Jan 16, 2024
Two Communities, Two Generous Jewish Hearts
“This has been an incredible week of healing and connecting with our Miami Jewish community,” said Brothers for Life (BFL) cofounder Rabbi Chaim Levine, affirming that the 12 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veterans who arrived here Monday benefited from their visit. “It takes a whole community to help an injured soldier.”
A recipient of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund (IEF), which now totals nearly $30 million thanks to our generous donors, Brothers for Life is a unique nonprofit through which previously injured IDF combat soldiers mentor newly injured IDF combat soldiers, providing critical support — physically, mentally, financially and more. Rabbi Levine, who created BFL after the 2006 Lebanon War with two other injured IDF veterans, shared, “We help injured IDF veterans reclaim their lives in a way no one else possibly could because we have faced and overcome the same injuries.”
The IEF has allotted $50,000 to Brothers for Life to assist in their critical work, which has increased significantly in the past three months. The BFL Emergency Progress Report for January estimates more than 2,300 soldiers have been injured since October 7, with close to 10 wounded each day. BFL anticipates it will be providing more than 2,000 soldiers with financial aid, medical programs, PTSD counseling, family counseling and programs, academic scholarships, vocational training, job placement services and soldier-to-soldier programs
On average, BFL’s 140 hospital mentors meet with up to 100 newly injured soldiers each week, pairing the patients with a veteran who has successfully rebuilt their life managing the same injury. Support for soldiers and their families encompasses essential medical equipment, personal supplies, technology, transportation and accommodations for their families near the hospital. Currently, BFL is in the process of integrating over 700 newly injured soldiers.
“The dual purpose of this trip,” explained Dan Nir, BFL board member and Miami host, “is to raise awareness of the group and have the recently injured soldiers feel the embrace of our Jewish community.” The group spent time together at the Betsy Hotel and then split up to stay with host families.
The respite gave the veterans — half of whom were injured in the current war, several on October 7 — a break from the hostilities in Israel and from their rehabilitation routine in the hospital. It allowed them to gain some new perspective as they enter a new chapter of their lives. BFL makes similar trips throughout North America and even South Africa and Australia. “It’s a magical experience,” said Rabbi Levine. “These Jewish communities open their homes and their hearts.”
Highlights of the Miami trip include an Evening of Unity at the Betsy Hotel in South Beach with more than 200 BFL supporters in attendance and an intimate Shabbat dinner hosted by Federation Board member Michelle Diener. “The level of interest and support among Miamians who previously hadn’t identified with Jewish causes has been remarkable,” said Nir. “We had to get a bigger room at the Betsy!”
Above all, the IDF veterans who are welcomed by these Jewish communities leave with more than just good memories. “They realize that their injuries are for a good cause — the protection of the Jewish people, and they carry their injuries differently because of it,” said Rabbi Levine.
