The Charlotte Jewish News- August 2026- Page 8
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By Noah Goldman
Often, when people tell a story like the one I am about to share, they endeavor to make it land on an inspirational and uplifting note. I cannot promise that with this one. What follows is an honest account of the extraordinarily difficult circumstances faced by brave young men.
Support for Israelis and for Israel is crucial, and it takes many forms. Israel today is a very different country than it was before Oct. 7. Meeting this moment requires two kinds of commitment: financial and emotional. This story is about the latter.
Reliable, up-to-date data on wounded Israeli soldiers is difficult to find, and as of 2026, much of it remains unpublished. For the purposes of this narrative, I am referring to soldiers physically wounded in military operations. There is a growing and essential conversation about mental health as thousands upon thousands of Israeli soldiers and veterans are grappling with post-traumatic stress. That conversation matters deeply, but it is beyond the scope education, Israel, young families, older adults, community service and more.
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When we read about wounded soldiers, we rarely see the images, so our minds fill in the blanks. The most common response is,“ Thank goodness they’ re alive.” And thankfully they are. But the story does not end there. Being wounded in war does not mean scratches and bruises. It often means devastating injuries, longterm rehabilitation, prosthetic limbs and lives permanently altered. The pain does not end simply because the fighting has stopped.
In February 2026, I traveled to Israel. The trip was for business purposes, but it was also rooted in something deeper. A few weeks before my departure, fellow community member Rachel Berendt told me about an informal network of volunteers who visit the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, a neighborhood in Ramat Gan and Israel’ s largest hospital, to spend time with wounded soldiers. At the time, I had no idea that conversation would lead to one of the most profound experiences of my trip.
Rachel first became aware of the initiative in December 2023, when she came to understand firsthand what it truly means to be wounded. The word took on an entirely different meaning. Not bruises or broken bones, but limbs lost and lives forever changed. With three sons serving in the Israeli army, every time Rachel walks through the hospital doors, it is deeply personal.
“ What surprises most people,” she told me,“ is that the item soldiers ask for most isn’ t expensive or elaborate. It’ s LEGO sets.”
She explained building the sets gives soldiers something to focus on beyond their recovery. Piece by piece, they create moments of accomplishment, distraction and, if only for a little while, a sense of normalcy. Knowing how meaningful these simple gifts could be, Rachel set out to make sure the soldiers had them. She partnered with Toy Mania in Cotswold, whose owners, Yishai
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“ We were incredibly grateful for the generosity of Toy Mania,” Rachel said.“ For every LEGO set we purchased, they donated another one, along with SPEKS magnetic fidget toys that provided comfort and stress relief for our wounded soldiers. Thanks to their support, and the generosity of community members who contributed financially, we were also able to provide healthy snacks, water bottles, and additional LEGO sets purchased from a toy store in Jerusalem. On each visit, we brought about 30 toys, helping make a difficult time just a little brighter.”
Later in my journey, a planned stop at a military base fell through at the last minute, leaving me with an unexpected free day. I decided to visit Tel HaShomer Hospital, and that’ s when I remembered Rachel’ s one piece of advice, words I wouldn’ t soon forget:“ Never arrive to visit a wounded soldier empty-handed.” So, I stopped at a local market and bargained for several LEGO sets of my own.
I wanted to meet these soldiers because they had been fighting on the front lines while many of us in the United States have been fighting from afar with our voices, our advocacy and our support. Both forms of service matter. Yet standing beside their hospital beds, I could not escape the reality that they had paid a price most of us will never be asked to bear.
Upon arriving at the hospital, I met the head volunteer, an older gentleman named Shuki. He spoke softly about losing his son to cancer a few years ago. During the long hours at the hospital with his son, he formed close relationships with several young soldiers recovering from their injuries. What began in tragedy eventually became something else entirely: a deep and enduring bond with those young men.
“ I gained countless sons,” he told me.
Shuki guided me from room to are all welcome. Registration is required. Learn more at www. jewishcharlotte. org
room to meet several of the soldiers. Some chose to talk. Others preferred to sit quietly in silence for a few moments. They spoke candidly about the constant pain and the difficult adjustment to an entirely new reality. Every soldier I met was missing at least one limb. Most were around my age.
“ One moment I had a forearm,” one soldier told me.“ And the next moment, it was gone.”
Many of the soldiers have been hospitalized for more than a year, and I quickly came to understand these visits are not about inspiration or pity. They are about presence and reminding someone they are not alone. Sometimes the greatest act of kindness isn’ t finding the right words. It’ s simply showing up.
Afterward, I returned to Tel Aviv. In the days since my time at the hospital, I have often thought about what to make of that afternoon. Perhaps it simply sharpened something I already knew: Israel is not a team sport. What happens there happens to real people who continue to carry the consequences long after the headlines fade. The headlines eventually fade. The people living them do not.
To support these wounded soldiers, please contact the Dror for the Wounded Foundation at Pnina @ Drorfoundation. org, Brothers for Life at admin @ BrothersForLife. com, or the Rehabilitation Department at Hadassah University Medical Center at isabellas @ hadassah. org. il. Those wishing to donate LEGO sets may contact Rachel Berendt at Rachel. Berendt @ charlottejewishpreschool. org.