Meet Ariel and Shlomo Kroopnick.
Sirens blared early on Simchat Torah morning but, unfazed by the familiar sound, Ariel and Shlomo went back to sleep. News of what was unfolding began to spread as everyone met in Synagogue. One by one, men were being called up to serve. Away for the chag at family in Ra’anana- an hour’s drive from their home in Jerusalem- Shlomo returned to gather his things knowing he could be called at any moment. Sure enough, he received the call on his way back to Ra’anana. He had a quick bite there before saying goodbye and setting out. Shlomo was stationed at an outpost on the Lebanese border where he and his unit ensured that “October 7th didn’t happen up north.” Shlomo did not come home at all that first month as the army was on high alert and needed every soldier around. There was intense crossfire between them and Hezbollah as things began escalating. Later, Shlomo and his unit would perform two major operations in Lebanon.
Shlomo’s first round of reserves lasted from October 7th until March 15th. In June, he was called back to serve another two months and was released again in September. Then, in early October when the ground invasion in Lebanon began, he was called once again. One year to the day, on October 7th, 2024, Shlomo found himself returning to the army for his third round of reserves. For Ariel, this date was profoundly significant as it highlighted the painful reality that the war was still ongoing. Some might have assumed the chaos was dwindling down or that the fight was becoming less intense; in reality, men were still putting on their uniforms, saying goodbye to their loved ones, and fighting in a war that none of them asked for. Ariel and Shlomo were told “he served enough” and “Shlomo can relax now” but their perspective was always “it’s not over yet.” Unbelievable dedication, even 365 days later.
Although Ariel spent most of the year going to bed alone, with only her dog by her side, and waking up to an empty apartment, she never looked at herself as the strong one. After all, Shlomo was the one risking his life on the battlefield. And when family and friends in America would tell them how resilient they were, that sentiment remained: “In my head I wasn’t like, ‘we’re such strong people.’ We’re doing what everyone else is doing. It’s what’s needed.” Ariel spent the first few months lying awake at night, holding onto her phone waiting for Shlomo to call. Between caring for her dog, working from home, meeting with other Miluim wives, (and with a little help from Gossip Girl 😆), she managed to stay afloat. At this point in the war, she has created a strong support system for herself and leans on the people she knows she can trust.
Ariel shared a remarkable detail that Shlomo would have humbly left out: his battalion has served the most miluim days in the army- 288 days since the start of the war. Shlomo explained that though each soldier had a different home situation- some with wives, others with children, etc.- they all showed up consistently. Their attendance never dropped below 85%. “It’s really thanks to people like Ariel and all of the families back home who are very very very supportive, way more than anyone can imagine.”
So, despite what you say, Ariel, there is no denying your strength in all of this.
עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱
