Naomi Stochinsky is quoted in a feature article about lone soldiers in a 2018 issue of the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue in Toronto’s magazine speaking about her service: “Associated, CHAT and Camp Moshava gave me the education and, along with family and friends, the inspiration to make Aliyah and join the IDF. In March 2017 I began training to be a soldier in the Chilutz v’Hatzala (search and rescue) unit. The difficulties of being a soldier – long days, sleepless nights, food, etc. – are compounded for lone soldiers who can’t go home on weekends to rest. But I persevered. After seven months of training I was officially inducted as a full-fledged soldier. At my Tekes KumtaI was named the most outstanding soldier of my company and had my Orange Beret placed on my head by the division commander. My parents watched with great pride and tears at my outstanding accomplishment and commitment.”
“Associated” and “CHAT” refer to Associated Hebrew Schools, a private Jewish elementary school in Toronto, and TanenbaumCHAT, a private Jewish high school in Toronto, respectively. Camp Moshava is a Jewish summer camp in Ontario that writes that its “vision is to strengthen the religious Zionist community by educating and nurturing the campers and counselors entrusted to our care each summer to become role models both in Israel and the Diaspora.”
Stochinsky is now based in Israel and recently got married to a lone soldier from Australia. An online post published after Oct. 7, 2023, states: “Naomi is currently serving in pikud haoref in the south.” This Hebrew title refers to the Home Front Command unit of the Israeli military.
