Almost 1,000 people filled the George Weston Recital Hall at the Toronto Centre for the Arts for a \u201cCelebration of Life\u201d concert June 4.<\/p>\n
The evening, a fundraiser for Beit Halochem Canada, Aid to Disabled Veterans of Israel, featured performances by Israeli singers Orit Shalom and Alon Shaar, as well as musicians Stav Nachum and Tamir Leibovich, interspersed with stories of wounded Israeli soldiers affiliated with the organization.<\/p>\n
Beit Halochem provides rehabilitation services to 51,000 disabled veterans and victims of terror through its five \u2013 soon to be six \u2013 centres in Israel. The Canadian organization was established 37 years ago.<\/p>\n
The annual concert honoured four designated \u201cheroes\u201d of the evening who were wounded in last year\u2019s Operation Protective Edge, and who appeared in videos as well as in person to standing ovations.<\/p>\n
In Toronto, the concert\u2019s last stop after Calgary and Montreal, Toby Feldberg, president of the Canadian organization, also welcomed 10 disabled Israeli war veterans who were in town as part of a two-week trip sponsored annually by the organization. The group\u2019s leader, a Druze, was a brigade general in a combat unit. Montreal \u2013 and Vancouver and Calgary together \u2013 also host trips.<\/p>\n
Guest speaker Elyezer Shkedy, former commander-in-chief of the Israeli Air Force and former president and CEO of El Al, brought a message of optimism to concert-goers. \u201cWe are part of the biggest miracle in the history of the Jewish nation,\u201d Shkedy said, citing Israel\u2019s expertise in technology, medicine and culture.<\/p>\n
He added that wounded soldiers have \u201csacrificed a lot\u201d for the survival of the country. \u201cWe have to do all we can do to let them continue their lives in the way that they deserve.\u201d Shkedy concluded by expressing his \u201cdeep hope\u201d for a world free of conflict.<\/p>\n
Nati Hakshur, who lost one leg and suffered severe injuries to the other in a terrorist attack, said Beit Halochem gave him \u201cso many tools\u201d to make the best of his situation. He has gained strength from meeting others who are \u201ctotally normal\u201d after similar injuries. \u201cToday I\u2019m a student, and I do sports. I\u2019m happy with my not-so-easy life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sariel Teper didn\u2019t realize he\u2019d been wounded by shrapnel when he saved a fellow soldier\u2019s life by stemming the flow of blood from a neck artery with his finger, until medical help arrived 20 minutes later. \u201cI\u2019m sure he would have done the same for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Alon Vollozny, who suffered physical injuries while leading a patrol, and also has post-traumatic stress, said that \u201csometimes, you don\u2019t want to get out of bed. It\u2019s something you have to learn to live with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ofir Anidjar also has less visible injuries, including severe headaches and flashbacks. He was injured by a missile while detonating terror tunnels. Anidjar gave credit to Beit Halochem for offering \u201csome light at the end of a very dark tunnel,\u201d and to his wife \u201cwho hurts with me, and who is always there for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an emotional speech, his wife thanked attendees for their support and family-like embrace.<\/p>\n
For the 10 wounded Israeli veterans who travelled to Toronto and were billeted with local hosts, the two-week trip is \u201can integral part of their rehab,\u201d Lisa Levy, executive director of Beit Halochem Canada, said in an interview. Many of the vets haven\u2019t travelled on their own since they were injured, and \u201cthe biggest thing they come out saying is that they had no idea that people in Canada cared so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, and Kingston were part of the itinerary, too.<\/p>\n
The program last week included visits to Jewish day schools to talk to students, as well as synagogue visits, horseback riding and sailing, and a day at Camp Wahanowin, which has been hosting them for several years. At the camp, they can take part in activities such zip lining, rock climbing, archery, and canoeing. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to stretch their limits, and experience a Canadian camp day and the beauty of our country,\u201d Levy said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Celebration of Life 2015 honoured four designated heroes from Operation Protective Edge, who were wounded and who appeared in videos as well as in person to standing ovations: Sergeant Sariel Teper, Lt. Colonel (Res.) Alon Vollozny, Captain (Res.) Ofir Anidjar and civilian Nati Hakshur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":3851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-media-de"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n