Supporting Israel’s Amputees

The Next Step’s Response to the Crisis in Israel

DAVID FARHI

Since 2012, The Next Step has been a cornerstone of rehabilitation in Israel, offering critical prosthetic care and emotional support to both children and adults suffering from limb loss. This year, The Next Step’s annual fundraising event, The Next Ride, faced an unforeseen postponement due to the onset of the Israel-Hamas War. This war underscores the dire need for organizations like The Next Step, which is working to support Israelis who were brutally injured during the October 7th attack.

Since the commencement of the war, countless individuals have suffered life-altering injuries which have rendered them amputees. The number continues to rise as the war rages on and soldiers from the front lines face injury. In response to this heightened urgency created by the conflict, The Next Step acted quickly, arranging the Solidarity Ride, a fifty-mile cycling event, to demonstrate support for Israel, advocate for the release of Israeli hostages, and raise vital funds for Israel’s recent amputees, both civilian and soldier alike.

The organization’s representatives Elisheva Karol, Noam Cohen, and Tzachi Leibovitz traveled from Israel to participate in The Next Step’s Solidarity Ride in Englewood, New Jersey. Cyclists from the Sephardic community heeded the call, many flocking to take part in the ride. Following the event, Karol, Cohen, and Leibovitz dedicated time to visiting Sephardic Jewish community organizations, immersing themselves in the local community, and passionately sharing The Next Step’s mission. These crucial moments extended beyond mere discussions; they became pivotal opportunities to foster a deep understanding of the commitment required to support Israel amidst the ongoing conflict.

Across New York and New Jersey, these representatives engaged with Jewish leaders and students in institutions including Hillel Yeshiva, Barkai Yeshivah, the Yeshivah of Flatbush, Magen David Yeshivah, Sha’are Shalom Synagogue, the Larchwood Synagogue, and Congregation Ohel Yitzchok. In each of these places of education and enrichment, The Next Step’s mission transcended theoretical understanding: it was a call to action.

Engaging with the students at each yeshivah, the team fostered a deep understanding of their commitment to supporting Israel and its people. They expounded on The Next Step’s multifaceted efforts, including educational programming about limb loss, prosthetic fittings, and raising crucial awareness for recent amputees who have lost limbs due to the terror in Israel. They elaborated on the organization’s methods of resource gathering and supporting each amputee and their families. They emphasized the immediate need for support amidst the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Israel as they provide aid to those struggling with war-caused amputations.

The representatives shared poignant stories from their recent hospital visits, describing the daily flood of new amputees into the hospital as others are relocated out of harm’s way. They offered a glimpse into the life-changing impact of their work and the resilience of those affected by the recent conflict. They then opened the discussions to the students, allowing them to voice their opinions and explore their inquiries. Through open and candid dialogue, Karol, Cohen, and Tzachi Leibovitz helped students understand The Next Step’s significant mission and inspired them to grasp the significance of collective action, emphasizing the role of unity in ensuring Am Yisroel’s survival and prosperity.

Looking forward, The Next Step hopes to amplify their message and their mission to support Israeli victims of terror facing limb loss. The urgency of the mission cannot be overstated. The Next Step continues its crucial work supporting the Jewish people. The need is immediate — only through community effort and unity can we fortify and strengthen the Jewish nation.

David Farhi, son of Rabbi Isaac Farhi from Deal, has been involved in The Next Step/The Next Ride for the past 3 years. Through his and the community’s involvement, the organization has succeeded in empowering hundreds of Israeli amputees to lead active and fulfilling lives post limb loss.