Injured IDF Soldiers Address Yavneh Academy Students in Tenafly

Tenafly, N.J. (Oct. 29), Yavneh Academy in Tenafly hosted two Israel Defense Forces soldiers who were wounded in combat after Oct. 7, 2023. Amit and Itamar greeted the school's community as students and faculty lined the hallways from the atrium to the Beit Midrash. The reception included the singing of "Am Yisrael Chai" and group dancing.

The two soldiers spent the day speaking with seventh and eighth grade classes about their service and injuries. Amit focused on the psychological aspects of his recovery. He told the students that the emotional and psychological pain proved more difficult to manage than his physical wounds. His central message emphasized perseverance and the strength found in community unity.

Itamar detailed a specific battle fought in Gaza several weeks after the initial attack. As a commander, he described his priority as protecting his men before himself. His rehabilitation was a long process marked by pain and feelings of helplessness. He recalled crying in his hospital bed until he noticed the nurses weeping alongside him. That moment shifted his perspective; he resolved to make a full recovery and refused to be a source of sorrow for others.

Itamar's recovery concluded with a personal milestone: he married a volunteer who had visited him during his hospitalization. He advised the students to think positively, stating, "All is for the good, and think good, and it will be good."

Both soldiers noted the support they received from letters and packages sent by children and adults globally. They expressed a desire for the community to maintain its commitment to Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.

The visit concluded with the soldiers thanking the school for the warm welcome. The academy's middle school students have been invited to continue sending messages of support to the recovering soldiers.