Beit Halochem UK Brochure

REHABILITATING WOUNDED VETERANS

The History In 1949, following Israel’s War of Independence, the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation (ZDVO) was established to provide care and support for the 6,000 wounded veterans of the Israel Defence Forces.

The main objectives of the ZDVO are to improve the quality of life of wounded veterans, to safeguard their legal rights and to promote their interests through legislation or economic and social measures. In 1974, the first Beit Halochem rehabilitation centre was established in Tel Aviv to care for the complex physical and emotional needs of wounded IDF veterans.

Gal Gome Beit Halochem Veteran and member of the Premier League and National League wheelchair basketball team at Beit Halochem, Tel Aviv

Sadly, new members join the organisation every day, having been wounded during active service or while defending the country against acts of terror. With the horrific toll from the rise of terrorism, the organisation has expanded its membership to allow victims of terror to use its unique facilities.

Unfortunately, in Israel’s relatively short history, the organisation has continued to expand; today it numbers over 60,000 members (additional 9,000 since October 7th 2023).

Gal Gome was injured in a car accident during his military service, which led to severe nerve damage and Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in his left leg. Unable to move or touch his leg due to unbearable pain, he eventually opted for amputation to improve his quality of life. He now uses prosthetic legs for various activities, including running, which was his dream post-injury.

Gal competes in the Premier League and National League in wheelchair basketball at Beit Halochem Tel Aviv and plans to continue in the sport.

“Nothing stands in my way, or bothers me. I can do anything.”

Beit Halochem UK BEIT HALOCHEM UK is a UK registered charity devoted to raising awareness and funds for the four Beit Halochem rehabilitation centres. The State of Israel, with its many challenges and limited resources, cannot cope alone with providing for all needs of the wounded veterans and, as their numbers grow, the funding needs of the centres also increase.

Beit Halochem relies heavily on its affiliated organisations, including Beit Halochem UK, to help it carry the burden of giving its members as normal a life as possible.

Funding from supporters around the world enables Beit Halochem to continue on-going programmes, develop new initiatives and purchase much needed equipment.

Established in 2012, Beit Halochem UK has raised more than £32 million to support the state-of-the-art facilities in Israel. Our audited accounts can be viewed by visiting the UK Charity Commissions website, Please scan QR code.

If you are visiting Israel this year and would like a personal tour of one of the centres, Beit Halochem UK would be very happy to facilitate this.

Running Costs The annual running costs of our rehabilitation centres in Israel are approximately US$30 million.

The budgeted costs for the centres are funded in the following ways: Israel Ministry of Defence and membership fees paid by the wounded veterans Donations raised through the friends offices (including Israel) around the world

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The Road To Recovery The Beit Halochem Centres Beit Halochem, meaning ‘House of Warriors’, was established to provide wounded IDF veterans and victims of terror with a rehabilitative infrastructure where they receive respite and the opportunity to regain the dignity and quality of life they deserve. Today, the 60,000 Beit Halochem members are given a new lease of life at our four rehabilitation centres based in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beer Sheva. They remain members of the organisation for the rest of their lives.

The Beit Halochem centres provide a blend of exceptional rehabilitative services including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and chiropractic treatments conducted alongside social and specialised sport options, educational programmes and a vast range of creative activities. Each centre offers a wide choice of physical and social activities, housing an auditorium, multipurpose gymnasium, classrooms, fitness rooms, occupational and physical therapy units, trauma therapy units, a cafeteria, offices and a social wing.

The Power Of Sport

A Support Network For Life

For people with a disability, sport encourages positive health and wellbeing as well as social inclusion.

Whether as recreation or something more competitive, there is a reason why sports are recommended for both able bodied and disabled individuals: because they help one feel as though they’re a part of something. It’s where many important social skills are learned, including acceptance of the disability, support of comrades, and the value of competition. Research has revealed that the more the veterans participated in sport after they were injured, the significantly better their quality of life was. A large number of veterans who have taken on new adaptive sports at Beit Halochem have gone on to achieve Paralympic success and compete in worldwide Paralympic games including in wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball and swimming.

