Between memory and oblivion: the complex experiences of ZAKA volunteers during the Israel-Hamas war (“Swords of Iron”)

Introduction This qualitative study characterizes the moral-psychological and existential dynamics of 24 ZAKA volunteers during the “Iron Swords” war. It focuses on how the encounter between extreme trauma and a supreme moral-Halakhic mandate (“Chesed Shel Emet”) shapes trauma processing. Methods Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, the research examined the volunteers’ experiences of the October 7, 2023, events, their emotional difficulties, and the tension between memory and forgetting. Results Four core themes were identified: sensory and emotional overload leading to internal conflict, the role of social support as a pillar for resilience, the “tightrope walk” between memory as a mission and oblivion as a coping mechanism, and the significance of commemoration as a source for Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG). Discussion The findings indicate that the Halakhic commitment functions as a unique cultural-religious mediating variable. While it intensifies the risk of Moral Injury due to helplessness, it simultaneously serves as a stable collective meaning anchor that drives a resilient Collective PTG Identity. This study offers critical clinical and ethical insights for emergency organizations.