The Day of Remembrance for the Wounded of the Israeli Systems and Hostilities, which is celebrated today throughout the country in a series of events and ceremonies, is the opportunity for the state to say one simple word to those who carry the wounds of war and terror in their bodies and minds: Thank you.
The recognition day, which began in 2014 as a local initiative of the Southern District Coordinator in the youth movement, has over the years become a significant event on the calendar - and according to a summary between Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and Culture Minister Hili Trooper, a state recognition will be announced starting next year.
According to the Ministry of Defense, there are currently 58,154 IDF disabled people living in Israel who have been recognized by the Rehabilitation Division, of whom 1,716 are post-trauma victims. Trauma from Operation Eitan, which ignited itself in protest of the lack of proper treatment by the Rehabilitation Division.
Defense Minister Ganz defines the changes in the reform as historic, no less.
Among other things, a background check prior to conscription for fighters was canceled;
A "green route" was launched to recognize post-trauma victims following operational events;
The obligation of the disabled to attend the medical committees has been abolished;
And an online system for exercising rights was established on the website of the Rehabilitation Division.
In addition, a center for the treatment of post-trauma victims was launched through NATAL, where about 350 anonymous calls are received per month. Along with the treatment of the disabled themselves, the families of disabled people suffering from post-trauma are also addressed for the first time. Approximately 14,000 families are addressed through mental health care, childcare and more.
Not only that, but the Minister of Defense announced that this morning, at a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs, a bill is expected to be passed to abolish the income test, which will allow thousands of disabled people to enter the labor market and make a living.
"We have a responsibility and a right to do historical justice - we will not stop until we complete the reform," said Minister Ganz. "Deep down and we are sustaining. We are just at the beginning of the road, there will be more difficulties and challenges. As someone who sent thousands of fighters into battle, many of whom and visited hundreds of wounded in hospitals, I pledge that we will not stop until we complete the reform."
Kliman and Chief of Staff Kochavi at the Warrior's House, Photo: Yossi Zeliger
The chairman of the IDF Disabled Organization, Idan Kliman, told "Israel Today" that the Day of Recognition for the Wounded in Israel's Systems and Hostilities "is especially important this year, because it is a landmark for the most significant year for the wounded and IDF wounded ever. After years of activity and struggle for a profound change in everything related to the recognition and attitude of the system towards IDF wounded, the historic 'One Soul' reform has been formulated, and we are working on its full implementation these days. On this day we remember the terrible and desperate act of our brother Itzik Saidian, who turned the spotlight on the painful personal confrontation of the wounded and wounded by the IDF. We send dear Itzik and the family members a complete and speedy cure on behalf of all the wounded and IDF wounded.
To mark the day of honor for IDF wounded, the Friends of the IDF Disabled People's Association launched a fundraising campaign to help the disabled with difficulties.
"We accompany more than 50,000 wounded and IDF wounded in their miraculous rehabilitation," noted the association's chairman, Adi Strauss.
"Great realizations in small steps."
Adi Harpaz after training in the pool, Photo: Gideon Markovich
Adi Harpaz |
Overcame the injury in the accident with the help of sports and painting
"I believe with all my heart that miracles do not happen by themselves, but do them"
A few hours before she was supposed to make her way to the Fatma Gate, the entrance gate to Lebanon, ahead of an operational activity within the fence, Adi Harpaz (49) was involved in a serious car accident - and her world was turned upside down.
"I flew out of the vehicle and hit my head. I was unconscious for several months, I crashed all over."
30 years have passed since the accident, and Adi, a resident of Givatayim and a mother of four, proves every day that there is life even after the injury, and that nothing stands in the way of desire.
"I was certified as a rehabilitative art instructor," she says, "I work in the field, with children who have amputations and are recovering from serious accidents."
She is involved in painting, and on canvas depicts her life, which includes impressive artistic and sporting activities.
With the help of an IDF disabled organization, tandem bicycles were purchased for Adi, and with the help of her husband Nir, who serves as the "captain" sitting in the front seat, she rides on the country's roads. The two even won the national championship twice in this type of cycling.
At the same time, Adi is surfing using a surfboard.
She testifies to herself that she often falls - but makes sure to get up from every fall.
