(Left to right) Jessica Levy, Lisa Levy, Hayley Braverman with disabled Israeli veterans Michal Shahar and Yardan Tal. While on the 2016 Group Visit to Toronto, Michal and Yarden attended our Celebration of Life Concert.
Yarden Tal came to Canada in June 2016 as part of the Toronto Group Visit. Each year, Beit Halochem Canada brings disabled Israeli veterans to Canada as part of their rehabilitation. Here, Yarden expresses her thanks.
First I want to thank all of you for the warm hospitality. The only problem is that now, when I return to Israel, I am afraid that I will not remember how to do anything for myself because you have all taken care of our every need so beautifully.
For me this was more than a trip to Canada. For me, it was so eye-opening to see the incredible love, support and appreciation that you have for us veterans. Each day is a battle for me, a battle because of the pain from my injuries and also the challenges of learning to cope with my new reality, which is much different than before. And often I ask myself why and for whom I sacrificed so much. Now, after spending 2 weeks in this community, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was worth it.
I will be returning to Israel with great pride and the knowledge that we, the people of Israel – and specifically the disabled veterans of Beit Halochem – are not alone. Now I know that if my family in Israel doesn’t behave, that I can run away to you, my family in Toronto.
So, just to sum up, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support. Specifically, I want to thank my host family, the Simon/Galpers who put up with my late returns at night and my getting lost on a morning run. And I also want to thank the Bernstein-Hendry family for co-hosting me and being my best friend during these past 2 weeks.
Of course, I want to thank all of the משלחת, who have now become good friends.
And, last but not least, I want to thank Beit Halochem for this incredible opportunity and the motivation to overcome my injury.