Community Magazine September 2019

34 Community Magazine Unleashing the Winner Within T I K V O T – Ellen Geller Kamaras The Syrian Community Connection The Syrian community has had a strong bond with TIKVOT since its inception. Susan Franco is a devoted supporter of TIKVOT and joined Rabbi Naftali Besser, Yeshivah of Flatbush Dean of Students, 18 years ago to lead Yeshiva of Flatbush hesed missions to Israel. Together they bring groups to Israel to perform a host of meaningful hesed projects. The group of high school students comes in January, and the adults come in May. Included in the groups’ schedule are visits to TIKVOT. Susan connected with TIKVOT in what she describes as a most amazing way. She had been going on the hesed missions for a few years when her cousin, Zac Gindi, told her that it’s a must for her to have Steve Averbach speak to her group when she goes to Israel. It turned out that Steve had been a Hillel Yeshiva student in Deal and was a close friend of Zac and Dr. Jeffrey Elbaum, a staunch supporter of TIKVOT (Dr. Elbaum has served as the Vice President of TIKVOT for the past 12 years). Steve made aliyah in 1982 and served in the Israeli army in the Golani special forces unit. As a policeman, he was part of a S.W.A.T. team called Yassam, and later on was a weapon and defense instructor (his nickname was “Gunner”). Steve was injured on May 18, 2003 by a terrorist in Jerusalem. As a result, he became a quadriplegic. He was riding the number six Egged bus when he spotted a terrorist. By reaching for his gun, he frightened the terrorist into detonating himself prematurely, and saved an untold number of lives. In addition to being honorary Vice President of TIKVOT, Steve served as the TIKVOT spokesman. His goal was to help victims of terror, both children and adults, to rehabilitate their lives through sports. Steve passed away peacefully at his home in Israel at the age of 43, in 2010. Focus on TIKVOT Director, Simone Farbstein Susan also spoke with great admiration about Simone’s vital role at TIKVOT. “TIKVOT is not a job to Simone, it’s her life, and its clients are her family.” Simone operates TIKVOT out of her home, with only one paid employee. All the rest are volunteers. Simone attends every sports event, including TIKVOT’s annual skiing trip to Italy. When I first talked with Simone, she had just returned from Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv. She was excited to tell me that every Friday she joins a phenomenal surfing event there. A group of bereaved sisters of Israeli soldiers and victims of terror started this weekly gathering. Wounded soldiers and terror victims also surf. Simone also shared with me what happened on one of her first visits to injured Israeli citizens who were hospitalized. It was Vice President of TIKVOT, Dr. Jeffrey Elbaum W hat if I told you that there is an Israeli organization that has 800 participants who were wounded in terror attacks or in military actions in defense of Israel and are actively engaged in triathlons, marathons, horse-back riding, karting, gymnastics, rock-climbing, surfing, and skiing? That’s right! TIKVOT has 800 members, all of whom were either Israeli victims of terror or wounded soldiers. TIKVOT pays for all of the expenses associated with its wide-ranging sports happenings and events. Specially adapted equipment enables the members to participate in sports. TIKVOT also assists the participants in any way necessary to help them to receive their government entitled benefits. Founders of TIKVOT TIKVOT (meaning “hopes” in Hebrew), is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization, which rehabilitates Israel’s victims of terror and wounded soldiers through sports. It was founded in 2004, at the height of the Intifada terrorist attacks, by Mervin “Rocky” Muravitz, Vic Essakow, and Ehud Edelman. Rocky is a South African Jew who made aliyah in 1977 and was involved in Sports Administration from an early age. As an ardent Zionist in Durban, South Africa, Rocky led the March in Durban, South Africa, protesting the UN resolution equating Zionism with racism. Co-founder Vic Essakow, also a South African Jew, who made aliyah in 1976, was involved in sports as a student and was the South African javelin champion and record holder. Co-founder Ehud Edelman is the only native born Israeli of TIKVOT’s founders. For many years Ehud has been involved in philanthropic causes. Rocky’s passionate and talented daughter, Simone Farbstein, the Director of TIKVOT, presently runs the organization and views its mission as her life’s purpose. TIKVOT’s Mission TIKVOT’s stated mission is to use sports to instill hope and to empower Israel’s wounded veterans and terror victims again. It has been proven that sports mastery can be critical to the emotional and physical rehabilitation of our heroes, providing hope and giving them the power to restore self-confidence and dignity and ultimately bringing back those long-lost smiles. TIKVOT has already helped thousands of severely injured Israelis to overcome their pain, trauma, and disability, and has helped them to rebuild productive lives.