"In the reserves, I uphold the values I teach"
"The videos from the students really strengthen us, it's exciting to know that they support and think about us." Chen Shaham,
Chen Shaham
School: Talmi Ron, Harish
in reserve: Bahad 1 Battalion
Chen Shaham was drafted into the reserves under Order 8 immediately after the fighting began about two and a half weeks ago. 33 years old, lives in Moshav Ein Iron, married to Yahav and father of two (6, 1.5), a physical education teacher in grades <>, <> and special education.
"When the scale of the disaster was revealed, the team commander sent a message to everyone to go to Bahad 1 now. We soldier and went down to the Gaza envelope. In the regular army I was in Givati, in the reserves I am in the battalion of Bahad 1. Since then, we've been here, securing the communities, clearing the area of terrorists."
Watch: Return from Larnaca to enlist // Photo: Yoni Rikner, reporter: Adi Rubinstein
Regarding the connection with his students, he says: "It started with them. One of my classes sent me a congratulatory video, I returned a video to them and it was distributed throughout the school, and since then I've been receiving videos from students. When I can, I video back, and if I can't, I send a message. The videos really strengthen us, it's exciting to know that they support and think about us, appreciate what we do – because we do it for them too."
Soldiers looking at the positions of terrorist organizations, Photo: GettyImages
He calls his wife a "serious lioness" and testifies that she gives him his back and quiet, knowing that she is with the girls at home: "We here in the field are coping. At the end of the day, there is no other place we want to be, we have to defend the country. During the school year I teach the children about unity, thinking about the other, cooperation and of course values, and here in reserve I live up to my values."
On the fact that many schools in Israel do not study regularly, he says: "We need to return to school as soon as possible, especially in places where it is possible to return, because routine is important. Personally, I'll stay as long as necessary, but I really hope that at the end of November we'll be back, that we'll celebrate Hanukkah with the students, light candles with them, feel them, be able to talk to them and strengthen them, so that they feel safe."
"The classmates worry and ask if I'm okay and if I'll be back soon."
"I would like us to go back wholeheartedly to the classrooms, but first we have to do the task." Shirley Goldschlager-Mena,
Shirley Goldschlager-Mena
School: Shimoni, Petah Tikva
Reserve: 945th Battalion of the Home Front Command
At the beginning of the school year, Shirley Goldschlager-Mena did not think she would have to conduct Zoom calls with her students, but the reality imposed on the State of Israel on October 7 reached her as well. She is a mother of two children - Yuval (6.5) in first grade and Liraz (two years and eight months). A teacher in the fifth grade, who at the beginning of the fighting was drafted into the reserves under Order 8 and is in the north with the rescue battalion as a company liaison.
"Contact with my daughters and also with the students is done remotely, via Zoom," she says, "Every few days I come up to them for a group conversation. In between, the students keep texting me, asking if I'm okay and if I'll be back soon. They made a distribution, and every day one of them sends a message in the morning and someone sends a message in the evening and it's heartwarming.
Caracal fighters (archive), photo: IDF Spokesperson
"I always say I'm a mother of two and 24 other students. I have a lot of responsibility to them too, they take care of me and I care about them. That's what makes me realize I'm in the right place. As far as I'm concerned, I also continue to be in touch with them and protect the country. You have to remember that here in the north there are children too, they keep coming and hugging us, it's just fun."
Despite the tense situation in the north, Shirley tries to convey calm to her students: "I send them videos about how strong we are and try to calm them down. Sometimes I send them photographic riddles. For example, we came to a place where there was an old pay phone, which most children today don't know what it is. So I shot them a video and asked them who knew what this thing was, and they were really excited. I started educating them for the first time this year, and the truth is that we hardly met because there were holidays and then the war broke out. I would like us to return wholeheartedly to the classrooms as early as Chanukah, but first we have to carry out the task."
Tension on the northern border opposite Metula, photo: Eyal MargolinGinny
Shirley's husband, Lior, is at home with the girls and her mother, Angel, who was "recruited by Order 8 to my house. From the moment I received Order 8, it was clear to me that I was coming. Company Commander Ronen Materni and Battalion Commander Uri Kanner are considerate of me in every request and take great care of me. We're very confident."
"I try to connect the students to what is happening"
"Suddenly I see a reservist named Adi who was a student of mine about ten years ago." Yoni Idelson,
Yoni Idelson
School: Yitzhak Navon High School, Yavne
in reserve: Ordnance Officer, Battalion 8130
Yoni Idelson, 53, a teacher, educator and officer with the rank of major in the Ordnance Corps, received an exemption from reserve duty but chose to volunteer. "After seeing the terrible scenes of what was happening in the south, I decided I couldn't sit at home and continue watching TV. I have a soldier daughter, Shira, and a tenth grader, Aya, and I do it for them too."
In normal times, he is a tenth grade educator and a teacher of technological subjects, at a school to which he moved only this year, after years of teaching in Gedera. "I met an amazing team here, many of whom were drafted into the reserves. We managed to teach for a total of three weeks, the connection with the new students has not yet been fully formed."
Students in class, photo: Yossi Zeliger/Archive
Like many other teachers recruited, he tries to keep in touch with his students and encourage them: "We have a very large school, more than 1,500 students. The principal, Tamir Regev, opened a WhatsApp group for reserve teachers, where we send videos to students. In addition, I am in contact with my classmates, filming things for them when possible, and I also made a congratulatory video for them with comedian Yuval Samo, who came to film a skit at my base.
"I try to connect them to what's going on, to be in touch, and I write to them from time to time. At the same time, the entire school is mobilized and does activities for the benefit of soldiers and civilians, it's a very valuable school."
"Cohesion and cohesion are very strong." Soldiers preparing for ground maneuvers in staging areas in southern Israel, photo: Oren Cohen
In the midst of all the commotion, Yoni also got to see the fruits of his work: "We were in activity, suddenly I see a reservist named Adi who was a student of mine about ten years ago. She completed her military service, became an engineer and now she, too, has enlisted in the reserves. Of course we hugged, it was very moving, I had tears in my eyes."
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