Dalia Day returned to Canada inspired by the disabled veterans and victims of terror whom she met while on Beit Halochem Canada’s 2014 Yom Ha’atzmaut Mission. She sent a moving letter to her family and friends:
Shalom Friends and Family,
I have just come back from Israel on a mission tour with Beit Halochem Canada. This is the Canadian group that aids disabled veterans of Israel. I only became aware of them a year ago when I had the pleasure of going to their concert in Toronto.
My trip has opened my eyes to realizing that they are the ones who stand on guard to protect not only Israel, but Jewish people all over the world.
I met many veterans, each with their own story and now with their own disability or disabilities.
I met a young man, 22 years old, same age as my daughter, who lost his arm working on a tank. I met an older veteran who stopped a terrorist in Jerusalem with his body. And I met a stunningly beautiful mother, wearing high heels, only to learn that she was missing the bottom part of her leg and was walking on an artificial leg. All these people’s stories connected them to Beit Halochem centres around Israel and how these centres gave them a home, rehabilitation and hope … for them and their families.
Beit Halochem takes care of 51,000 disabled veterans, victims of terror and their families, in state-of-the- art rehabilitation centres throughout Israel. Although there are endless organizations that need money, I feel today that Beit Halochem is one organization that really needs our support. Please join me as we do our part.
Thank you,
Dalia Day