[Photo link below] Members of the Chabad Israel Center on Manhattan’s Upper East Side have eagerly awaited the start of the “Belev Echad Tour”, a ten day program treating ten wounded IDF soldiers to a ten day American vacation, hosted by the Center’s leaders, Rabbi Uriel and Shevy Vigler, in conjunction with Chabad Terror Victims Project, a non-profit Israeli organization that assists 3 000 families of terror victims as well as wounded IDF soldiers.

From the moment the ten veterans landed in the U.S. on Sunday June 6^th they have been welcomed by American Jews keen to meet the men whom they consider to be the heroes of the Jewish People. The program has proved to be an emotional and inspirational one for everyone involved, with the soldiers each sharing their personal stories of battle and injury.

Elad G. was wounded on the first day of Israel’s Second Lebanon war in 2006. Flying debris pierced his right eye rendering him blind immediately, whilst other fragments struck his neck and hands. Aside from his other injuries, Elad is victim to a continuous loud whistling in his ears that unfortunately cannot be cured.

The action packed itinerary has included an evening cruise along the Hudson River, a VIP tour of the White House as well as the Israeli Embassy in Washington. The veterans visited New York’s Times Square, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum and Washington’s Holocaust Memorial Museum. A particularly memorable experience was the welcome the soldiers received by the children of Chabad Israel Center’s Aleph Bet Preschool, who had prepared songs for their guests and baked them homemade cookies.

Rabbi Uriel Vigler of Chabad Israel Center said, “The support extended by the community has been overwhelming.” Indeed this past Shabbat, members from almost every Jewish community of the Upper East Side gathered to pray and dine with the soldiers, while a resident of the Hamptons opened his beachfront home to them during their trip there. While welcoming his guests, he told them, “For 25 years I’ve wondered why I own this house. Today I discovered the reason.”

A visit to the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens, NY on Sunday June 13^th was described by the soldiers as a spiritual and unmatched experience. Ben S. of Golani Unit 13 was injured during Israel’s Operation Cast-Lead in 2009. Two gunshot wounds left his right arm amputated and his left paralyzed. Before entering the Rebbe’s Ohel, Ben requested of Rabbi Menachem Kutner of Chabad Terror Victims Project to don tefillin. He explained that the last time he had performed the mitzvah was as his unit was entering Gaza, and he strongly believed that his life had been saved in the merit of the tefillin. Ben’s father, Ophir, who travelled to New York to assist his injured son, was so moved by the scene that he donned tefillin then for the first time in his life.

The program has served not only as a physical success but also as an emotional one.

Rabbi Kutner explained, “These were regular guys with regular dreams and ambitions, whose lives were irrevocably changed within the space of minutes. Just a few days ago they were in Israel undergoing gruelling therapies, rehabilitation, surgeries and emotional upheavals. This opportunity has enabled them not only to enjoy a vacation, but it has mainly given them the chance to get away from the constant treatments. It is our hope that this break, which has seen them laugh and joke for the first time in months, will grant them the energy and courage they require to face their challenges back home.”

One soldier, who wished to remain anonymous, explained how he had spiralled into depression following his injuries. “Unfortunately, Israel has so many wounded soldiers that none are able to receive special attention,” he explained. “This past week in New York has been my happiest since I was wounded. I would even go so far as to say it has been a life-saver…” Apparently the experience has not only affected the soldiers, but also the organizers. As Rabbi Leima Barber, one of the co-ordinators exclaimed, “This trip has changed my life!”

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(Bentzi Sasson – YWN)