Life on the Line is a digital archive designed to document resesrvists’ experiences.
A new Israeli initiative has begun recording long-form testimonies from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists who served during the war that followed the October 7 massacre, aiming to preserve firsthand accounts of combat, loss, and the difficult return to civilian life.
The project, known in Hebrew as “Chaim al Hakav” (Life on the Line), described itself as a national digital archive designed to document reservists’ experiences through video, audio, and text, capturing stories while memories remain fresh.
According to the initiative’s website, more than 300,000 reservists were mobilized within a day of October 7, pulling men and women away from work, studies, and family life for what became extended stretches of service.
The group said its goal was to create a structured space where reservists could describe what they saw and felt, including the strain of repeatedly switching between front and home life, and the ripple effects on spouses, children, workplaces, and communities.
Founded by reservists, built as an archive
The organization described itself as a nonprofit founded by reservists from a range of professional backgrounds, including media, education, high-tech, and the third sector.
The project also presented itself as a documentation effort meant to serve future research and education, with an emphasis on oral history collected through extended, podcast-style interviews with professional interviewers.
Its website listed support from the Leon Levy Foundation and displayed partner logos, including the National Library of Israel and Startup Nation Central.
Voices from the archive
In materials shared by the project, reservists described the war’s psychological and family toll, alongside operational memories from the front.
One participant, identified as Hila, said sharing her story helped her process the experience and pass a message to other reservists about the challenges away from the battlefield. She described the act of speaking openly as “freeing,” giving space to things reservists often keep inside.
Another participant, identified as David, said he had spent more than 300 days in reserve duty since October 7 and found the transition back to parenting and patience at home difficult.
A third participant, identified as Josh, described the pressure of shifting from command authority in uniform to the realities of parenting at home, including the everyday friction that can feel jarring after military life.
The project also published short video excerpts with subtitle-style transcript lines that reflected the range of experiences reservists were discussing. In one clip, a reservist referenced “the video of the pickup truck (in Sderot),” describing the early shock of what people saw and shared as the attacks unfolded.
Other excerpts highlighted the whiplash of mobilization and the emotional intensity of combat. “You’re called up for reserve duty,” one clip read. Another described being “lying there between life and death,” while a separate clip captured a reminder of the pace and intensity, “the adrenaline is so insane.”
In another moment, a reservist referred to operational constraints and routines, with a blunt line on screen: “no fighting at night.” One additional excerpt framed the mindset some carried with them, stating, “We’re believers.”
How to listen and how to participate
The initiative directed listeners to its episode feed and invited reservists interested in recording their own testimonies to reach out through the project website.
https://frontlinesstories.org.il/english/#story
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