"I believe with all my heart that miracles do not happen, but do them. When someone tells me that the fact that I stand on two legs and do everything I do is a miracle, I tell him it's not because of my beautiful eyes but because of hard work."
She says that the IDF Disabled People's Organization and the Rehabilitation Division even helped her in her efforts to get pregnant, after the head injury in the serious accident and the internal injury to her abdomen caused her fertility difficulties:
For Adi, the day of recognition for IDF wounded and hostilities is also the day when it is possible and important to remember the "transparent" disabled - those who do not use wheelchairs and are not amputated, but still face demanding challenges every day, and prove they can overcome any obstacle.
"I do not dream big dreams - not podiums or medals, but fulfill great realizations in small steps," she says optimistically, "I choose and fulfill, I choose fulfilling miracles."
Basketball, discus and javelin throwing.
Diego Goldst, Photo: Dudu Greenspan
Diego Goldst |
From injury to pitch
"Want to be an Olympic medalist"
"I intend to be the first Olympic medalist from the Be'er Sheva Warrior House," declares Diego Goldst, 40, a father of four.
In 1998, a year before enlisting in the IDF, Diego - who was born in Argentina and immigrated to Israel with his family due to anti-Semitic incidents - in the heart of a terrorist attack. A terrorist threw two spray grenades at Be'er Sheva Central Station, His hands, only ignited in him motivation: "There I realized I wanted to get to an elite unit and fight."
Diego fulfilled his dream, and in 1999 enlisted in that elite unit. But during his service the event took place that changed his life forever. "We were hit by terrorists, and in the first fire I was hit by a bullet in the chest. "They managed to stabilize my condition and transfer me to Soroka Hospital. There, in 48 hours of consecutive surgeries, they managed to save me from amputation. "Even today, more than 20 years after the injury, he needed surgery and treatment." This is a daily war, "he says.
Three years after the injury he joined a basketball team in wheelchairs, and in the past year has continued to discover his athlete - initially in the experience of the iron ball, and now in the fields of discus throwing and javelin throwing.
"I am the first IDF invalid from the Southern District to be nominated for the Olympics," he explains, "and hope to be the first to stand on the podium as well."
At the same time, Diego took an active part in the protests carried out by members of the IDF Disabled People's Organization in the past year, after Itzik Saidian set himself on fire in protest of the poor treatment he received from the Rehabilitation Division. "I was a partner in the demonstrations.
So far, the disabled have been categorized as physically and mentally injured.
Post-traumatic people you do not see, because their injury is inside.
Happily, following that difficult event, many reforms have been carried out, and suddenly there is a sympathetic ear - treat the disabled as people and not numbers.
However, the struggle is not over, and everything is far from perfect. "
"You can always change."
Zion Levy against the background of the exhibition, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Zion Levy
Lately identified the mental damage - and discovered the artist within it
"For 30 years I did not ask for help because I did not understand that I was suffering from post-trauma"
For years, Zion Levy, 71, did not know he was suffering from post-trauma.
In his regular service in 1969, in the Bomb Disposal Unit, he was wounded by a thunderbolt that exploded in his hand, lost a finger and injured his eyes;
Only after a few surgeries did the doctors restore his vision.
The injury did not prevent him from serving 30 years in the reserve;
But then came the suicide bombings in his hometown of Jerusalem in the 1990s.
"I collapsed. The explosions on the buses brought me back to that explosion. I could not leave the house, work, anything."
Levy, a taxi driver, lost the ability to function - but it was precisely because of this that his life changed.
Following a recommendation to contact a Department of Defense psychiatrist, he discovered that his outbursts of anger stemmed from post-trauma.
"I went through hell with those around me," he says, "I abused them."
On the recommendation of friends at the Warrior's House, Zion turned to an art track at an IDF disabled people's contact center. There he discovered that he had talent in a field he did not experience - art. He began sculpting in copper and also became a stained glass and goldsmith. , An exhibition of their works at the Warrior's House in the capital.
Now he wants to turn to those who do not know they are post-traumatic: "There are others like me. For 30 years I did not ask for help, because I did not understand what I have. It is important for me to say that the situation can be changed, even after many years."
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