A very important feature at Beit Halochem is the meeting of “generations”, bringing together young and old which teaches veterans to adjust to the difficult and complex world of disability. The Young Members Club also provides activities for the younger members of the organisation including outings and trips abroad. Family members are encouraged to join in the many activities on offer and special attention is given to members’ children including the provision of playrooms, childcare, parties and social events, enabling the entire family to become actively involved in the lengthy process of rehabilitation.

The Beit Halochem Centres

Tel Aviv Beit Halochem Tel Aviv opened its doors in 1974, after the Yom Kippur War. It was built on seven acres of land allocated to the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation by the late Yehoshua Rabinovitz, then mayor of Tel Aviv. The principal contribution for the centre was provided by the Aktionskomitee “Pro-Israel” of Switzerland. The 10,000-square-metre complex includes a multipurpose gymnasium, classrooms, treatment rooms, rest accommodation, culture halls, cafeteria, indoor swimming pool, massage and hydrotherapy unit, shooting gallery and a 350-seat auditorium.

The grounds include outdoor playing fields and an Olympic-size swimming pool. About 8,000 veterans, living in the country’s central region, are active members in Tel Aviv. Including their immediate families, the overall number of participating members comes to 27,000.

Jerusalem The Beit Halochem centre in Jerusalem opened in 1994, for the benefit of the members of Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation living in and around the Jerusalem area. The facility grounds encompass some ten acres of beautiful landscaping, in the south-western part of Jerusalem, between the new suburbs of Gilo, Malcha and Givat Masua, with panoramic views of the Judean hills.

The construction of the facility was made possible through the contributions of Friends of Beit Halochem Organisations, from all over the world, and especially, by virtue of the 5.5 million dollar legacy bequeathed by the late Aladar and Iby Fleischman.

The 6,750 sq. metre Jerusalem stone complex boasts a large multipurpose gymnasium, an indoor swimming pool, auditorium, physiotherapy treatment and fitness rooms, classrooms, tennis courts, shooting range, table tennis, billiard hall and spacious parking lots. 4,500 disabled veterans are currently enrolled at the centre. Together with their families, the centre serves some 15,000 members.

Haifa The Beit Halochem centre in Haifa opened in 1986. The Brith Sholom Foundation in Philadelphia undertook the major portion of the facility’s funding. As a result of its unusual architectural features, it is considered one of Israel’s more interesting buildings.

Situated on the western slopes of the French Carmel, the complex covers about 7,000 square metres. The three-story building houses a social wing, 180-seat auditorium, multipurpose gymnasium, classrooms, fitness rooms, indoor swimming pool, shooting gallery, cafeteria and offices. Over 3,500 disabled veterans who live in the north make up the active membership, with a total of 13,000 participating members including families.

Beer Sheva Beer Sheva’s Beit Halochem opened its doors in January 2011. With over 2,500 registered members, it serves a community of more than 5,000 members and their families residing in Beer Sheva and the Southern District.

The 5,500 sq. metre facility is built in the city’s eastern section on an area of 4.4 acres allocated to the ZDVO by the Israel Lands Authority. The complex features a semi-Olympic swimming pool, a sports hall, hydrotherapy pool, a physiotherapy wing, fitness hall, table tennis and billiards halls, a multi-purpose events hall, outdoor basketball and tennis courts and a wide array of sports, cultural and leisure activities for the members and their families.

The Fifth And Final Beit Halochem Centre – Ashdod

Ashdod Beit Halochem is a second “home” to our veterans. As our numbers have grown, so have our needs. An integral part of our mission is to give disabled veterans and their families all the possible tools to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society. Vital to this goal is convenience – to have a Beit Halochem facility in close proximity to those women, men and families being served.

Ashdod was chosen as the site of the fifth Beit Halochem centre, after years of research and surveys. Situated on 7.4 acres of land, the new centre will be a hub for disabled veterans living in Israel’s Southern Coastal Plain.

