Soldier Bios

Philadelphia Presenters

Yehuda Shaul
Age: 26

  • Born and raised in an ultra-orthodox family in Jerusalem. His parents made “aliyah” (Immigrated to Israel) from North America.
  • Attended yeshiva in Mhale Michmash, a settlement near Ramallah, where he graduated high school.
  • Enlisted in the IDF in March 2001 and served in the 50th battalion of the Nachal Brigade as a infantryman.
  • June 2002, sent to Sergeant training academy, later going back to the brigade as a commander and a platoon sergeant.
  • Served in most of the Palestinian cities in the West Bank including Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron during Operation Defensive Shield in April 2002.
  • Discharged in March 2004 after 3 years of service.
  • Founder and director of Breaking the Silence.

Arnon Degani
Age: 27

  • Born and raised in Rehovot, Israel.
  • Drafted to the IDF in March 2000 with a non-combatant medical profile
  • Served from August 2000 to March 2003 in a classified intelligence unit.
  • After the medical committee approved an increase in his medical profile, he volunteered for Golani Infantry Brigade.
  • Between September 2002 and February 2003, he served as a squad commander in the West Bank near Jenin.
  • Presently studying for MA in Middle Eastern Studies at Tel Aviv University, currently living in Tel Aviv.
  • Active in Breaking the Silence since 2004.

Boston Presenters

Dotan Greenvald
Age: 25

  • Born and raised Kiryat Yam near in Haifa.
  • Was an activist in a socialist youth movement, “Hanoar Ha’Oved Ve’Halomed”.
  • After high school he volunteered in community education for a year before the army.
  • Drafted to the IDF in August 2002, placed at the Nahal Brigade and trained as a sniper.
  • Out of the three years of service, he spent two years in the Occupied Territories, specifically in Hebron and the third year educating youth before their army service.
  • Presently studying to become a tour guide in Israel, currently living in Tzorah, a kibbutz near Beit Shemesh.
  • Active in Breaking the Silence since the day he was discharged.

Oded Na’aman
Age: 26

  • Born in Ness-Ziona near Tel-Aviv.
  • Studied music at an art high-school in Tel-Aviv.
  • Drafted to the IDF in November 2000 and served in the artillery corps as a crew commander.
  • Spent a total of one year in check-points all over the West Bank as a soldier and commander.
  • Served one and a half years as a commander in the artillery corps’ commanders’ course.
  • Discharged in October 2003 after 3 years in the army.
  • Since 2002, has written reviews, political columns and short stories for the Ha’aretz literary supplement as well as various other magazines.
  • From October 2003 to November 2007, he studied Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
  • Active in Breaking the Silence since February 2005.