An Israeli soldier who was critically injured in the Oct. 7 terror attack has found a new sense of purpose and is now sharing his message of hope with others.

On March 2, 2024, at The Armon Hotel & Conference in Stamford, Connecticut, IDF soldier Shalom Shitrit, 20, spoke to over 1,200 people about the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, which occurred nearly six months ago.

"The next few minutes would change my life, the lives of Israelis, and every Jew," he said to the crowd.

He recounted a harrowing sequence of events and how he has reached a state of optimism despite losing many others to terrorists.

Nearly losing his life on Oct. 7 has strengthened Shitrit's faith, as he shared with Planet Chronicle Digital in a couple of phone interviews from Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv in Israel, where he's still undergoing therapy after losing his leg in the attack.

He grew up in a religious Jewish home but stopped observing Shabbat for the past three years. However, after Oct. 7, he felt a stronger connection to God and resumed keeping Shabbat.

"Having faith (emunah) helps you in life. Whenever you lack answers to questions, I remind myself that it's for the better. I truly believe in this and practice it in my daily life."

On that fateful day, Shitrit described his experience of being stationed in southern Israel, just 200 meters from the Gaza border. During phone interviews, he was aided by a friend who translated some of his comments.

The brigade of Shitrit, known as "the protectors of Kibbutz Be'eri," is a close-knit agricultural community in the Negev desert, recognized as a peace kibbutz.

Lying in a pool of blood, he cupped his hands and smeared blood all over his face and clothing so it would appear as if he'd been killed.

Vivian Silver, a 74-year-old grandmother, was a resident of Be'eri and was known for driving sick Palestinians from Gaza to Jerusalem for medical care. Unfortunately, Hamas terrorists murdered her and over 130 other Be'eri residents.

According to The Times of Israel, approximately 29 people who lived in the area were kidnapped, many of whom were dedicated to helping Palestinians, like Silver.

According to multiple reports, approximately 1,200 people were murdered in Israel that day, with Kibbutz Be’eri being one of the hardest-hit communities.

That morning, Shitrit was patrolling outside his base with 25 other soldiers. At 6:10 a.m., he received text messages about a possible terror attack in Israel. Thirty minutes later, he heard rockets going off overhead.

They discovered refuge in a well-known safe haven near the boundary.

Tomer Barak, commander of Shitrit, indicated the location of a suspected terrorist and Shitrit opened his mortar and rushed toward the area.

As he turned a corner, he encountered terrorists, according to what he told Planet Chronicle Digital.

"I witnessed two terrorists in close proximity, one meter apart. At that instant, I fired my weapon. Unfortunately, one of them shot my right leg before I could eliminate them both."

He kept a tight grip on his gun the entire time, peering through the magnifier.

An hour and a half later, Shitrit heard shouts in Arabic and gunshots.

Shitrit recalled thinking, "If I remain, the terrorists may discover me and wish to eliminate me."

He smeared blood all over his face and clothing to make it seem like he'd been killed while lying in a pool of blood.

He remained vigilant with his gun at all times, scanning the area through his magnifier. Shitrit fired and fatally wounded an unaware terrorist who passed by him.

‘Bleeding nonstop’

Shitrit, who was standing on one leg, hid near a wall. When he saw a grenade heading towards his commander, Barak, and another soldier, Sagiv Cohen, he shouted a warning, but the explosions made it impossible for them to escape. Only Cohen survived the blast.

The two men helped each other tie tourniquets and took bullets from their friends’ guns who had been killed.

Shitrit, a leader of a unit of fourteen soldiers, revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that all of his men were killed, and five, including himself and Cohen, were injured.

Shitrit was one of 11 survivors.

As they crawled under an army vehicle, Cohen and Shitrit shielded their eyes from shrapnel. Shitrit recalled how the sand felt like bullets against his skin. He told Planet Chronicle Digital, "I just closed my eyes. I was bleeding nonstop. I said my goodbyes."

Two terrorists were fatally shot by Cohen from underneath the car, saving their lives.

An armed vehicle arrived about half an hour later, after Shitrit and Cohen screamed for help over a radio while assisting each other in tying tourniquets and removing bullets from their fallen friends' guns.

Shitrit was conscious but profusely bleeding after getting into the tank with his friend. He lost consciousness for a week shortly after.

