Advertise on podcast: PodCats 6:6:9 Minutes of the American Friends of Unit 669

D. served as a combat soldier in Team 38 of Unit 669. During his service, D. was part of missions that required precision, responsibility, and the ability to act under pressure. After completing his military service, D. chose a different path- one that continues the same mission in another form. Today, he is working on Project Save a Life, an initiative focused on improving the treatment of suicidal ideation within the Israeli mental health system. In a system where accessible, evidence-based solutions are still limited, D.’s work focuses on training the people who train others, building a long-term, scalable impact. Through collaborations with academic and clinical institutions in Israel and the United States, the project aims to bring new tools and approaches to those on the front lines of mental health care. In this episode, we’ll talk with D. about his journey, from combat service to mental health, and what it means to dedicate your life to saving others, in different ways.

Our guest is Ben Zeskind, a long-time supporter of Unit 669 and one of the American Friends’ dedicated donors. We were lucky to be introduced to him by our Vice Chairman, Peter Feinberg.Ben is the co-founder and CEO of Immuneering Corporation, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new cancer treatments. For nearly two decades, Ben has been working on a single mission- to help people with cancer live longer, while preserving their quality of life. Through Immuneering, he and his team are developing a new class of therapies designed to treat cancer in a more durable and sustainable way. In this episode, we’ll talk with Ben about what it means to build something over many years and the challenges of working in science and innovation. Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bzeskind/ Immuneering Corporation: https://immuneering.com/

Ourv guest is Amy Lebovitz, a long-time friend and supporter of Unit 669 and one of the American Friends’ dedicated donors.Amy is a business owner with decades of experience in manufacturing, warehousing, and supply-chain management.In her professional life, she has worked closely with complex logistics, global trade, and tariffs- building companies that keep products and people moving even in challenging environments. In this episode, we’ll talk with Amy about her work, her connection to Israel and 669, and what it means to build resilience, in business and in life, especially during times of uncertainty with the new administration.

Our guest today serves as a combat operator in team 48 in Unit 669. He is a member of Kibbutz Alumim, located near theGaza border. On October 7th, 2023, O. found himself fighting todefend his community when terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz. Alongside his Kibutz on-call team, O. helped protect dozens of families who were under attack. That day changed the lives of everyone in Alumim - and left a mark that will never be forgotten. In this conversation, O. shares his personal story from that morning - the moments of fear and courage, the loss, and the strength that came from standing together as a community.

E. reflects on his service, his bond with his twin brother, and the strength it takes to keep going after loss. Our guest serves as a combat operator in team 49 in Unit 669. E. served since the beginning of the war in Gaza and finished his active duty on December 2024. During the war, their team lost 2 teammates. E.. found himself during the war serving in a special combat team with a unit called Maglan, where his twin brother A.. is serving.A few months later, A.. tragically lost his life during an operation, and was evacuated by Unit 669 from the battlefield, but didn’t make yet.

Exploring the human side of a mission defined by impossible decisions and extraordinary bravery. A firsthand account from a Unit 669 combat operator who helped bring four Israeli hostages home after 245 days in captivity. Our guest serves as a combat operator in team 47 in Unit 669. In the early hours of June 8th, 2024, a highly coordinated rescuemission—that was later named Operation Arnon—unfolded in the heart of Gaza.After 245 days in captivity, four Israeli hostages were brought home in an audacious daylight raid that involved elite ground forces, air units, and the precision of a unit trained to save lives under fire. This is not just a story about tactics or heroism. It’s about fear,teamwork, impossible decisions, and the quiet moments that stay with a soldier long after the rotors stop spinning.

