Emil Tesler, 25-26, was mentioned in a December 2024 article from The Times of Israel where the writer describes his experience attending a conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The writer notes that he moderated two sessions at the conference, including one featuring Tesler:
“On [Oct. 7, 2023], Emil’s brother, Din, who was a guard at the Nova festival, sent a farewell message to his family, convinced he wouldn’t survive the terrorist onslaught by Hamas. Not knowing if his brother was alive, Emil took the next flight to Israel from Toronto. After arriving and learning of Din’s survival, Emil fought in the war in Gaza as part of an IDF Special Forces unit and is now back in Toronto rebuilding his life.”
Tesler was advertised as a presenter on the conference’s website. The website’s bio for him states: “Emil Tesler, once part of the IDF special forces, left Toronto for Israel after his brother Din, a NOVA festival guard, sent a farewell message. After confirming Din’s safety, Emil fought in Gaza, witnessing harrowing events and losing friends. Now, seven months later, he’s back in Toronto, rebuilding his life.”
An October 2024 article in the Daily Herald, a Chicago newspaper, covered an event Tesler was speaking at. It noted Tesler had originally served in the Israeli military special forces from 2018 to 2020, mostly in the West Bank. It states that he then moved to Toronto to work as a security guard and locksmith.
The profile states: “[In October 2023], he joined the IDF reserves. ‘(My brother) cried to me badly, “Please don’t go. They will kill you,”’ Tesler, 25, told his audience at the memorial service hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of Arlington Heights. In November, he entered Gaza with his unit, clearing the ground path for units to follow in the Netzarim corridor. ‘I will never forget it,’ he said. ‘I saw my friend stepping in a booby trap and the explosion. Thank God, no one got killed. ‘We always kept belief, because God’s with us,’ he added. Tesler said the events of Oct. 7, and his experiences since, have strengthened his faith.”
Tesler has spoken about his service elsewhere as well, including at a December 2024 event hosted by Chabad Durham Region in Ontario. The event page states: “Emil Tesler, 25, was released from the special forces of the Sayeret Nahal unit four years ago. A year before October 7th, he moved to Toronto to build a new life. When he received a goodbye message from his younger brother on October 7th, he immediately left everything in Toronto and flew back to Israel. The day after he heard that Din was safe, he packed for reserve military duty. Emil fought in Gaza for several months to protect his family and the Israeli Jewish nation. During this time, he lost many friends and witnessed horrific events, almost losing his life in battle. Now, seven months later, he is returning to Toronto to try to rebuild his life. He sold his car, left his apartment, and put his dreams on hold for Israel. After this difficult period he decided to draw closer to Judaism. He now dons Tefilin and wears tzizit every day, because faith is what kept him alive during the war.”
An Instagram post on Tesler’s account about the event states: “I understand the meaning of my life at the age of 25 and what I need to do, to inspire people, to strengthen them, and to do a mission in the diaspora. This mission is no less important than the fighting itself in Gaza. After a difficult period and after doing everything myself and after everyone left me aside, I am stronger, more powerful than ever. Even after all the difficulty, I will continue to fight for the country on another front.”
His account also contains photos of him in military uniform, holding weapons in Gaza.
