Israeli soldiers enjoy Melbourne visit

Several Melbourne families recently opened their homes to a group of 10 former and current Israeli soldiers.

Although none of the soldiers served in the same battalion, they share one thing in common –all were injured in combat and are currently members of Achim L’Chaim, Brothers for Life.

Brothers for Life (BFL) is an organisation started and run by injured Israeli soldiers whose mission is to support other soldiers injured in combat.

Sending soldiers from Israel to Jewish communities around the world is one of more than 25 programs Brothers for Life offers its members to help them reclaim their lives and address their traumas.

Since forming in 2008, the organisation has provided support to over 1300 soldiers and their families. This is the first delegation to visit Australia, joining prior delegations which have visited the United States, Canada, the UK and South Africa.

Of all the programs offered, international delegations like these are the most transformative for the soldiers, says Chemi Rubin, the COO of the organisation and the lead “brother” on the recent delegation.

“We take these soldiers, with their physical and emotional scars, and embed them in a supportive Jewish community in another country for a short period of time.

“They get to feel the healing love of their host families. And in turn, the families gain appreciation and insight into the sacrifices the soldiers have made for their people and their faith. There are no words to describe the strong bonds that form between the soldiers and their families.”

The injuries faced by soldiers in BFL range from physical to emotional, including many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Rubin himself was injured as a soldier in Gaza when the building he was in collapsed from a detonating charge and he was thrown from the third storey.

One of the highlights of the week was a session the brothers had at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum with survivor Sarah Saaroni.

The delegation also spoke with senior students at Bialik College. Gary Velleman, vice-principal and head of Senior School at Bialik shared, “Our students were privileged to hear the stories of these 10 young men, many of whom were seriously injured at an age not much older than our year 12 students. In addition to outlining their physical injuries, their openness to share the psychological impact of their experiences was most profound.”

When asked by students if he would serve again knowing how things turned out, and if he was worried about being injured during his service, delegate Yoav Jacobsen responded, “My father’s family was wiped out in the Holocaust and I had a deep understanding that there is no other place for the Jewish people like Israel.”

He added, “Now, after everything I have been through, I can definitely say, knowing what the outcome was, I would still do everything again. I know the importance of [my service], how many lives are living now, and I have a strong feeling of the impact that I have made.”

To learn more, please visit www.brothersforlife.com