Injured IDF Soldiers Scale New Heights In Australia

MELBOURNE‚ Australia [AJN] — Izzy Ezaqui's dream was to join the Israeli army. So when the American-born student turned 18‚ he packed his bags‚ kissed his parents goodbye‚ left the comforts of Miami behind and made aliyah. July 12 2009

MELBOURNE, Australia [AJN] — Izzy Ezaqui's dream was to join the Israeli army. So when the American-born student turned 18, he packed his bags, kissed his parents goodbye, left the comforts of Miami behind and made aliyah.

Months later, he was serving on Israel’s frontline in Gaza as part of Operation Cast Lead on January 8 this year, his life took an unexpected turn. A rocket fired by Hamas landed less than a meter above his left shoulder, sending shrapnel flying. Ezaqui lost his left arm above the elbow in the attack.

“It fell right on top of me, and I'm still here,” said Ezaqui, now 20, shaking his head in amazement, “That’s the coolest pan of the story.”

Seven months later, Ezaqui's gritty spirit is intact. Last week, he arrived in Australia, along with 10 other injured Israeli soldiers, to tour Sydney and Melbourne's most popular tourist sites as part of the Chabad Terror Victims Project.

The Israeli-based program aims to give support and comfort to terror victims and their families.

With the help of local sponsors and Shuls - namely Melbourne's South Caulfield Hebrew Congregation and Sydney's South Head Synagogue - it organized the tour to give the injured veterans a well-deserved holiday after months of rehabilitation.

Over the past 10 days, the group covered a lot of ground. They took in a cruise of the Sydney Harbour, climbed the Harbor Bridge, caught an AFL match in Melbourne and met members of the Jewish community. Of course, they also managed to squeeze in a few beers at the pub.

'”The great thing about this is that they realize they're not alone in facing their challenges,“ said Yossi Swerdlov, associate director of Chabad's Terror Victims Project, who has organized similar trips to Aspen in the US. “They come as individuals and leave as a unit.” 

For 29-year-old former Israeli policeman David Sydieof, it was a much-needed break.

Five years ago, he was seriously injured while intercepting a suicide I bomber on Jerusalem's border. 

Today, he lives with the injuries from that attack. A deep six-inch scar runs from behind his left ear to the center of his scalp, and he walks with a brace. But he perseveres. “I’m happy to see Jewish people in the world that care for us and are trying to help us,” he said. “It warms the heart and helps us mentally. This is what makes the Jewish nation special.”