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Santa Claus, the Jewish Version

Monday, 25 August, 2014 - 1:46 pm

 By Amit Tomer - Maariv Newspaper

Israeli soldiers serving in the Gaza region & those injured during operation Tzuk Eitan, are used to receiving candies, flowers, blessing and other gifts. In the past days though they have been pampered with expensive American gifts, a delegation from America came to say thank you and distribute smartphone/ipods, LeBron James sneakers & gift cards.

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The entrance to the orthopedic wing of the Sheba hospital is covered with signs supporting the injured soldiers who are hospitalized there. 55 soldiers are hospitalized in Tel Hashomer. Besides family members and friends, who don’t leave the soldiers bedsides, they have been visited by people from all walks of life. “Everyone has been here - Celebrities, soccer teams, representatives from the IDF” says Yael Porat, Erans’ mother, who was seriously wounded two weeks earlier by shrapnel and is now healing. “It is heartwarming, and gives a feeling of unity”.

The next group that entered the Porat room though was totally unexpected: 8 American citizens who only spoke English. “We came to say thank you to the soldiers for protecting us”, Bob Book (63), an American businessman, standing at the head of the group, told Eran.

In a joint venture with Chabad, Book who for the past 12 years, on his own accord, has been inviting wounded soldiers & Israeli citizens wounded by terror attacks, to New York in order to take them to see the Yankees play. When he saw on TV what was going on in Israel, and all that the soldiers were doing, he knew that it was time to put together a delegation.

“The Israeli’s are also protecting us, during this time we couldn’t be so far away and just stand by the sidelines and watch”, Book explained, “ We decided to come to Israel for a few days, not to tour and enjoy ourselves, but to uplift the soldiers spirits. We were planning this for a couple of days, and last Friday we were already on the plane from New York. I turned to Chabad and asked them if they could take to places where we could strengthen the soldiers. We were with them in Beer Sheva, where we meet the residents and also visited the wounded soldiers in Surka. We also visited army bases to make the soldiers happy.”

Inspiring & Difficult

The delegation did not arrive empty handed. In every base and hospital they visited the Americans gave out smartphones/iPods, LeBron James sneakers, Yankees caps & gift cards to the retailer American Eagle, the 3 children of Jay Schottenstein, CEO of American Eagle, were part of the delegation.

“On one hand it is amazing & satisfying, to know the joy we are giving the soldiers that do so much for all of us” said Joey Schottenstein the eldest brother. “But on the other hand it is very difficult to see the wounded. Young kids in such terrible condition because of this war. I have been to Israel many times, but never on a trip similar to this one. It is totally different and emotional”.

The soldiers in Sheba received the gifts excitedly.  “It is literally like Santa Clause, the Jewish version”, laughed Yael Porat,” My son is very happy with the gifts he received”.

Knesset representative Miri Regev, who was also in Sheba at the time the delegation was there, meet the delegation. She related to her friends that in the hospital there was a lone solider that was wounded in the operation. He decided to join the army, and his parents cut off all tie with him. “He has no one”, she told them.  Book immediately promised “we will give $10,000 and care for him in the future if further assistance is needed”.  

All the soldiers were told to stay in touch. “We will be here for Sukkot, and have a big party in our sukkah”, the American’s promised when they passed through the hospital beds. “Come there, by then you will be all better”.  

 

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