When you meet Idan Kleiman, head of the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, the last thing you notice is his wheelchair. What you see first and foremost is his passion for his fellow wounded soldiers.

Idan calls himself "a third-generation protector of Israel." His grandfather and father were both wounded in war, and years ago, Idan himself was injured in Gaza — with an identical wound to his father’s.  

At Beit HaLochem, the rehabilitation center dedicated to Israel’s wounded veterans, every detail is designed with care. UJA’s support makes much of this possible.

The swimming lanes are built to accommodate the blind. The specialized basketball court has produced Israel’s women champions, who brought home a silver medal from last year’s Paralympics in Paris.  

Walking through the halls, one feels surrounded by heroes — men and women who wake up each morning and choose to be more than their injuries.

And Idan knows every person in the room, carrying their stories, their pain, and, most rewardingly, their achievements.