On the final evening of a September 2‐10 tour of Israel with Heroes to Heroes , a US Army veteran named Juan told ISRAEL21c: “Instead of the VA [Veterans Administration] spending money on our medical treatment, they should have spent money on this program, because more healing was done here.” Based in New Jersey, the nonprofit Heroes to Heroes brings over “teams” of war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and often physical injuries as well. Juan, who fought in Iraq in 2004 to 2005, was in the fifth cohort of 10 Americans accompanied by a coach and Heroes to Heroes founder Judy Schaffer, along with six Israeli vets who met them here. “For veterans who are struggling and may have thoughts of suicide or not moving on, the trip helps them get their connection back to what’s important, spiritually and emotionally,” Schaffer tells ISRAEL21c.

A recent Ministry of Defense study conducted on 2,235 Israeli veterans diagnosed with PTSD found that they have a lower rate of mortality compared with soldiers suffering PTSD in other countries including the United States. “Our suicide rate is over 20 veterans a day in the US,” says Schaffer. “I want them to understand that they matter, that they have value, that they can have a connection with a higher being, with each other and with people 6,000 miles away.” The opportunity to experience religious sites such as the Western Wall, the Stations of the Cross, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Jordan River helps these veterans discover a purpose and a reason to continue, she explains. The itinerary was arranged by Keshet: The Center for Educational Tourism in Israel. Tour educator Daniel Jacobs led the vets from north to south, and honored a request to improvise a stop at Agilite, maker of innovative military and search-and-rescue gear.

Many of these men – some of whom served in the Vietnam War – were especially touched by a tree-planting activity in the Lavi Forest in the Galilee. Schaffer and the coaches stay in touch with past participants. “A lot of them come back with a sense of peace and a sense of purpose. And they keep that with them.” (via Israel21c)

[Photo: MDGovPics / Flickr]