25/05/2026
When we first reached out to Yuval, the very first thing he said was that he’s “not a lone soldier per excellence” and that he wasn’t sure his story was even worth telling.
So the message we’ve chosen to share this time is that there’s no such thing as a lone soldier “per excellence.” It can be a soldier who immigrated to Israel in order to serve in the IDF, a young woman who left the ultra-Orthodox community, at-risk youth, or anyone else whose circumstances simply left them alone or without family support.
No matter the reason, no matter the background, the only thing that truly matters is making sure they’re not left alone.
Ready to meet Yuval? 👇🏻
“Two months before I enlisted, my mom, who was a single parent, passed away. It left me, my twin sister, and our younger sister on our own.
At that point, I was already on the Nahal track, after my service year. Enlisting wasn’t really a choice for me, but because I was in the Nahal program and didn’t have a combat profile, I could choose a role just like the rest of my group. I decided to serve as a ‘Mashak Tkuma,’ which is essentially an Education Corps role that places soldiers in schools and educational centers near the Gaza border and other frontline communities.
Right now, I’m based in one of the kibbutzim near Gaza, working as part of the kibbutz education team and as a teaching assistant. This role allows me to bring the best version of myself into what I do. Honestly, it’s something I’d want to do even if I weren’t in the army. I feel that just by being there, I’m able to take part in helping a community get back on its feet, much like so many parts of our country that are slowly rebuilding themselves despite all the difficulties and challenges.
It’s true that today I’m officially considered a lone soldier, but honestly, I think the term ‘lone soldier’ is a little sad because it makes the situation sound pitiful. I see myself more as an independent soldier, kind of like someone who moves out to live alone while studying at university, as opposed to someone who stays at their parents’ house.
It’s not always by choice, but it is the reality.
What’s challenging for me in all of this is the constant need to stay on top of everything, both in the army and at home. On the days I’m on base, I do grocery shopping, cook, clean, and take care of everything, and then I go back home and continue taking care of myself there too. So it’s basically double the workload, but I’ve learned how to be more efficient, like bringing food home with me and vice versa.”
About his connection with the Michael Levin Center for Lone Soldiers, Yuval says:
“After my mom passed away, we were left not only with the loss of her, but also with a lot of debt she had left behind with different institutions and organizations.
We didn’t really know what to do, but then I heard about the organization through a colleague of my uncle’s and realized they could help in different ways, so I reached out.
They connected me with Tamar, the coordinator, who introduced me to different professionals and support systems that helped me deal with everything, whether it was getting furniture for the house, funding psychological therapy, or connecting me with accountants and financial advisors.
At the organization, I found a listening ear, people who truly cared, and a feeling of unconditional love and support. It doesn’t replace my mom, but it gives you the feeling that you belong somewhere and that someone genuinely cares about you.
These days I don’t get to come to the center as often because it’s far and doesn’t always work out, but whenever there are big events or something special, I try to come. I always leave with full hands and a full heart.
And I also have to say that the army has really helped me too, in so many ways. Some of it I expected, and some of it I never imagined would be part of what my amazing staff would do for me.”
We’re proud of you, Yuval, for your meaningful service and for everything you bring with you ❤
