Most people in Israel are back to school, to work and getting back to normal after a crazy summer under threat of rockets from Gaza.
One friend on Facebook made a joke about having a stairwell party to get to see her neighbors again. (Or at least I assumed it was a joke.)
This summer headlines were made as two IDF lone soldiers were killed in Operation Protective Edge.
I was among the 30,000 who attended the funeral for Max Steinberg’ z”l.
I passed the grave of Michael Levin z”l, a lone soldier killed in the Second Lebanon War on the way.
I confess.
I have a soft spot for lone soldier stories.
But what about now, what about seriously wounded lone soldiers?
I received this letter:
Dear Community Leaders,
There is a lag time between when wounded IDF soldiers are released from hospitals until they are approved to receive disability aid from the State. While this poses an extremely difficult situation for all wounded soldiers, it makes for a crisis for wounded lone soldiers who do not have the close care of family or a place to return to where loved ones will care for them
There are a number of wounded lone soldiers with extremely serious injuries (to their legs, arms, shoulders, body and also in one lone soldier who has brain damage from an explosion which lodged shrapnel in his head) preventing them from walking and functioning normally.
There are currently four lone soldiers just released from the hospital after sustaining life-threatening injuries in Gaza who need help covering their basic living expenses. Due to their physical ailments and disabilities, they are no longer able to move back into their previous apartments and need to live in first floor, handicap accessible housing.
These young men are in the process of applying for disability from the Ministry of Defense and will need to go before a number of medical committees to determine their handicap percentage and the amount and kinds of aid they will receive. As this process can be a lengthy one, help is needed to assist them until these committees meet and decide their status/aid, with the most pressing and the immediate need being to cover the cost of rent for accessible apartments in the respective cities where they receive rehab treatments.
Your help and support is greatly appreciated.
Josh Flaster
[email protected]
Shlomo fought to defend Israel, he is a lone soldier
Shlomo is an orphan who was shot saving his officer’s life, now he needs an accessible ground floor apt.
Where are those who raised huge sums for soldiers over the summer?
Who will defend Shlomo against “due process?” You can help.
The Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin needs funds.
To donate contact the Lone Soldier Center today.