Over 100 male lone soldiers were recently treated to an evening of relaxation and pampering at The Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin in Jerusalem.
Specialists volunteered their time providing therapeutic massages, facials, yoga and meditation, haircuts, cranial massages, manicures specializing in treating cracked hands and broken nails, reflexology and other spa services. Dr. Raimi Tuchinsky, a top New York-trained chiropractor based in Jerusalem, was on site treating soldiers with sore backs and necks.
One soldier (who can’t be named for safety purposes) commented, “When you have to carry 40 to 80 percent of your body weight on your back, it takes a toll on your muscles and joints. Having someone like a chiropractor at an event is so incredibly helpful.”
Most soldiers had never heard of a facial before, but after being treated by Devorah Wolf and her staff from Devorah Cosmetics, many soldiers returned for a second treatment.
The soldiers were treated to a gourmet meat buffet sponsored by Crave restaurant in Jerusalem as well as home-cooked food and baked goods donated by volunteers, providing the soldiers with a little taste of home.
A full bar with three bartenders and live music completed the evening.
Each soldier received donated gift bags with products from Sabon, including high-end body wash, lotion and muscle-relief balm as well as mud hair treatment. In addition, 65 lone soldiers won raffle prizes from an anonymous donor.
Yossi Giller from Bergenfield, New Jersey, and a graduate of the Frisch School was one of the lone soldiers at the event
“It feels great knowing that there are people out there that really care and appreciate and are trying to give back…There are guys here that are coming straight from crazy intense training yesterday and are now treated to a spa night. It is just so incredible.”
Lone soldiers in attendance were from all over the world including the U.S., Canada, Morocco, Israel, Australia and England.
For more information on this event and on ways to help lone soldiers, visit thelonesoldiercenter.com.
By Esti Rosen Snukal
