Dear friends,
I will allow myself to share a story close to my heart. Today, we mark 10 years anniversary since the beginning of the Operation Protective Edge during which 67 Israeli heroes fell in the battle.
On the first day, Lt. Col. Amotz Grinberg, z"l, a 45 year old volunteer reservist fell after being shot by a Palestinian sniper. He left behind his wife Sagit, and his children Lihi (15), Ori (12) and Shira (7).
I remember looking into Ori's face during the eulogy he gave to his father at the funeral and vowed to help the IDF orphans and widows. Five years later, when Ori arrived in Prague as a member of a group of 12 teenage orphans for whom we, together with the IDFWO organised our Young Leadership Seminar, I knew this was one of the best decisions of my life.
Today, Ori is 22 years old, he's a university student who has completed his mandatory service in the IDF.
Thanks to the IDFWO, Ori grew up in a safe environment, surrounded by those with whom he could share the pain of losing a father - an Israeli hero. Nothing can replace a loving parent, however the IDFWO stands by the orphans' and widows' side so they can turn their life into a story of courage and resilience.
Shalem allocates a third of its donations to the IDFWO (unless the donors specify a different purpose) or uses the funds for activities of the IDFWO abroad. For instance, the funds collected at our charity art auction event in March will cover 1/2 of the total cost of the planned summer camp for 300 orphans in Cyprus.
The ongoing war has cost lives of fathers to 550 children, some of whom are yet to be born and some were born without their father. With your continuous support, we are able to help them and let them know that they are not alone.
