"They Told Me: 'Announce That You Were Killed, Call Your Wife Urgently'"

For 314 days, Reserves Major Moishi Gronberg has been on military duty, spending most of his time in Gaza. Not a day goes by where he's not responsible for demolishing dozens of buildings, and he's seemingly seen and experienced it all. But when asked about his experiences, he mentions one event that stands out the most.

"One of my dearest soldiers was killed in the war, and it was incredibly distressing," he shares. "Just a few minutes after his body was retrieved and all necessary procedures were completed, Hamas released a statement with the soldier's name. However, it later turned out that instead of publishing his real name, they used his commander's name, which was mine."

Does that mean a notice was issued saying you were killed?

"It wasn't an official IDF announcement but rather from Hamas, yet it quickly circulated in the Israeli networks and by word of mouth. I first heard about it when my battalion commander called me on the secure line, since I didn't have a mobile phone, and said, 'Moshe, call your wife quickly because they've announced that you've been killed.' I remained calm, as it's known to be a blessing for longevity. Nonetheless, I called my wife right away to let her know I was okay, which was crucial. Shortly after, she began receiving condolence messages and calls asking about the funeral arrangements."

"Thank Hashem, that is behind us now, but it was a very unsettling experience. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, it resurfaces for me, showing the thin line between life and death. It also underscores the importance of caution in spreading names and announcements before official confirmation, as it can cause tremendous damage to families."

Moishi Gronberg

"Privileged to Defend the People of Israel"

Gronberg is an American citizen who moved to Israel with his family over the years, but later returned abroad. During those days, he was a young man engaged in various pursuits and never considered living in Israel, certainly not in Kfar Chabad, much less serving in the IDF in a senior role. "Ultimately, nothing went according to plan," he notes. "It turns out I'm just the planner, and Hashem is the executor."

At 24, he came to Israel to fulfill some dreams, and meantime, decided to enlist in the combat engineering corps. During those days, Gronberg lived in the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem, where he connected with Rabbi Or Ziv, a Chabad emissary, who brought him closer to mitzvot observance and Chassidut.

"Honestly, if the war hadn't broken out, you might see me now relocating back to the U.S., since nothing particularly tied me to Israel," he says. "But since the war began—not only did I stay, but I've also completed 314 days in reserve duty, became an officer, and am now close to finishing a battalion command course. I see it as a great mission to live in Israel and defend my people by all means possible."

The defense isn't just in military service but in Gronberg's unwavering commitment to mitzvot observance. "It stemmed from those difficult early days of the war, witnessing the people of Israel in their most amazing form—united and genuinely willing to do anything for anyone. It personally brought me closer to the Creator. When I joined the army, it was clear I was strict about keeping kosher and putting on tefillin daily. I wasn't willing to compromise on that."

And it hasn't always been easy. "At the war's onset, I took my tefillin with me. However, at a certain point, I received a mission to open crossings for our forces, which required us to return to the Erez crossing for a few days and then rejoin the forces. The plan was to restock on tefillin, but eventually, the crossings opened unexpectedly, and I had to go in. I was without my personal gear, but the real concern—my tefillin was left behind."

"I didn’t know what to do. I had never missed putting on tefillin in the morning and wasn't ready for that to happen. But I also strictly observed both Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam tefillin according to Chabad custom. How was I going to find such tefillin, especially within the commando unit I serve? What chance was there of finding what I needed? On the first day, I was fine because I had already put on tefillin in the morning, but by evening I began worrying about the next day."

At this point, something unexpected happened. The soldiers told him there was a Sadigura chassid in Beit Hanoun with Rabbeinu Tam tefillin. It seemed utterly improbable to me, but when I got there, he did indeed have exactly the tefillin I was seeking, and he allowed me to use them gladly. It felt like true divine assistance—heaven saw how important it was to me. So, throughout that whole week, I used that wonderful soldier’s tefillin. The same incredible stories happened regarding kosher food, too. Once I committed to observing no matter what, I discovered great help from above."

The Power of Unity

What gives you strength to continue fighting these days?

"First and foremost, it's the deep understanding of the threat that must be eradicated once and for all. I am in those very tunnels where hostages stayed and some were killed. Part of my work as an engineer involves searching for and neutralizing tunnels. I imagine myself in their place, and I am certain that if someone close to me or dear to me were in such a situation, I'd do anything, and more, to rescue them, as the mitzvah of redeeming captives is the greatest commandment in the Torah. The hostages are part of me, and I cannot fathom another day of them remaining in captivity. I also understand that if we don’t permanently dismantle Hamas, they will continue to threaten us all, giving us the drive to fight unrelentingly."

"Additionally, I am constantly moved by the incredible unity of our people. Though the media sometimes focuses on the negatives, the truth is something extraordinary is happening beneath the surface. We encounter people from all walks of life with different backgrounds and varied experiences, all coming together for a shared goal. Personally, I meet religious alongside secular, Americans alongside Israelis, and even encountered an Orlando policeman who came to volunteer in the war. The people of Israel are revealed in all their glory, and I am certain that if we continue in such unity, we will undoubtedly prevail."