Lone soldier

IDF lone soldiers mark bar and bat mitzvah at Western Wall, including some family surprises

The event was organized by Ach Gadol (Big Brother for Lone Soldiers), a nonprofit that provides one-on-one mentorship and community support for soldiers serving in Israel without immediate family.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Kidist Mengistu, a lone soldier from Ethiopia, was surprised by her mother at the Western Wall for bat mitzvah ceremony, Februrary 23, 2026.
The Hadassah Ein Karem hospital in Jerusalem. January 15, 2017.

Grapevine: Ancient minority

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

|ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Levi Preger (L) and Max Long, the founder of the Growing Wings Foundation.

Levi Preger: From a Dutch town to the IDF

Preger, aged 27 is a lone soldier who made aliyah from the Netherlands. For the past four years, he has been active with the Growing Wings Foundation, a nonprofit that supports lone soldiers.

|ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN
Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets students at Moriah War Memorial College during his state visit following a deadly mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, in Sydney, Australia, February 10, 2026.

Herzog meets lone soldiers and families in closed-door Melbourne gathering

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the last day of Herzog’s visit to Australia, underscored both the pride and the unease felt by Diaspora families whose children chose to join the IDF.

|ByHERB KEINON

Michael Levin Base: The 'home' of Israel's b'not sherut, lone soldiers moves

Moving overseas to serve in Israel can be scary and difficult. But the Michael Levin Base has become a true home away from home.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023ByNOA FEIGENBAUM
THE MICHAEL Levin Base.

First in Gush Dan: Home for haredi lone soldiers opens in Ramat Gan

The house, which is operated by the Netzah Yehuda organization, is the first of its kind in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

FEBRUARY 19, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Roi Barzilai, Deputy Mayor of Ramat Gan, Carmel Shama-HaCohen, Mayor of Ramat Gan attend the dedication ceremony of the first home for haredi lone soldiers in the Tel Aviv metro area on February 15, 2023.

Is driving in Israel like GTA or bumper cars? - opinion

I had been driving and flying since I was 15. I actually had my first drive on a highway on the way home from my first solo flight. So, let’s just say I was quite comfortable operating large vehicles

FEBRUARY 12, 2023ByARIELA COHEN
CHILDREN RIDE on bumper cars at Superland in Rishon Lezion. Is this the Israeli driving experience?

This week in Jerusalem: Synagogues here, synagogues there

A weekly round-up of city affairs.

FEBRUARY 11, 2023ByPEGGY CIDOR
NETIV PLUS: Good news for drivers.

IDF Givati Brigade Association hosts Lone Soldiers Day

The IDF event included discussions, workshops and activity booths with support services for Israel's lone soldiers.

FEBRUARY 8, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Givati Brigade Association hosts Lone Soldiers Day.

Non-profit 'Osey Chail' opens lone soldier house named for Maj. Bar Falah

Osey Chail serves the needs of Israeli lone soldiers who come from haredi families, who lost communication with their families upon enlisting.

JANUARY 29, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Dalia Falah, mother of the late Maj. Bar Falah, attends the dedication of "Bar's House" home for lone soldiers in Lod.

After serving in the IDF, visiting home comes with new concerns

It wasn’t until after I had left Hong Kong that I appreciated the impact my non-Jewish friends could have on divisive topics such as Judaism and Zionism.

DECEMBER 25, 2022ByISSY LYONS
THE WRITER (center) and a couple of her comrades display the badges they received following the final march making them an operational unit.

Grapevine: Heroic haredim

Movers and shakers in Israeli society

DECEMBER 16, 2022ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
The protagonists of ‘Kippat Barzel,’ playing infantrymen in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, pose at their base.

IDF signs demolition and confiscation order for Shuafat attacker

Lazar, 18 years old from Bat Hefer, was killed after Tamimi opened fire on her and a group of security guards at point-blank range after casually exiting a car at the crossing. 

DECEMBER 8, 2022ByANNA AHRONHEIM
Israeli security forces are seen following a shooting incident at a check point next to Shuafat in east Jerusalem, October 10, 2022.

Nefesh B’Nefesh & Friends of the IDF (FIDF) host annual personal errands day for lone soldiers

2,500 active lone soldiers from 70 countries and representatives from various ministries and senior IDF commanders were in attendance.

DECEMBER 4, 2022ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Lone soldiers gather with Nefesh B’Nefesh founders, Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart at FIDF- Nefesh B'Nefesh Errands Day