During the fighting: The IDF began to operate a particularly exciting reserve unit. Disabled IDF soldiers who have rehabilitated, critically and severely wounded, put on uniforms and accompany the critically and severely wounded for a year.
Documentation: Brigade 551 operating in the Jabaliya area // IDF Spokesperson (archive)
This is a small unit, which belongs to the IDF's casualty unit, it operates under a new branch that has been established – the branch of escorting wounded and disabled IDF soldiers. The project is called 'Returning to Life'. Its leader is Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Yariv Ben Ari, who was critically injured in a car accident 11 years ago while serving in a senior position in the Intelligence Corps.
He says his condition was so critical that doctors estimated he would not survive the first night. Ben Ari underwent more than 40 different surgeries, his leg was amputated above the knee but with inspiring determination, he managed to amaze everyone around him and came back to life.
After doing Ironman in his situation, and after fulfilling personal dreams, he had one big and special dream: to establish a reserve unit of seriously wounded, rehabilitated disabled people, that would accompany, give and adopt new wounded. He built a special program, and started running with the idea.
Capt. (Res.) Aharon Krov, Lt. Col. (Res.) Yariv Lev Ari and Dr. S. Mil Chen Katz Even,
"I realized that it was very lacking in the army. When I was wounded, a wounded man from the Yom Kippur War came to me. He was with me once, twice, and I haven't heard from him since. Through this and through my encounters with other wounded over the years, I understood how critical it is to establish such a unit in the army with mentors and commitment, with long-term guidance, with providing knowledge on how to deal with the serious injury, to make sense of all this darkness and to inspire new wounded."
Aharon Krov, the young paratrooper officer who was mortally wounded in Operation Cast Lead 15 years ago and became a sergeant due to his amazing rehabilitation, is the unit's deputy commander. He, too, felt compelled to get back into uniform. To contribute his inspirational story to other soldiers, to the wounded, to be with them, to accompany them and to give them hope from his wonderful story of rehabilitation. He says that since he was forced to take off his uniform due to his fatal injuries, he has not known rest. He just asked to go back to the army. A year ago, Krov met Ben Ari in the army's casualty division and immediately joined the leadership of the new program.
Just a month and a half before the war, the plan was presented to the head of the IAEA and other senior military officials, who approved the plans. To date, Lev Ari and Krov have trained no less than 41 mentors, severely and critically wounded who have rehabilitated and have now joined the reserve unit.
Mentor by type of injury
At Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, three-year-old Noam, a soldier in the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion, is hospitalized. He fought fiercely and fiercely on Black Saturday, killing terrorists, until he was very seriously wounded during the fierce battles on the ground. He, like an opponent, his mentor, suffers from amputation of his leg above the knee.
Documentation of IDF forces' activities in the Gaza Strip // IDF Spokesperson (archive)
Yariv explains that his unit is structured in such a way that mentors adopt critically or severely wounded people with the same type of injury as theirs. In this way, there is a stronger connection and match between the veteran injured person and the new wounded. Between him and Noam, a strong connection was formed.
"I feel privileged to have him fight with me," Noam says. "I learn a lot from him, we have soul talks, he directs me. Knowing that he is walking hand in hand with me from now on really calms me down and strengthens me a lot in coping with the difficult rehabilitation I am going through. He is also a great inspiration for me. He has the same type of injury and he rehabilitated and did Ironman. So I understand, even now, that the sky is the limit for me."
On a visit to the hospital, Yariv takes Noam for their personal conversation. Away from everyone. Hagit, Noam's mother, is thrilled. "Where did this angel come from for us? A lot of nonprofits came to us, lots of good people who just wanted to help after Noam was injured. But out of goodwill, it only confused me. Since an opponent arrived, we are in a different world. He put us in order, connected wonderfully with Noam and helps him emotionally, physically and helps him with everything."
Capt. (Res.) Aharon Krobosel (Res.) Yariv Lev Ari and Dr. S. Mil Chen Katz Even with Noam Ben Shlosh, Photo: Yehoshua Yosef
"There's something else. Until now, there was no such thing as someone with the same type of injury who went through the whole process himself, with the rehabilitation and treatments and the prosthesis, spent at least a year with the injured person he was accompanying. It's a great light for us."
An opponent also benefited from this connection. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I became a mentor to the whole family and it's a great privilege for me. It gives me a lot of strength. We will go through all the steps together. I really do it with all my heart."
Suddenly, the injury gave me meaning
Another Golani Brigade soldier is hospitalized at Levinstein Hospital. He was hit in the head during the war inside Gaza. Aharon Krov, who was also fatally wounded in the head and is considered one of the wonderful rehabilitation stories that were here, comes to him in uniform.
"The day I got back in uniform I was excited like a kid," Krov says, "I said to myself, wow, this is real. It's not like my kid dressing up in uniform and going to kindergarten. I'm back in the IDF, I'm contributing again. I was in the same situation as the wounded man I'm accompanying now. I couldn't speak for six months after I was injured, and the wounded man I'm accompanying can already speak. So I show it to him and it makes him stronger. When I tell him he can walk like me, too. The injured man straightens up and replies: I can run too. Like you."
Fighting in Gaza,
"I feel like it gives him strength that I'm with him. That he sees where I've come, it's reinforcing. In fact, we made adjustments and accompaniment of the same type of injury because only those who were hit in the head know exactly what it is, such as someone who had a leg amputated, or, God forbid, went blind. The bond created is different and special. He looks at me and says, wow, that's Aaron close, I know what he's been through, I see him now and I know it's possible. That you can get out of any situation."
When asked what escorting the wounded and returning to the army gives him, he answers: "It strengthens me in a crazy way. I feel like I have a mission in life. Suddenly I feel that my injury, the one that changed my life, gives me a different meaning now. I can help and give my all to other wounded, and that's why the army needs me. It expands my heart."
Yariv, Aharon, the unit's physician Dr. Chen Katz-Even, therapists and other staff members in the unit have been traveling between the various hospitals for two months, every day, accompanying the many wounded from the war. They devote their entire day and energy to this.
"I did a lot in the army, I was in key positions in intelligence for 27 years. I feel that this may be the most important job in my life," Yariv explains. Close almost tears up when he talks about the role. "Is there anything more important than that? When I'm in uniform, when I turn around and reach dozens of wounded a day, not just those I'm accompanying, I feel like I'm in my destiny. This is a huge summit for me and I just want to give more and more. As much as possible."
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