Turning to the home front, Daniel Polisar examines how Israeli society has weathered what might be the most awful year in the country’s history:
First, most Israelis (with the exception of a couple of sectors) have dedicated themselves to the war effort with remarkable focus and perseverance. This starts with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, mostly reservists in their twenties, thirties, and forties who were called away from their homes and careers, and have risked life and limb to defend their country. They could not have done so effectively and with peace of mind without the unwavering backing of their spouses, typically but not always women, who for months at a time have taken care of their families while providing emotional and logistical support to their life partners on the front lines.
The spirit of voluntarism remains powerfully alive throughout society twelve months into the war, and is shared by young and old alike—who have taken upon themselves a myriad of activities to support the troops, the Israelis displaced from the Gaza envelope and the areas near the Lebanese border, and the families of the hostages.
Quoting David Ben-Gurion, Polisar asks to what extent Israelis have succeeded at “preserving through this bloody conflict ‘a vision of life, a vision of national rebirth, of independence, equality, and peace.” His answer:
Though there are of course exceptions, I’ve seen a clear picture emerge from speaking with dozens of soldiers and hearing and reading the words of hundreds more. They are animated by a touching nobility of purpose: they are fighting so that their family, friends, and neighbors can enjoy the good and simple things in life, so that the hostages can be reunited with their families, and the displaced residents of the south and north can return to their homes, till their fields in peace, and send their children to their own schools so that they can flourish and contribute in turn to their country.
Read more on Times of Israel: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-front-is-not-there-or-here-but-inside-each-of-us/