Chabad Brings Wounded IDF Heroes to New York

Roey Amir, who fought in Israel’s Operation Protective Edge against Hamas, wrote to the NY Post about his visit 10-day visit to New York City with other wounded Israeli veterans, organized by Belev Echad, a project of the Chabad Israel Center.

From the NY Post by Roey Amir:

This time last year, I was planning a summer filled with relaxation, rejuvenation and, of course, plenty of ice cream. Instead, I found myself fighting for my life.

When Hamas terrorists kidnapped three young Israeli boys on June 12, 2014, the nation held its breath.

Tragically, their bodies were found weeks later, brutally murdered. While Israel searched for the missing boys, Hamas terrorists sent a near-constant barrage of deadly rockets into heavily populated civilian areas.

Determined to protect its people, Israel declared Operation Protective Edge.

As a commander in the Israel Defense Forces, I had just finished training a group of new soldiers and was not on active duty, but I asked for (and was granted) permission to rejoin my unit.

We were sent to Gaza to find and destroy the deadly tunnels Hamas had built underground, to infiltrate and terrorize Israel.

During one deployment, we got a call that our location was compromised. We were a small group of eight men in a bombed-out building, and one by one we tried to escape. I was the seventh.

I started to make my way across the road when I saw something blue and metallic out of the corner of my eye. By the time I saw it, it was too late. The explosion sent me flying into the air. I was sure I was going to die. My eyes were bleeding profusely and my legs were mangled.

I was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva, where I somehow managed to pull through. I was confined to my hospital bed for many months as I underwent surgery after surgery — 15 in all.

I am now completely blind in my left eye and I walk with a cane, sometimes two. But if I had to, I’d do it all over again.

This month, on a whirlwind trip to New York with a group of fellow injured soldiers, I’ve come to understand that we are not alone.

From the moment we arrived, brought here by the incredible Belev Echad organization, a project of Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side, we have been warmly welcomed by everyone we encounter.

During the war, we knew the world was against us. We were accused of committing all kinds of atrocities; slandered on the news virtually everywhere. But here in New York, we’ve been embraced lovingly, with open arms.

We’ve been treated like heroes.

Click here to continue reading at the NY Post.

Photos by Bentzi Sasson