Oria Izaak, Nahal Brigade, and Itamar Yisraelit, Egoz Special Forces, met in 2019 in an officers’ training program. After concluding their army service, they were determined to “conquer the world.” Armed with family and community backing, they were able to pursue their academic studies, Izaak in economics and sociology, Yisraelit in computers.

Yet realizing that fully 98% of discharged IDF combat soldiers did not have similar advantages and backing to enable them to pick up and focus on their futures, the two saw a great need and proceeded to address it. Thus they conceived of the idea of Gav Lalohem (support for the combat soldier), with a mission to assist former combat soldiers in starting their journeys as private citizens. Their goal was to integrate these men and women into uniquely designed programs that would provide them with necessary tools and vital life skills. Their message to the public was to raise awareness of the value of human capital in the fields of employment, leadership and social contribution.

During their first five years of leading the amutah (not-for-profit organization) Gav Lalohem, Isaak, director and founder, together with Yisraelit, chairperson and founder, have helped hundreds of young IDF graduates to fill in the gap between their army service and civilian life. They have based their services on “Three Pillars.” The first is creating peer groups of approximately 20 participants who share similar experiences. The second pillar provides personalized mentors, who function as practical guides to each participant according to his/her aspirations. The third pillar is providing the knowledge and skills the participants will need in their future. These services are provided by over 400 volunteers who are experts in an array of fields.

The first four programs offered through Gav Lalohem are PRO, FOCUSED, TECH and MEDIC. These programs are free of charge and are held in accessible locations throughout the country and at convenient times. PRO is a six-month program, one evening per week, in which each participant is assigned a personal mentor and the group is offered lectures and practical workshops to prepare them for choosing a career, with advice on academic studies, personal finance and investments, entrepreneurship, activism and more. FOCUSED is similar to PRO but contracted into three months. TECH, a three-month weekly program, is designed for those interested in high tech but not familiar with all of the job options available. Sessions are addressed by senior high-tech professionals with extensive experience. MEDIC helps reduce the time usually required to be accepted into the study of medicine and is facilitated by seasoned medical professionals.

In the aftermath of October 7, the population of 400 graduates of Gav Lalohem exploded, as it would now be servicing the thousands of combat soldiers who would be “discharged” again and would be in need of services. In addition, half of the organization’s staff was called away to active duty.

Jumping in, Gav Lalohem focused on the brave soldiers whose lives had been transformed overnight. By providing an Accompaniment Program for the Wounded, Gav Lalohem is helping them rehabilitate their personal and professional development that was abruptly interrupted. The Daber Center is a counseling call center focusing on critical reservist and war-related issues. Available 24/6, the call center is staffed by professionals in myriad fields and offers psychological counseling, employment advice, financial guidance on pensions, loans and mortgages, social rights and academics. The age limit of reservists eligible for these services was raised to 30. Finally, War Processing Workshops provide two days of sessions devoted to processing the wartime experiences of the soldiers and reservists. These sessions are facilitated by professional psychologists.

In “Scaling Up,” Gav Lalohem anticipates 2,000 soldiers waiting to be serviced, up from 1,000 per year. The call center alone has received over 2,000 calls since October 7 and more are expected. The role of the volunteer mentors has grown incrementally. Serving as the backbone of the organization, these unsung heroes make all the difference in the lives of young former soldiers, directing and preparing them for happy and productive lives with their growing families.

One of these special mentors comes from an illustrious career in security and is sharing his skills with Gav Lalohem participants. Among his many other distinguished credentials, Colonel Yitzchak Almog has served in the Police and Public Security Ministry as an attache to North America and Canada. In 2016, Almog was appointed as the first international board member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police-IACP, a position in which he serves until today. Currently retired, he devotes himself to Gav Lalohem as a member of their board and as a highly successful mentor whose connections and expertise have assisted many of the program’s participants. He is currently accompanying Izaak and Yisraelit on their fundraising trip to the United States.

During the past nine months of the horrific Israel-Hamas war, Izaak and Yisraelit have been on active duty for five of those months. They saw each other briefly at the outbreak of the war on October 8 and only met again five months later, fighting side by side in Khan Yunis. During this time, five months ago, Yisraelit was granted a short reprieve during which he greeted his newborn daughter Omer. Eleven days after the outbreak of the war, Izaak welcomed his second child, Asaf, brother to sister Arbel. Their devotion to their young families is matched by their dedication to the futures of the former combat soldiers of the IDF who put their lives on the line for their country.

With each participant costing the organization $2,000, the anticipated 2025 budget for Gav Lehayal is $2 million. Your donations to this vital amutah is greatly appreciated.

Checks can be sent to: Signature Bank, 923 Broadway, Woodmere, NY 11598, to the account of Central Fund of Israel.

ABA Bank Routing #026013576

CFI Account #1503426427

SWIFT CODE (International Wires): SIGNUS33

Tax ID # 13-2992985 for Yahad Lekol Haderech

Online link:

https://www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/charity-organizations/2107