After years of war, Israel is facing the largest rehabilitation effort in its history, and Friends of Irgun Nechei Zahal, or Beit Halochem USA, announced on Tuesday that it will be renamed Warriors of Israel after 75 years of experience in providing services for Israel’s wounded soldiers.
The organization is the official US branch of Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZVDO), a non-profit organization established after the War of Independence with the goal of rehabilitating and supporting wounded soldiers.
Warriors of Israel stated in a press release that its mission boils down to a promise: “Their sacrifice. Our responsibility, a commitment to stand behind Israel’s wounded warriors and their families for every step of the path ahead.”
Referring to the organization’s choice to change its name, Sam Zussman, Chair of the Board of Warriors of Israel, said, “The name Warriors of Israel reflects the strength and courage of those we stand by. Thousands are beginning a recovery journey that will last a lifetime. Our responsibility is equally enduring: to ensure every wounded warrior can live with dignity, independence, and purpose. That is the promise carried by our new name.”
According to the organization, more than 26,000 soldiers have been wounded since the start of the war on October 7, 2023. ZDVO and Beit Halochem provide rehabilitation and community services to around 80,000 wounded soldiers.
According to the press release, soldiers have faced “physical injuries, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other invisible wounds,” and the Defense Ministry “estimates that more than 90,000 wounded warriors will require lifelong rehabilitation and support.”
Over the past 10 years, over 30,000 American supporters have contributed to Warriors of Israel with resources to meet the quickly growing needs of Israel’s wounded soldiers and their families.
Beit Halochem hosts five rehabilitation centers across Israel, where “Wounded warriors regain strength and independence through physical rehabilitation, specialized mental health care, adaptive sports, education and career development, peer connection, and programs that support their spouses and children.”
More than rehabilitation: Community
The press release contends that Beit Halochem offers much more than rehabilitation. It offers a community for people wounded in war to progress in life alongside people who share a journey and understand one another’s struggles.
“Those beginning rehabilitation today draw strength, guidance, and mentorship from those who have walked the same path for decades,” the statement reads.
“Today’s wounded warriors are younger than ever before, and many are living with invisible wounds alongside physical injuries,” said Iris Reff Ronen, CEO of Warriors of Israel. “Their recovery will not be measured in weeks or months, but over a lifetime. We must invest in the opportunities, resources, and community that empower and enable wounded warriors and their families to rebuild their lives and claim the future they have earned.”
Warriors of Israel calls on Americans to take part in helping to ensure that soldiers who have sacrificed a part of themselves in defense of their country have support in rebuilding their lives.
Warriors of Israel is part of a global network of 15 official Friends organizations supporting Israel’s wounded warriors. Learn more: www.warriorsofisrael.org