Our guest served as the Chief Medical Officer of Unit 669 in2006-2009. He is a true example of how dedication, discipline, and a passion for innovation can shape a meaningful career. From his early days navigating the challenges of tech, through his impactful military service, to building and successfully selling Gecko in 2019 in millions of dollars to Tevapharmaceuticals, Yechiel’s journey is packed with lessons about perseverance, vision, and leadership. Yechiel is a successful entrepreneur who founded companies, he is an investor and a mentor.  Yechiel Engelhard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yechielengelhard/

Our guest served in Team 22 of Unit 669. Afterward, he went on to the IDF Officers Academy and returned to the unit, where he served in severaladvanced officer roles. He grew up on a moshav and began his career as a farmer. Blending agriculture with innovation, he brought technology into his work with seeds and eventually sold his first company to Sugat Industries—Israel’s leading supplierof sugar and rice to the industrial and retail markets. He then moved to London to pursue his MBA at London Business School, where he founded Movmenta—a company that uses advanced sensors and intelligent data systems to help athletes push their limits safely and sustainably. Movmenta has already raised several rounds of funding, has a live product, and is operating in the market. Ofir Dagan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofir-dagan1/ Movmenta's website: https://www.movmenta.com/

Our guest served in Unit 669 as a combat medical doctor, he is a partner at Pitango HealthTech, a leading venture capital firm dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovation. With a unique background that blends clinical medicine and business strategy, he brings a wealth of experience in both the healthcare and investment sectors. He holds both MD and MBA degrees. In this conversation, Jonathan will share his personal journey, the experience in the unit, and the future of health tech as he sees it. Jonathan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jonathan-glazer/ Pitango VC: https://www.pitango.com/

Our guest serves as a board member of the AFU669 and one of its donors. He is a Senior Managing Director, Head of Healthcare Investment Banking at Oppenheimer & Co. He started his career as a pharmacist and holds a degree from Rutgers University and MAB in Finance from NYU Business School. In this conversation, Michael will share his personal journey,his business and Zionist experience, and the future of health tech as he sees it. Michael Margolis's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-margolis-54b93aa/

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Amit Lehavi — a combat physician in Unit 669, entrepreneur, and founder of QLog. After serving over 300 days since October 7th and participating in five wars, Amit shares how his experiences on the front lines inspired him to “duplicate himself” through technology, transforming hospital efficiency and patient care. With a background in computer science and healthcare IT, Amit’s innovations are already saving hospitals 30% in administrative costs. A conversation about resilience, purpose, and building solutions where life depends on it.

Our guest is a combat soldier serving in Team 42 of the unit. He was called to duty on October 7th and has spent countless days since then operating in Gaza and Lebanon, both on the ground and in the air. Throughout the conflict, he participated in hundreds of rescue missions, all while finding time to get married. G.M., the author of From Zero to Hundred and The Rescue, has written two compelling books that offer a deep dive into the extraordinary world of Unit 669. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, Guy sheds light on the intense training, unwavering bravery, and personal sacrifices of the individuals who risk their lives to save others. In this episode, we’ll uncover the powerful stories behind these daring rescue missions, the human spirit that drives them, and what inspired Guy to share these untold stories with the world.

Our guests are teammates from team 34, Shahar Yanai was hosted here in the past and shared with us his story and rich experience in the crypto and gaming industry and Ori Ardman, an entrepreneur and investor which is involved in a few businesses and start-ups  in various industries. Shahar and Ori are served in the same team with Tom Ish Shalom and Daniel Alush who tragically lost their lives in the helicopter crash in Gaza on September 11th, 2024, while were on a mission to save someone else’s’ life. In this episode we will talk about our interviewees, but also with their help, about their friends who cannot sound their voice anymore.

Our guest speaker served as a combat soldier in the 30th team.  He served as a mentee in the Cat 669 alumni association. He holds a master’s in business administration and a Mechanical Engineering degree from Ben-Gurion University of Negev. He is currently the CEO and Co-founder of RoboTiCan - a company that creates and develops autonomous robotics for the last decade. Hagai's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hagai-balshai-6906aa89/ Robotican website: https://robotican.net/

Our guest serves as a combat physician in unit 669, he is a neurosurgeon in a big hospital in the center of Israel. He was called on Oct. 7th and served many days since then in Gaza. He participated in hundreds of rescue missions during the war, and he is one of the survivors from the tragic helicopter crash during a rescue mission in Gaza on September 10th, 2024, which in, Tom Ish Shalom and Daniel Aloush were killed and the rest of their team was injured.