The Golani Boys Return

Seven months after the first retreat, a new group of nine soldiers from the Golani Battalion — including their commander — arrived in San Diego for ten days of healing. Thanks to the deep military connections of Jewmanity’s Executive Director Shai Gino, the soldiers were identified as profoundly affected by the events of October 7th.

On January 22, 2025, they landed at LAX, greeted by Shai and his cousin Yohai. For some, it was their first time outside Israel — some had never even been on an airplane. Yet despite their exhaustion, their faces lit up as they stepped onto foreign soil, momentarily freed from the weight of war.

The retreat followed the same proven model: daily therapy with a dedicated Israeli psychologist, surf therapy, breathwork, community dinners, and the unconditional warmth of San Diego volunteers who opened their homes. By the end, the bonds formed between the soldiers and their hosts had become something lasting — a bridge between two communities united by care.