Husband in reserves, children in fear: 'What will we do if Dad dies?'

Reservist families have been coping with a heavy service burden since October 7: dozens of reserve days a year, children's fears, and disruption to daily life. Naama Yadid, a reservist's wife, shares personal hardships and criticizes the exemption for Haredim and the Religious Zionism party's support for the draft law.

Since October 7, 2023, many reservist families have been coping with a heavy service burden: dozens of reserve days a year, children's fears, and disruption to daily routines. Naama Yadid, a reservist's wife and resident of Leshem, a member of the 'Partnership for Service' forum, shared on 103FM the personal difficulties at home and at work. She said her husband, a reserve combat soldier, is called up for 80-100 reserve days a year, sometimes in quick succession, leading to sleep deprivation, children's worries, and disruption to routine. Her 5-year-old son often asks: 'Mom, what will we do if Dad dies in the army?' Yadid also described the employment difficulty: her husband, who completed a PhD in life sciences, struggled to find work due to reserves, and finally found a place with a supportive female boss. She expressed pride in the service, but also sharp criticism of the exemption for Haredim and the Religious Zionism party's support for the draft law, calling them 'a disgrace.' She said she is torn about how to vote in the elections, as she feels she has no political home.