Community Magazine September 2019

36 Community Magazine then that she met Noam Gershony, a former helicopter pilot who was severely wounded during the second Lebanon War when his helicopter collided with another helicopter while on a special mission. After his injury, Gershony started his rehabilitation with waterskiing and snow skiing. Simone asked Noam, “Do you want to surf with me? To which he responded, “Are you crazy?! I am paralyzed, I can’t surf.” Simone insisted, saying, “Spend a day with me at the Kinneret.” Noam relented. He found he was able to surf using a special chair donated by community members Susan and Elliot Cohen. Noam joined TIKVOT and began to play tennis. At the London 2012 Paralympics, Noam won the gold medal for tennis. The Amputee Marathon Runner Another awesome TIKVOT hero is Eitan Hermon. Eitan was wounded in 2006 during the second Lebanon War, when his tank was hit by a roadside bomb. When evacuated, lying on a stretcher, Eitan said over and over again, "I will still run a marathon!" After a prolonged hospital stay and many months of rehabilitation, Eitan ultimately required an amputation right below the knee, and his world was turned upside down. He was fitted with a special prosthetic leg for running, purchased by TIKVOT, and a year after the amputation he started training for national and international competitions. Within four months Eitan completed his first 10K. After 16 marathons sponsored by TIKVOT, Eitan broke the world record for amputees at the Vienna Marathon. Eitan’s new goal is to run in the New York Marathon this coming November. Why Sports? Susan explained that sports give people back their self-esteem and a new reason to live. “Sports give people a reason to wake up in the morning. It offers the injured soldiers and victims a reason to live and transitions them back to being a person.” Imagine what it’s like to be an Israeli soldier who is used to constantly being active, and who suddenly gets severely wounded and finds he cannot run or even walk. They lose hope. Susan added that she has heard first-hand from those who have been injured about the powerful results of doing sports. She says, “They are flying high when they are involved in their sports, they forget their disabilities. Can you understand what it's like to ski after sacrificing your legs for your country? Think of what it means to conquer a mountain after losing your eyesight as a result of your service and sacrifice to your nation?” Community Support TIKVOT’s diverse and exhilarating sports activities are funded by its generous supporters. A successful fundraiser recently took place on July 9th, 2019 in Elberon, New Jersey. The beautiful gala, hosted by Stephanie and Jack Mosseri in their home, honored Florence and Jeffrey Elbaum, and was dedicated in memory of Steve Averbach, a”h . The Mosseris met TIKVOT members on a Yeshiva of Flatbush hesed mission to Israel, and have since been strong supporters of TIKVOT. Simone and her dad Rocky, along with three TIKVOT participants, Matan Berman, Yaron Porter, and Shahaf Segal, came to speak to guests at the July 9th event. All three shared their life stories, and told about their injuries, their struggles, and their initial despair. They described how TIKVOT and Simone helped them restore and transform their lives back through sports. Why Donate to TIKVOT? Both Susan and Simone provided spot-on answers, which really hit home. Susan said, “We owe the soldiers and citizens of Israel everything. We are nothing without a strong Israel. TIKVOT’s participants gave a part of their body and/or brain to ensure the existence of the State of Israel.” Simone added, “It is a privilege to work with these men and women. They gave everything to protect us, it’s the least we can do for them, to help them become active and rebuild their lives. Without our soldiers and the State of Israel, it would be difficult for Jews to live safely anywhere, including the U.S.” Noam Gershony, a former helicopter pilot who was severely wounded during the second Lebanon War, waterskiing after his rehabilitation. TIKVOT Contact Information Please help TIKVOT continue its life-saving work. To donate, please go to http://www.TIKVOT.org.il/ Follow TIKVOT on Instagram@TIKVOT and connect with Simone Farbstein via email at TIKVOTsports@gmail.com. Contact Susan Franco at susanfranco23@gmail.com to book opportunities to participate in sports with TIKVOT members when visiting Israel. Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. Ellen works part-time as an entitlement specialist at Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com) .