Niv’s Story: From Survival to a New Beginning

On October 7, 2023, Niv David was serving at the Nahal Oz military base when his life changed forever.

For approximately ten and a half hours, Niv fought during the attack on the base. Eighteen people were killed, including seven members of his own team. Of his team, only five survived.

Niv survived that day, but like so many soldiers who experienced the horrors of October 7, he came home carrying wounds that could not always be seen. He was left with hearing loss and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Through Shai Gino, Niv was introduced to Jewmanity founders Belinda and Andrew Donner and became part of our Heads Up program in San Diego. Here, he was given a safe place to begin healing, receiving therapeutic support while also experiencing friendship, community, nature, and moments of normalcy again.

But healing does not end when a retreat ends.

After leaving San Diego, Niv spent time traveling throughout North, Central, and South America. Eventually, he returned home to Israel ready to begin thinking about his future and something he had always loved: food and cooking.

With scholarship support from Jewmanity, Niv enrolled at the prestigious Danon Culinary School in Israel and began studying culinary arts.

Today, Niv continues his PTSD treatment while building a new life for himself. When he completes treatment, his goal is to return to the restaurant world and pursue a career doing what he truly loves.

For Jewmanity, Niv’s journey represents exactly why our work continues.

Recovery from trauma is not a single treatment, retreat, or moment. It is a long road that requires continued support, purpose, opportunity, and people who refuse to stop showing up.

Niv is still on that road, and we are incredibly proud to be walking alongside him.

This is what healing can look like: surviving, rebuilding, finding purpose, and beginning to dream about the future again.

And this is why Jewmanity is committed to staying beside our soldiers, not only in the immediate aftermath of trauma, but throughout the journey that comes next.