In this moving episode of Essential Questions, Rabbi Dan Levin speaks with Abraham Silver, an American who made Aliyah to Israel to help build the land and strengthen the Jewish people—spiritually and physically.

Abraham shares how his service in the IDF shaped his bond with the State of Israel and recounts his harrowing personal experience on October 7, 2023, when his home was destroyed, and he and his family were displaced. Together, they explore what it means to live in a nation at war, where every soldier is our child and every hostage our family.

Their conversation touches on the unity and resilience of Israelis who see themselves as “one people, one war,” the courage of the younger generation who stepped up to defend their country, and the challenges of raising teenagers as they approach military age. Abraham also reflects on the emotional return of hostages and how Israelis today view their leadership and future.