Injured Israeli Soldiers Experience Eight Days in Canada

For many, last summer’s war with Hamas in Gaza is a distant memory, one they’d rather keep in the past as they savor a far less eventful summer. But for soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces who were injured during “Operation Protective Edge,” the battle remains far from over.

While a total of 66 IDF soldiers were killed, numerous others sustained serious wounds, many of them life-threatening. One year later, these Israelis are still healing, physically and emotionally.

To keep their minds off the daily challenges of their recovery, six soldiers experienced Canada as part of an eight-day trip co-sponsored and organized by the Chabad Terror Victims Project, with assistance from members of the Toronto-area Jewish community. Accompanying them were Rabbi Menachem Kutner, director of the Chabad Terror Victims Project, and Rabbi Yossi Swerdlov, its associate director.

On deck for the visitors—Yehonatan Aharoni, Bar Cohen, Shlomo Gold, Elad Horowitz, Adiel Levy and Reuben Magen—was everything from sightseeing, sports activities, social events, cultural outings, meals with community members and even a stop at an Israeli standby, Aroma Espresso Bar.

What the trip aimed to do was give the men, all in their 20s, a break from their troubles.

“It was truly amazing to see these soldiers smile, laugh and have a great time,” says Kutner. “We met most of them last year when they were in terrible shape—many of them literally fighting for their lives and limbs. It was so rewarding to see them live life and do things they never imagined possible.”

Sari Bachar, a native Israeli who has lived in the suburban Toronto neighborhood of Thornhill for the past 26 years, created the itinerary for the trip, which took place from July 7 to July 14, and fundraised for it along with area resident Greg Nisan.

Elad Horowitz enjoys the Butterfiy Conservatory in Toronto. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

“They were surrounded with so much love,” she relates. “The effect on the community was absolutely phenomenal—a glimpse back to the feeling last summer when everyone wanted to help, to participate, to give back to the soldiers. Our community united around this project.”

The community is led by Rabbi Mendel and Faygie Kaplan, and Rabbi Yossi and Rivki Sandhaus of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario. Kaplan traveled to Israel last year during the war with a group of shul members to offer support to wounded soldiers and bereaved families; they visited hospitals and the frontlines as well. They also delivered gift packages to the troops, prepared by the Chabad Flamingo community.

“Meeting and hosting these exceptional young men was a deeply meaningful and profoundly touching experience,” says Rabbi Kaplan. “It was both a privilege and a pleasure to be able to give something back to those who gave so much of themselves defending the land and people of Israel.”

‘Saw the Transformation’

Bachar says they incorporated iconic Canadian destinations into the trip, taking into account the soldiers’ interests, while also considering their conditions, abilities and limitations. The six young men were severely injured in the war, having since undergone multiple surgeries, followed by heavy rehabilitation.

Yehonatan Aharoni “clown fishes” around at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

One of the highlights was a Torah-dedication procession and ceremony prompted by the local Ganz family, who gifted the writing of a new Torah last year to honor the 66 IDF soldiers and six civilians killed in the war, in addition to the four rabbis murdered last November at a shul in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem.

The Torah was also written in the merit of soldiers currently healing from their injuries and for one of the younger members of the Ganz family: Tzvi, who recently celebrated his bar mitzvah.

Over the course of the year, the Torah went from base to base, and hospital to hospital in Israel, so that soldiers could pen a letter in it. The six visitors to Canada, some of whom received the Torah and scribe’s stop by their hospital beds, now had the opportunity to see and touch the final product.

“We saw the transformation in them from the day they arrived—to the relaxed, strengthened and joyous boys who returned home,” says Bachar. “It was our honor to spend the week with them and to learn firsthand about the work CTVP does, day in and day out.”

Profiles of the men and their progress can be found here.

The soldiers examine fliers, distributed to the entire Toronto community, that describe their visit. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

The Israelis feel at home on the first day, having eaten breakfast at the ubiquitous coffee establishment in Israel (and now in North America), Aroma Espresso Bar. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

Bar Cohen and Shlomo Gold pause in front of Toronto’s Famous Castle, “Casa Loma.” (Photo: Sari Bachar)

Off for a scenic sail on the Toronto ferry are, from left: Rabbi Kutner, Elad Horowitz, Reuben Magen, Shlomo Gold, Rabbi Swerdlov, Yehonaton Aharoni, Adiel Levy and Bar Cohen (Photo: Sari Bachar)

A view of the Toronto skyline from Lake Ontario (Photo: Sari Bachar)

Gold gets to meet dolphins at Marineland Canada. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

And Yehonatan Aharoni greets some of the walruses there. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

Gold takes a kayak out for a ride at Camp Shalom in Ontario. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Abe Levy checks on the visitors during lunch at Camp Shalom. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Sprawled out on the glass floor at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto, some 1,100 feet above the city. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

All smiles posing for a “green screen” picture, from left: Swerdlov, Aharoni, Horowitz, Levy, Magen, Gold, Kutner and Cohen, kneeling in front (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Aharoni takes time to pray (Photo: Sari Bachar)

Magen shares a double bike at the Jack Layton statue on the Toronto waterfront. (Photo: Sari Bachar)

Toronto businessman Styles Q. Weinberg, left, presents the soldiers with slate plaques in appreciation of their service to the Jewish people. Displaying one to those gathered around the table is Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, director of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Guests from near and far came to meet the Israelis at the lakeside cottage of local resident Orna Serruya. In the group photo are Rabbi Mendel and Faygie Kaplan, and Rabbi Yossi and Rivki Sandhaus of Chabad Flamingo. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Bar joins in the celebration as the local Ganz family helps walk a Torah they sponsored to synagogue as part of a procession leading to a local celebration. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Horowitz holds the Torah, in which Israeli soldiers had the chance to write a letter over the course of the past year. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Kaplan wraps tefillin with Cohen in synagogue. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

Members of the Toronto Jewish community honor the group at a farewell reception at the home of Dr. Danny Sapir and Bryna Kaplan the night before the men return to Israel. (Photo: Greg Nisan)

The group with, seated, local residents Debbie Tessler and Ed Glina, who hosted a community-wide dinner reception for the Israeli visitors at their home. Seated at right is Sari Bachar and standing at far right is Greg Nisan, Toronto community members who organized and raised funds for the soldiers' trip.