Dear families,
This is the logo of our hospital team, made up of over 120 volunteer mentors and 15 team leaders. I think the logo says it all as our hospital mentors are the beating heart of BFL. As if today we have over six hundred newly injured soldiers who are beginning their integration with us. As part of our emergency services, we are helping with their immediate financial, medical, and logistic needs. Though every day there are more IDF soldiers getting injured we are entering the second phase of help which includes:
- Visiting them again and again while they are in the hospital. We don’t just tell them they will never be alone, we demonstrate it repeatedly.
- Matching them with BFL mentors who have the same injury and are now thriving. A crucial step and this stage that can change everything for a soldier whose hopes are suddenly crushed.
- For soldiers who have complex injuries, we are connecting them with specialists in the US for second opinions. This involves the translation of medical documents and coordination with local doctors.
- When possible, bringing our newly injured soldiers by bus from the hospital to our Beit Achim (BFL center) to show them what will be their second home and all the services available to them.
One of our most recent new brothers to visit our Beit Achim yesterday is Dvir Fisher. On October 7th, Dvir was in the middle of his after-army travel in India. The minute he heard about the massacre he did everything in his power to return from India to Israel. After six days of travel, he rejoined his unit and a few weeks later he was fighting Hamas in Gaza. A Hamas sniper, operating from a UNRA school, spotted Dvir and shot a large bullet that entered one side of his neck and exited the other side. He is an early Chanukah miracle.
I want to thank each of you who has participated in our BFL Emergency Fund. Please know you are enabling all this to be possible.
As you know, BFL is a family and together we are mourning the loss of four of our precious BFL members who have died since October 7th. The family that cries together will one day rejoice together and right now there are simply too many tears. In the first photos below are Rani Tahan, husband to Razi and father of four, who we buried on Sunday. Rani did not hesitate to join his unit.
Omri Michaeli, who fell on October 7th, as he fought to rescue civilians.
Ben Uri was killed on October 7th at the Nova music festival. The second photo of Ben below is taken from his phone. He videoed himself meditating as he hid from Hamas.
Dor Hanan Shafir was killed on October 7th, at the festival. Dor was a bright light in our BFL family.
We are in close touch with the families of Rani, Omri, Ben, and Dor, Tz’L. They will be part of our BFL family forever.
As Shabbat in Israel approaches, we are holding our breath for the first 13 of our hostages to be returned to their families. We are praying our hearts out for them and the return of all our brothers and sisters from captivity.
Am Yisrael Together, Forever.
Shabbat Shalom,
Yaniv