Three Years After October 7
A Nation Remembers. Thousands of Warriors and Families Are Still Fighting an Invisible Battle.
Three years have passed since October 7, 2023.
For Israel, the date remains a defining moment of national trauma.
On that morning, Hamas-led attackers crossed into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages to Gaza.
Communities were devastated. Families were torn apart. Children lost parents, parents lost children, and countless Israelis were forced to confront experiences that would change their lives forever.
Three years later, the memories remain painfully present.
A Country That Remembers
Across Israel, memorial ceremonies have honored those murdered on October 7 and those who subsequently lost their lives in the war.
At cemeteries, memorial sites, schools, synagogues, and community gatherings, families have come together to remember loved ones.
For the residents of communities near Gaza, the process of rebuilding is about far more than restoring buildings.
It is about recovering a sense of home, safety, trust, and belonging.
The national conversation has also focused on the responsibilities of government, the military, and society in confronting the failures and consequences of that day.
The Invisible Wounds of War
The psychological consequences of the war are immense.
According to figures published by Israel's Ministry of Defense on October 6, 2026, approximately 30,000 wounded members of the Israel Defense Forces and other security services have been admitted to its Rehabilitation Department since the beginning of the war.
The ministry reports that approximately 63% of this group are dealing with psychological reactions.
Across all Israeli conflicts, the department currently serves approximately 91,200 wounded personnel, including about 42,500 people receiving care for psychological conditions and post-traumatic stress.
These figures do not mean that every affected individual has been diagnosed with PTSD. They do, however, demonstrate the extraordinary scale of Israel's mental health and rehabilitation challenge.
Behind every number is a person.
A reservist struggling to return to civilian life.
A parent whose sleep is interrupted by memories of combat.
A spouse trying to understand the emotional distance that has entered the family home.
A child learning to live with a parent who has returned physically, but is still carrying the burden of war.
Rehabilitation Is a National Responsibility
Recovery from combat-related trauma can involve professional psychological care, medical treatment, physical activity, social connection, family support, and long-term community participation.
There is no single treatment that works for everyone.
For some veterans, clinical therapy is central. Others also benefit from carefully structured physical activity, peer groups, therapeutic environments, and meaningful daily routines.
The challenge is to create accessible and sustainable systems of care that respect individual needs.
Phoenix Communities: Building Places of Recovery
Jewish Projects supports the mission of Phoenix Communities, an Israeli nonprofit developing a nationwide network of rehabilitation communities, therapeutic farms, and day centers.
Its work is designed to help combat veterans facing post-traumatic stress and their families through a combination of community support, physical activity, complementary care, and access to professional psychological services.
The vision is to create places where veterans can rebuild social connections, rediscover purpose, and receive support without having to face the journey alone.
Families are an essential part of that vision.
The effects of combat trauma can extend far beyond the individual veteran, influencing relationships, employment, parenting, and everyday family life.
From Memory to Responsibility
October 7 must never be forgotten.
But remembrance also carries an obligation to the living.
Honoring those who died means remembering their lives and the communities they helped build.
Supporting those who survived means investing in their future.
Israel's wounded veterans and their families deserve sustained attention, compassionate care, and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Israel's national recovery begins with the recovery of its warriors.