Dear Friends,
According to our internal polling, the most life-changing BFL programs are our delegations and challenge treks. Our BFL treks are designed to challenge our members to face their physical and emotional difficulties together. They become a unit again, like they were in the IDF, only this time the mission is helping each other heal. This week we sent a group of 32 soldiers to the trek through the subarctic region of Finland, and they will come back to Israel different than they left. Below our soldiers are in immersion suits learning survival skills in the freezing arctic water.
In 2008 Asaf was on patrol with the Givati Brigade who were searching for Hamas terrorists planning an attack on Israel the day before a cease-fire. When his unit became exposed Asaf was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, severely injuring his leg and hand. He was losing a large amount of blood but he kept on fighting, even after his commander asked him to stop. Asaf didn’t want to stop fighting as long as his brothers were in danger and their mission wasn’t completed.
Asaf lost consciousness in the ambulance. Fortunately, doctors in the hospital saved his hand, and Asaf received a medal of bravery for his actions in the field. Despite receiving this honor, Asaf shared with us. “It took me some time to understand why people want to help me just because of what I did.”
Asaf then began the second and extended battle that most of us in BFL have to face, reclaiming his life after injury. Asaf joined BFL two years ago and we are privileged to have him counted amongst us.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Yaniv
PS: If you are attending the AIPAC Policy Conference next month we would like to invite you to a special Brothers for Life reception on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 9:00 PM at the Renaissance Washington DC, 999 9th Street NW, Fireview Room. This event is being hosted by our partners Dan Levitan, Alayne and Bobby Sulkin, Lisa and Neil Wallack, Howard Zack, and Dan Nir. RSVP to Andra Hall at andra@https://www.brothersforlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pastedImagebase6418-1024×715-1-3.jpg.com.
