MEET THE SOLDIERS

Barak Bornstein

Atid provides young professionals, ages 22-40, the opportunity to be involved in BFL’s mission while networking and socializing with their peers from around the globe. Atid members organize and participate in gatherings, Shabbat dinners, and educational and social events with visiting brothers. The annual “Mission to Israel” provides members an exclusive opportunity to discover Israel alongside IDF injured soldiers. Atid welcomes motivated young people who want to connect, lead and inspire.

I am 34 and live in Tel Aviv. I am married to Shachar and am the father to Dolev I enlisted in the Paratroopers in 2006. In 2014 during Operation Protective Edge, I served as a platoon commander in the 202 Brigade and entered Gaza along with 110 of my soldiers. A week into the operation, we were searching the area for terrorist tunnels when a bomb was detonated, wounding me and two of my soldiers Then three terrorists opened fire, wounding four more soldiers. As a result of the injury, I lost my sight and hearing on my right side and underwent several facial surgeries I was in recovery for an entire year Afterward I went on to earn my bachelor's degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern studies. Then I returned to serve two more years in the Paratroopers as the 890 Vice Battalion Commander In 2021, when my daughter was born, I had my first major PTSD event in the delivery room and was diagnosed with PTSD For the past three years I have been serving as the Operations Commander in a special intelligence unit