Dear Families,
In 2019, we created a 5-year strategic plan and projected that, at our current rate of two injured soldiers joining BFL each week, we would serve 1,400 injured soldiers and their families by the end of 2025. We never dreamed that by the end of 2025, BFL could easily serve 3,000 injured soldiers and their families. I must share what we tell each of our new members: in BFL, nobody is a statistic. Each new injured soldier in BFL personally connects with several mentors and fellow injured soldiers. Part of what enables each soldier to heal is the experience of knowing they will never be alone, and that the new BFL community they are part of is not only growing in Israel but is also a global community of people who love them.
Some of the most touching moments for me are when our mentors share the messages they receive from the family members of our new members. It is humbling and inspires us to work harder and do more. Last week, the parents of one of our new members, Mevaser Dawit, 23, wrote a heartfelt message to Mevaser’s BFL mentor, Eliron.
Mevaser was critically injured on January 23rd in Gaza when a bomb hit his tank. His lungs collapsed from smoke inhalation, leaving Mevaser in a coma. When Mevaser woke, he found himself in a reality where, in his words, not only was his body broken, but his heart and soul felt broken as well. Eliron was there for Mevaser from his early days in the hospital and helped him find his place in our BFL community.
Here is the note that Mevaser’s parents shared with Eliron:
“Happy Hanukkah,
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the tremendous work done with selfless dedication for our son, Mevaser. This kindness also impacts us as his parents. Thanks to good people like you, who do so much for Mevaser and others, he’s not the same Mevaser who was once shy about speaking in front of people. Today, he is in a completely different place. Mevaser not only comes home with a big smile, but we see that you also give him self-confidence. It’s obvious in how he speaks and now stands tall and strong. We are so grateful.
May God’s blessings be upon you. Again, thank you for everything you have done for Mevaser and all of us, The entire Dawit family.”
This is just one of the thousands of injured soldiers and their families from this war that we will do everything to help. One day soon, Mevaser will be in a position to help other soldiers stand strong again as the circle of BFL continues to grow ever stronger. Now, it’s our turn to shift this thank you to all of you who make this possible.
Thank you. You make Am Yisrael live.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Yaniv
