At 44 years old, I made a decision I never thought I'd make: I was drafted to the IDF. This wasn't something I initially planned to share publicly, but the incredible outreach from people who knew convinced me that this story needed to be told.
The Decision That Changed Everything
When my family moved to Israel to give our children a better life, we accepted a fundamental reality – they would one day face military service or civil service. It's simply part of what it means to be Israeli. So when the opportunity came for me to serve through Shlav Bet, the Charedi draft program, I faced a simple question: How could I expect this sacrifice only of my children?
Shlav Bet is designed for men like me – over draft age, with families and established lives – who choose to volunteer. The program involves two weeks of intensive basic training followed by immediate placement in active reserves. All 65 men in my unit made this choice voluntarily. We felt we were needed, and we decided to step up.
A New Perspective on Service
Every morning during those two weeks, we raised the Israeli flag together. With our berets on our heads, we sang Hatikvah and Ani Maamin. In those moments, the weight of responsibility became crystal clear. We all believe this is our time to be part of our country's history, continuing a legacy that began with Yehoshua bin Nun leading the Jewish people into the Promised Land.
But this experience taught me something far more profound about the families we serve through Smiles for the Kids. For two weeks, I lived the reality that thousands of Israeli families face regularly – separation, limited communication, and the constant worry that comes with military service.
The Hidden Heroes: Military Families
I was limited to just 15 minutes of phone contact per day with my family. During those brief conversations, I gained insight into what the families left behind truly endure. The wives of soldiers carry an impossible burden that often goes unrecognized.
Overnight, they become single parents, managing entire households alone. They handle bedtime routines, field questions from confused children, maintain work responsibilities, and somehow find the strength to be both mother and father – all while carrying constant worry about their husband's safety in dangerous situations and locations.
The stress is immeasurable. The worry never stops. Yet these women display extraordinary strength, keeping families together while their partners serve our country.
The Men Who Gave Up Everything
The men in my unit – all adults, all married, some with children as young as five weeks old – made incredible sacrifices to serve. They left thriving businesses, comfortable routines, and precious time with their young families to become links in the chain protecting Israel.
What struck me most was learning that many of these incredible men lack adequate support systems. Some don't have the connections to obtain proper gear for their reserve duty (milluim). Others can't even discuss their IDF service within their own communities due to social pressures and complexities within different sectors of Israeli society. They're serving their country quietly, without recognition or adequate resources.
How This Changed Our Mission
This experience didn't just deepen my appreciation for military families – it fundamentally expanded my understanding of why Smiles for the Kids exists and who we truly serve.
Every military family we help has lived this reality. Every wife who receives our support has managed alone while worrying about her husband's safety. Every child we bring joy to has wondered when their father will come home safely. Every smile we create happens against the backdrop of real sacrifice and genuine daily challenges.
The families we serve aren't just beneficiaries – they're heroes in their own right, managing incredible stress with grace and strength that most people can barely comprehend. They deserve every bit of support we can provide.
Supporting Those Who Serve
As the founder of Smiles for the Kids, I now understand our work through a completely different lens. The uniform carries real weight. The responsibility is profound. The families who support those who serve deserve unwavering support from their community.
We've established a dedicated initiative to support the men from my unit and others like them. These volunteers need proper gear for their reserve service, and their families need assistance during separation periods. Many of these heroes shouldn't have to worry about having adequate equipment or whether their families can manage while they're protecting all of us.
The 65 men I served alongside chose to step up when they felt their country needed them. Now it's our turn to step up for them and their families.
A Call to Action
Behind every soldier is a family making their own sacrifices for our collective security. They deserve our support, our gratitude, and our commitment to making their lives easier whenever possible.
That's why we've created a direct way to help. These reserve soldiers need gear, equipment, and family support. Their wives need to know their community stands behind them during difficult separations. Their children need to feel the love and support of people who understand their father's service.
This is why we do what we do at Smiles for the Kids. This is why our mission matters. This is why we'll continue serving those who serve, with even greater purpose and understanding than before.
The experience of wearing the uniform, raising our flag each morning, and serving alongside these remarkable men has changed me forever. It's reinforced that every program we run, every family we help, and every moment of joy we create takes place within the context of real sacrifice made by extraordinary people.
Join Us
To support the reserve soldiers from my unit and their families, visit: https://bit.ly/45HkrtT
Every contribution helps ensure these heroes have the equipment they need to serve effectively and that their families receive support during challenging separation periods. Together, we can make sure those who protect us know they're not forgotten.
Aron Schoenfeld is the founder of Smiles for the Kids, an organization dedicated to supporting Israeli military families.