At Soroka Medical Center, Shitrit awoke with intense sedation, recounting harrowing symptoms of PTSD. He was plagued by vivid imaginations of terrorists surrounding him, causing him to be unable to sleep for four consecutive days.

Shitrit experienced hallucinations due to the medication he was taking. Upon transfer to Sheba Medical Center, he requested to be removed from it and was able to sleep peacefully.

His leg was amputated — he underwent six surgeries, he said.

"You see from their faces that [the released hostages] experienced grave trauma … A lot of them have signs of PTSD. They can’t sit calmly; they’re agitated."

At Sheba, Shitrit met with some of the released hostages who had been abducted from the Supernova music festival, including Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman who was shot in her arm, and Maya Regev, 21, and her brother, Itay Regev, 19, who were both shot in their legs.

More than 40 of the approximately 250 people kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Israel on Oct. 7 were music festival attendees, mostly young people in their teens and 20s who had been at the Supernova music festival, according to multiple reports.

While the hostages appeared resilient, Shitrit believed they were enduring emotional distress.

He stated, "Although they exude strength, their expressions reveal that they have undergone a difficult experience. They wish to disclose their experiences with Hamas in the media and recount their stories about the trauma they endured. However, their faces indicate that they have experienced severe trauma. Many of them exhibit symptoms of PTSD, and they are unable to remain calm. They are agitated."

He added, "We need to be there for these people."

Shitrit attends a treatment center in Kiryat Ono, Israel, for his own rehabilitative therapy, which is associated with the nonprofit organization Belev Echad, meaning "One Heart" in Hebrew. Belev Echad's headquarters are in New York, but its location in Israel serves as a healing refuge for IDF soldiers recovering from physical and emotional trauma.

‘Biggest form of therapy’

Rabbi Uriel Vigler, the founder of Bel Echad, stated that the soldiers primarily visit the house to socialize with one another, as it provides a form of therapy.

When a soldier looks into the eyes of a fellow warrior, "only they can understand each other's pain."

When a soldier gazes into the eyes of a fellow warrior, only they can comprehend each other's suffering, only they can understand the trials they have endured, and only they can recognize the destruction they have witnessed together.

The rabbi stated that since Oct. 7, approximately 12,000 soldiers have been wounded, with 1,500 of them receiving care at Belev Echad.

The facility was constructed with eight treatment rooms, including one for occupational therapy and another for physical rehabilitation, to meet the needs of the patients. Additionally, the facility has a gym, martial arts room, and pool for hydrotherapy sessions, as stated by Vigler.

Belev Echad staff members, including a trainer who was shot in his legs, offer meals, physical, spiritual, and psychological help to wounded soldiers. They can relate to patients on a personal level because they are also wounded soldiers themselves.

Despite the immense suffering of the soldiers, "they are content to be alive and with us," said Vigler. "You do not feel down when you are with them. Instead, you feel motivated."

Shitrit frequently visits with fellow soldiers at Shaba and Belev Echad.

The soldier launched a program called "Kamim Mehadash," meaning "rise again" in Hebrew, to provide soldiers with essentials such as food, shampoo, and headphones.

Shitrit also speaks to other survivors in Israel to inspire uplift them.

"You could hear a pin drop while he spoke. People were crying, and then they were cheering."

He traveled to the U.S. to deliver speeches in various cities, including New York City, Boston, and Connecticut.

In Stamford, Connecticut, he shared with the audience that the tragedy of Oct. 7 taught him the significance of unity, particularly amidst the political and religious divisions in Israel prior to the war.

"Although I experienced great suffering and fear of nearly dying, I am proud to offer my sacrifice and donate my right leg to promote unity among the Jewish community," he stated.

"We are all one … Hug your Jewish brothers and sisters."

Robin Meyerson, the founder and director of the Arizona chapter of Project Inspire, a Jewish nonprofit organization, recounted how he was in the audience when Shitrit spoke in Connecticut. He said, "I could hear a pin drop while he spoke. People were crying, and then they were cheering."

Shitrit expressed gratitude to the Americans who support Israel from afar and those who visit Israel to volunteer, stating, "It's heartwarming to see American people coming all the way to Israel."

He added, "I don’t have words."

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