BOOTS ON THE GROUND: YAIR PINTO ON OCTOBER 7, RESILIENCE, TRUTH & DEFENDING ISRAEL What happens when an ordinary holiday morning becomes the beginning of a war that changes your family, your country, and your life? On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Yair Pinto, Jerusalem-born IDF officer, tank platoon commander, journalist, host of Boots on the Ground, and author of the book by the same name. On October 7, 2023, Yair went from civilian life back into military service. He would spend months deployed near Lebanon and inside Gaza while reporting what he witnessed and documenting the personal impact of the war. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… In this episode, you will discover: • What Yair remembers about the night before October 7 • How his family was celebrating Simchat Torah before the attack • The moment sirens woke him around 6:00 AM • Why his unit initially deployed toward Lebanon • What it was like sleeping outside while preparing for a possible second front • His experience serving inside Gaza for four months • Why he began reporting daily from his phone • How those reports grew into the TBN Israel audience • Why Yair says the information war became almost as important as the battlefield • How his wife protected their children while he was deployed • The emotional toll war has taken on Israeli children • Why his children asked where the bomb shelter was on an airplane • The story behind his book Boots on the Ground • How QR codes in the book connect readers to videos recorded during the events • Why Yair believes people must investigate claims instead of repeating slogans • Why he still believes peace is possible OCTOBER 7 CHANGED EVERYTHING Yair remembers October 6 as a family celebration. His youngest child was only three months old. His family had gathered for dinner. The next morning was supposed to be relaxed. Instead, sirens began. Soon after, Yair received the call to return to duty. His life shifted instantly from husband, father, and civilian back to IDF officer. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… FROM SOLDIER TO REPORTER As the war unfolded, Yair believed reliable firsthand information was missing. He had one tool with him: His phone. So he began reporting what he saw every day—the fear, the separation from his family, the battles, and his conviction that Israel had to defend itself. Those reports eventually reached millions of viewers and became part of his continuing work with TBN Israel. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… BOOTS ON THE GROUND Yair wanted to preserve more than headlines. His book Boots on the Ground tells the personal story behind the reporting. Each chapter includes a QR code that connects readers to footage from the same period, allowing them to see his face, surroundings, and emotions while reading what happened. For Yair, the project is about documenting history while the memories are still raw. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… THE HEROES AT HOME Yair says some of the greatest sacrifices were made by families who stayed home. While he was deployed, his wife cared for three children, rushed them into shelters, secured their home, and created emergency plans in case of an attack. Yair says: “The real heroes of this war are the mothers staying home with the kids.” His wife even contributes a chapter to the book describing her experience. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… A GENERATION LIVING THROUGH TRAUMA One of the episode’s most powerful moments comes when Yair talks about his children. The first time they boarded a plane after October 7, they asked: “Where is the bomb shelter on the plane?” Later, an ice cream truck in New York made them look for shelter because they thought its sound was an alarm. Yair says Israel is not yet dealing with post-traumatic stress. For many families, the trauma is still ongoing. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… TRUTH IS STRONGER THAN LIES Throughout the conversation, Yair presents his perspective on Hamas, Gaza, Israel, antisemitism, and the broader conflict. He urges listeners to research claims carefully, examine firsthand evidence, and avoid allowing social media slogans to replace understanding. Despite everything, Yair says he remains optimistic: “I believe that the truth is stronger than all the lies.” Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN Yair’s seed is: Use your voice. Share what you know. Stand for truth—and never take freedom for granted. Peace matters. Love matters. But sometimes protecting both requires the courage to stand up. CONNECT WITH YAIR PINTO Book: Boots on the Ground Website: bootsonthegroundbook.com YouTube: TBN Israel Social Media: Search Yair Pinto Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br… #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #YairPinto #BootsOnTheGround #Israel #October7 #Resilience #Truth #IDF #TBNIsrael #Leadership #Faith #Peace To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547