Collectively there are 6,700 veterans in the area; together with their families, they number over 15,000 people who will directly benefit from the convenient location of Ashdod Beit Halochem.

The new facility will have a full aquatic complex (including a children’s pool); a physiotherapy wing with a hydrotherapy treatment pool; sports and exercise facilities, including a fitness centre, pilates studio, table tennis hall, children’s playroom, and sports hall; and the main building that will hold offices, classrooms, performing arts and events hall, lounge, and a restaurant. The outside grounds will encompass 2 tennis courts, a children’s playground, multi-purpose sports court, an outdoor terrace for performances and events, and a roof garden.

Beit Halochem Ashdod, when completed, will be a healing community, where there is a life-long commitment to help and support disabled veterans and survivors of terror attacks in Israel. It will be a place to go for rehabilitation, therapies, sports training, learning new skills, pursuing creative hobbies, making new friends, and relaxing with the family.

After the October 7th attacks on Israel, the Beit Halochem management recognised the critical need to expedite the construction of the Ashdod facility in response to the growing number of wounded veterans living near the Gaza border. This newly planned centre is intended to serve as a national hub for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With your support, Beit Halochem Ashdod will join forces with the existing four centres, creating an unparalleled global network dedicated to disabled veterans and victims of terror.

Educational Scholarships Beit Halochem is committed to providing the best possible care for the 60,000 wounded IDF veterans and victims of terror living in Israel.

Through the provision of their four Rehabilitation centres spread across the country, Beit Halochem offers a blend of sporting, creative, social and rehabilitation facilities which help members to maintain physical fitness and emotional well being. Beit Halochem also assists each member to reach his or her potential academically with a view to looking towards the future.

The Scholarship Process

Support for academic scholarships

Beit Halochem offers scholarships for BA, MA and PhD studies as well as for vocational studies at any higher academic institution recognised by the Israel Ministry of Education Board of Higher Education.

Every wounded veteran can apply for a one-year scholarship. They can reapply each year if they wish. In order to qualify, they must prove they have already studied for one academic year to demonstrate their commitment.

Funds for academic scholarships are raised within Israel and through donors around the world. We hope to continue assisting our members through this important project. Donors can choose the type of course they wish to donate to (for example engineering, medicine) as well as the institution.

Between 500-600 wounded veterans receive scholarships each year. In 2022-23, 501 Academic and Professional Training Scholarships were handed out (totalling $687,000 USD) to Beit Halochem veterans.

The amount of the scholarship depends on the disabled veteran’s disability and socio-economic situation coupled with the amount they have already paid.

Each scholarship recipient receives the donor’s name and any further information the donor wishes to provide and many of them send a personal thank you letter and updated information on their progress.

The donor receives the full details of the scholarship recipient including the name of the institution or University and the faculty. Donors are invited to attend the scholarship distribution ceremony and to personally hand out their donated scholarship to the recipients.

Sponsorship Options Bronze Sponsorship

£1,500

Silver Sponsorship

£7,500

Gold Sponsorship

£15,000

Platinum Sponsorship

£22,500

(sponsor 1 veteran for one academic year)

(sponsor 5 veterans for one academic year)

(sponsor 10 veterans for one academic year) (sponsor 15 veterans for one academic year)

Should you wish to donate to this project, please contact us at info@bhuk.org or 020 8458 2455.

Organisation Chairman Edan Kleiman with Shiran Madar – (Beit Halochem Veteran and Law Graduate), together at the Scholarship Ceremony

A Typical Story Ron Halevi lost his right leg in Operation Protective Edge during the summer of 2014. The injury brought him back to the sport he loved as a child – kayaking. Just two years later, in 2016 he competed in the European championships, and now he is a proud Paralympian and current European Championship Double Bronze winning Medallist, the latest in the 2024 games.

Halevi, now 30 years old, a disabled IDF veteran amputee is considered one of Israel’s great hopes for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, having previously represented Israel in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

At age 18 he enlisted in the 188th Brigade of the Armoured Corps. After finishing the Tank Commanders’ Course, he was chosen to help set up the battalion’s new auxiliary company. He was re-trained for infantry and stationed as a commander in the company’s reconnaissance team.

