Wounded veteran shares message of resilience with Israeli students

The educational program Liheyot Ye’udi, inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, has successfully concluded its second year, having engaged 70,000 students across Israel. Organized by The Rabbi Sacks Legacy and coordinated by Sulamot, the program operates within Israel's state and state-religious school systems.

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You are who you define yourselves to be. You are the size of your values. I was wounded in the war and lost a leg. Perhaps I am defined as disabled, but as far as I am concerned, I am not disabled. I remind myself that this is only body and flesh. I am my ideals. I am Israeli, Jewish, a fighter.

Its core mission is to foster a sense of leadership, moral voice, and proactive problem-solving among young Israelis, encouraging them to address the nation's social challenges with responsibility. The program's year-end event gathered students, educators, public figures, and content creators involved in its activities.

Notable attendees included Itay and Omri Rozenblit, former contestants on *The Amazing Race Israel*. Omri Rozenblit, who sustained injuries and lost a leg while fighting in Gaza, addressed the students on the nature of identity. He emphasized that values, not physical condition, define a person. "You are who you define yourselves to be. You are the size of your values," he stated, adding, "I remind myself that this is only body and flesh. I am my ideals. I am Israeli, Jewish, a fighter."

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The most meaningful thing I learned is that doing good does not begin only with a big project. It begins with a small decision: to notice, to listen, to help, to choose, and to see the other.

Digital influencer Dylen Dror, who contributed to Liheyot Ye’udi's content, shared how the program shifted his perspective on altruism. "The most meaningful thing I learned is that doing good does not begin only with a big project," Dror said. "It begins with a small decision: to notice, to listen, to help, to choose, and to see the other." He found resonance in Rabbi Sacks' idea that every individual possesses a unique voice and role.

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We live in a world filled with worry and anxiety. And what can the solution be? When we read Rabbi Sacks, we feel calmer. There is something deeply logical there, something that explains where you are and where you are going.

President Isaac Herzog also attended the event at the President’s Residence, commending the initiative and its participants. He remarked on the calming influence of Rabbi Sacks' teachings in a world filled with anxiety. "There is something deeply logical there, something that explains where you are and where you are going," Herzog said, encouraging the students to continue spreading these teachings. Nadiva Koschitzky Sheer, representing a family supporting the project, noted the relevance of Rabbi Sacks' teachings in addressing polarization within Israeli society.

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Continue to spread Rabbi Sacks’ teachings. They are important, and they will accompany you always.