Talking to a Walking Miracle

By Yossi Swerdlov, Tzeirei Chabad, Israel

Yesterday I spent a very emotional day visiting wounded Israeli soldiers in the hospitals. There are about 40 soldiers still hospitalized, the rest have BH been sent home. Each of them has shown tremendous courage in battle and also in their approach to their often painful and debilitating injuries. To watch their bravery in the face of pain and loss is to know what true valor really is. It was often hard not to cry for them but we didn’t. We were there to cheer them up and let them know how deeply they are appreciated. And that is what we were going to do!

Joining me were Rabbi Menachem Kutner from Chabad Terror Victims Program, Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, Shaliach of the North Shore of Boston, his son Yaakov, and Kfir Levi, who was considered the most severely wounded soldier from Gaza.

Kfir was wounded in 2002 with a direct hit of an RPG to his face. He is a true miracle. The doctors believed that he would not survive. Now, although he is still in recovery, he is alive and well and able to share his story. To have him accompany us to visit the soldiers was truly to be in the presence of a walking miracle. He could speak to them with the knowledge and experience of one who has walked in their shoes. He was an amazing inspiration that no matter how devastating the injuries, there is hope.

It was Rabbi Kutner, who has been in touch with him and has been helping him since the day he was injured, who felt it would be wonderful to take Kfir to meet the wounded soldiers. How very right he was!

Rabbi Lipsker brought about forty video ipods that were donated by his community to give out to the wounded soldiers and his son brought a guitar to play music. When Rabbi Lipsker asked me which hospital we would be visiting to give out the iPods, I was able to tell him that in order to give out all of them, visiting one hospital would not suffice. We would need to visit all three hospitals where the wounded are being treated in order to deliver all the gifts.

We went to Bellinson Hospital in Petach Tikva, Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv, and Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva. As in all special moments in time, we were fortunate to be bringing with us all the ingredients to make up an incredible and memorable day. And that it was!

In each hospital the reactions were almost identical. Every soldier we met danced (with their eyes) to Yaakov’s music. Each soldier smiled from ear to ear when receiving the ipod. Each soldier was brought close to tears by Kfir, whose story and attitude are so emotional and so inspirational that they could not help but be moved. And they were! All of us were! That Kfir was there meant the world to them.

Rabbi Lipsker said that the reactions of the soldiers to their visit were overwhelming. They told him, “You have no idea how your visit strengthens us and lifts our spirits. When you come here it shows us again that we are part of one family.”

And Rabbi Lipsker said that, in visiting the soldiers, he “…was truly humbled. I felt as if, every time I walked into a room, that I was looking face to face with Judah Maccabee. These are our modern day soldiers. To be in their presence was incredibly exhilarating.”

In addition to the wounded soldiers, we also met with some of the civilians who were injured in rocket attacks. Rabbi Lipsker brought two suitcases brimming over with all sorts of toys which we delivered to the children of beleaguered Sderot. You can just imagine the reactions of the children and their parents – gratitude, excitement, joy, a wonderful break from fear and anxiety.

Yet again, it was another day of days. We felt once again the power of the Jewish people and our incredible love for one another.