When Operation Protective Edge broke out in the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014, he and his unit members were at the Lebanese border. On the morning of July 31, Halevi and his comrades set out on a mission to identify terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

The mission was successful, the tunnel was located and authorisation was received to return to Israel. On the border fence, just before sun set, armoured personnel carriers were waiting to take them back.

Just before they were able to reach the border, Hamas started to fire shells. Halevi and his comrades were caught in the cross fire and were unable to evacuate in time.

Many were hit by shrapnel and soon after another mortar landed directly on one of the force’s armoured personnel carriers.

Five of the force’s men were killed. Eight soldiers were severely injured, including Halevi. A huge piece of metal hit his right leg and severed it below the knee. He also suffered a tear in his eardrum, a piece of shrapnel in his right eye, and in the neck.

He was quickly operated on, and after a few days in the recovery ward, he was transferred to the rehabilitation centre, where he remained

for three weeks. Afterwards, he was sent home for a month of physiotherapy, and returned to hospital in order to practise walking with a prosthesis.

During this difficult period, the coordinator of young veterans activities from Beit Halochem reached out to him, and he began to take part in various events and meetings with other young veterans which greatly helped.

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He also began training at the fitness hall and received treatments including physiotherapy.

He was encouraged to take up sports including kayaking, his favourite sport.

He regularly participates in delegations abroad on behalf of Beit Halochem to raise awareness of the organisation. Halevi has an extremely positive outlook on life and feels fortunate that he has achieved so much since his injury, with plenty of encouragement from Beit Halochem.

2019

Leave A Lasting

Legacy...

Why Should You Leave Your Legacy To Beit Halochem?

If you choose to leave your legacy to Beit Halochem, you are giving new lives to the veterans who sacrificed their old lives as young soldiers defending Israel for all of us.

Beit Halochem has transformed the lives of generations of brave men and women, repairing their bodies, healing their minds and enabling them to build their futures.

Your legacy will mean we can continue to provide recreation centres, specialised sports facilities, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, counselling, a support network and dozens of other specialised, invaluable services. More than that, your legacy will mean that we can repay the courage and rebuild the lives of each soldier who thought their life was over.

What Is A Legacy?

Your will distributes your estate through gifts, known as legacies.

There are different types of legacies and they can be subject to certain conditions.

You may also make a legacy conditional, for example, by delaying payment until a named beneficiary reaches a certain age.

What You Need To Know About Leaving Your Legacy To Our Brave Veterans We appreciate every legacy that is promised to Beit Halochem. You may wish to support a specific Beit Halochem centre or a specific project. We are here to discuss the options with you. We also understand that leaving a legacy can be complex so we recommend you consult a solicitor, who will provide you with specialist advice on what type of legacy is best for you. If you would like to receive further information or wish to discuss your legacy in greater detail, we can put you in touch with a law firm that can assist you.

Ways To Donate Postal

Send Cheques / Charity Voucher

Online

Visit Our Website www.bhuk.org Or Scan Below

Bank Transfer

Contact The Office For Our Details

Reasons To Donate Celebrate A Special Occasion With Beit Halochem

Donate In The Memory Of A Loved One

Leave A Future Gift In Your Will

Become A Major Donor

Please contact the office for details info@bhuk.org or tel: 0208 458 2455

Beit Halochem exists because it understands that an essential part of our responsibility is the care we provide to veterans when they can no longer serve as our ‘warriors’. The commitment that we show to the wellbeing of those who put their lives on the line for the protection of the Jewish State, is absolutely essential for Israel’s future. May we all live to see a time without conflict or war, when there will be no further need for these brave men and women to put the safety of others before themselves. May all of your continued efforts be blessed.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis

Beit Halochem UK t: +44 (0) 20 8458 2455 e: info@bhuk.org w: www.bhuk.org UK registered charity no: 1146950