Israel is in one of the toughest wars it has known – the home front has become the front line.
Beyond the shocking images of the massacre of Jewish children and entire families, it is important to understand the numbers and what they mean.
To date:
- Over 1300 murdered
- Over 3,500 wounded
- Over 200 hostages held in Gaza.
- Over 8,000 rockets, missiles, and mortars launched at Israel.
Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (Beit Halochem) is currently visiting the newly injured at the hospitals, helping current members, and preparing for the future
Thousands of food packages were sent to the disabled veterans, to families in need, and to the wounded in the hospitals.
Hundreds of food packages are being packaged and sent to families who have lost loved ones during the attack and are sitting Shiva.
Beit Halochem’s employees and volunteers visit the wounded in the hospitals, encouraging and checking their needs and those of their families.
Dozens of Beit Halochem staff and/or their children have been drafted into the reserves, and we are helping them in every way possible, including with equipment and food.
Our Beit Halochem Centres were open, despite ongoing missile attacks, although in a limited way for safety reasons. Beit Halochem members come to rehabilitate and receive assistance even during these days of fighting.
Looking ahead, there are estimates regarding the number of new disabled veterans who will be joining the ranks of the organization and will be rehabilitated at the Beit Halochem Centres, after their release from the hospitals.
As the organization legally responsible in Israel for their wellbeing, we are planning and preparing accordingly:
There is an estimate that over 2,000 wounded will be formally recognized as disabled veterans, and will be rehabilitated within our framework at Beit Halochem Centres across Israel. We are preparing to receive them right now and have begun preparing a comprehensive program that includes the admission of new employees in the various rehabilitation fields of physical therapy, treatment of PTSD victims, occupational therapy, rehabilitation through sports and more. The number will be updated as the war develops.
Beit Halochem is preparing to move up the opening of the new Beit Halochem Ashdod. The plan was to open it towards the end of 2025, however, considering the large number of wounded, especially in the southern region, we plan to move it up to late 2024.
To accomplish everything that has been detailed above, and in light of the dire consequences of the current war, we need a significant financial increase, both from the Ministry of Defense in Israel and a significant increase in the amount of donations coming from all our friends around the world. The campaign we are launching now and over the coming months has set a goal to raise $25 million USD dollars so that we can provide an adequate response to the significant challenges we face.
We are convinced that all of you, as one united people, will help the war effort, each in his/her own way.
We remain grateful, with sincere appreciation,
Adv. Edan Kleiman
Chairman
Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization – Beit Halochem