “An RPG missile hit us... I fell from the third floor into a yard filled with terrorists,” he recalled. His recovery journey started with visits from BFL members. “They were the first people besides my family to visit me,” he said. “You get the feeling of safety from the look in their eyes.”
Both noted that BFL focuses on helping others after they themselves have been helped. “We don’t want the brothers to stay,” Perelmuter explained. “We want them to feel safe and return to their lives.”
International healing delegations also enhance the bonds between Israeli veterans and Jewish communities abroad.
“It genuinely contributes to the development and reinforcement of these connections,” added Turjeman. Both parties concluded with messages emphasizing awareness and resilience. “Simply smile at him,” advised Perelmuter. “He may be a wounded soldier.” Turjeman concluded, “Choose life, even in small victories. Amid trauma, not in its shadow.”
This article was written in collaboration with Brothers For Life (BFL).