Wounded Israelis Lauded for Their Courage During Visit to New York

Shay Zach, 35, spent last Wednesday night at the Liederkranz Ballroom on New York City’s Upper East Side at an exclusive dinner event honoring 10 wounded Israeli soldiers and victims of terror.

Zach—a commercial real estate broker who lives in New York but grew up in Israel, and himself served in the Israel Defense Force—joined a crowd of some 200 people who had come to support their honored guests.

This is the fifth such trip for Belev Echad, which translates from the Hebrew to “One Heart.” It is a joint effort by the Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side and the Chabad Terror Victims Project.

“Every year, the stories are touching,” said Zach, a returning supporter. “They speak from their hearts, and it’s just amazing.”

The dinner was part of a 10-day trip sponsored by the Upper East Chabad center. It was designed as an opportunity for the participants to relax and enjoy themselves without being weighed down by their daily physical and emotional struggles.

The group arrived on May 11 and left for home on May 20. During their time in New York, they got a helicopter ride over Manhattan, visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, met some of the New York Yankees and took in a baseball game as VIPS, and saw the Broadway show “Aladdin” and other Times Square attractions, among other planned activities.

But they also immersed themselves in New York Jewish life, such as taking time with children at the Chabad Israel Alef Bet Preschool on the Upper East Side. They were heralded as part of a “Shabbaton of Thanks,” which began with a Friday-night community dinner and continued through Shabbat during morning services, a presentation from Israeli Consul Ido Aharoni, a “Grand Kiddish” luncheon and Havdalah in Times Square.

Rafael Kelen, 22, spoke about his injuries after he and other members of his military unit were attacked. (Photo: Bentzi Sasson)

The group also visited the Ohel in Queens, N.Y.—the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, and his father-in law, the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory. Afterwards, they traveled to the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., where they toured Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway and visited the Jewish Children's Museum.

And, of course, no trip to New York City would be complete without a stop at the Empire State Building, the United Nations and, for some technological fun, the Apple store.

More importantly, the Israelis interfaced with people, spending time getting to know members of the New York community, which year after year has turned up en masse to support and show appreciation for the young men.

“Being part of this program is the best thing I did in my life,” said Zach, who spent additional time with some of the soldiers over the weekend. “It’s just amazing to be able to come here as an immigrant, and shortly afterward, be able to support people in need and give back to the community.”

‘Here Because of Them’

Local residents had the chance to meet the soldiers and victims of terror last week during a cocktail hour, which was followed by the dinner and program.

There is a lot to be learned from these young men, said Rabbi Uriel Vigler, co-director of the Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side, which along with the Chabad Terror Victims Project sponsored the 10-day trip to New York for the Israelis. (Photo: Bentzi Sasson)

Ron Prosor, permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations, and Danny Ayalon, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and Deputy Foreign Minister, attended the event and both addressed the audience.

“We all feel so privileged to be in one room with heroism, with courage,” Ayalon said to the group gathered for the event. “And, of course, we remember that we are all here because of them and their colleagues, and generations of Israeli veterans and soldiers that keep us alive, keep the flame, and keep our values and traditions.”

Several of the program’s participants shared their stories and spoke about their gratitude for being able to visit New York.

Rafael Kelen, 22, described his time in one of Israel’s elite military units. While returning from a successful operation, he and some others found themselves under attack, the result of which left him with hearing damage, shrapnel impact and damage to his leg.

Achiya Klein, also 22, was blinded and burned by explosives while working on a tunnel used by terrorists. (Photo: Bentzi Sasson)

He underwent surgeries and rehab. Rabbi Menachem Kutner, director of Chabad’s Terror Victim Project in Israel, came to see him while in recovery, bringing him some food and a computer. The rabbi eventually invited him to come to New York.

“I’m in rehabilitation eight months; it was a really rough eight months—quite hard in the beginning,” said Kelen. “Thanks to you, it’s getting also much better.”

Achiya Klein, who served in the engineering corps, also spoke at the event, describing the explosives that went off last year while he was working on a tunnel being used by terrorists to transport weapons. The 22-year-old was blinded and burned by the explosion, and has undergone numerous operations to help improve his vision.

One day, his father came to speak with him about a delegation going to America. He, too, had met Kutner, and soon after, Klein was invited to go.

Meanwhile, Klein’s healing process continues. “Today, I am running, swimming, riding my bicycle, and I’m still an officer in the army,” he said.

There is a lot to be learned from these young men, stated Rabbi Uriel Vigler, co-director of the Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side with his wife, Shevy. “When these guys go through what they went through,” he said, “and still remain so strong and happy, it encourages us all.”

Danny Ayalon, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and Deputy Foreign Minister, addressed the 200 people who attended the dinner program. (Photo: Bentzi Sasson)