Dear Friends,
As many of you know, almost every 48 hours, an Israeli soldier is injured protecting Israel. It hurts writing this, but eight more of our soldiers were wounded in the last ten days.
Every one of these soldiers is being met in their hospital beds by our incredible hospital visitation team, led by Maor Elkobi, who recruits every new member into BFL. Maor served in Givati as an officer and, in 2007, was shot in his upper arm, severing his nerves and leaving his right arm paralyzed. Since that time, there is nothing Maor has been unable to accomplish, from kickboxing to piano playing to training for a triathlon.
Maor and BFL leader Chemi Rubin visited a new BFL member injured last week who was run over by a terrorist and was still able to stop the terrorist from hurting anyone else.
Maor and his team deploy to hospitals all over Israel whenever a soldier is injured. The team also sits with the soldier’s family, especially if the soldier is unconscious or in surgery. This is the most challenging moment not only in the life of our soldier but for his entire family. I can tell you from my own experience it’s actually harder for the family. It’s a nightmare, and they desperately need someone to give them real hope and practical help for the next steps that need to be taken. Meeting a soldier who himself lived through injury and is now thriving is the most powerful help we could give.
Maor shared the most impactful visit he has had:
“The one visit still on my mind and gets me emotional every time is meeting Guy Shwartzon. Guy was 21 years old when he was injured, an officer in the Golani Brigade. A bullet hit him in his right shoulder by a terrorist that crossed into Israel from Gaza. This visit greatly impacted me because we were both injured in the same way and in the same place. We were even hospitalized in the same hospital and, believe it or not, in the same hospital room!
It brought me back to when I was lying on that hospital bed, not knowing what would happen next. I then got a visit from Yaniv Leidner and Guy Pries; they welcomed me to the BFL family. Now in the room with Guy Shwartzon, it was like I was welcoming myself. It is a huge privilege and honor to stand on this side of the bed and be the brother who shows a new brother that this injury is not the end. It’s a beginning of a new life.”
An important part of our injured soldier’s recovery is the moment when they come to us and ask how they can help another brother. The mentee becomes the mentor, which is the essence of our model. Injured soldiers don’t just help other injured soldiers; they are the core of their healing. The other important component of our soldiers’ return to life is meeting you, our BFL family living in the Diaspora.
We thank all of our partners for helping us to build this family.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Yaniv
PS: Our Atid Young Professional Toronto Chapter will host a BFL event on Saturday, November 19th, at 8 PM at Spin Toronto. To our young professionals in Toronto, please contact Arielle Elad, Director of Young Leadership, at ArielleE@https://www.brothersforlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pastedImagebase6418-1024×715-1-3.jpg.com if you would like to learn more about the event.
