Ran Ben-Atia, a career officer and a company commander in the Nahal Infantry Brigade was badly injured during a mission to conquer a specific neighbourhood and destroy an offensive terror tunnel shaft between Gaza and Israel during the 2014 “Protective Edge” campaign.

After being shot by a terrorist, Ran was left critically injured when the bullet entered his hand, through his thigh only one centimetre from the major artery, through the stomach and into the centre of the pelvis where it remained. After multiple operations, doctors were finally forced to remove the bullet as it became apparent that this bullet was, in fact, explosive.

Ran’s life began to improve when he started going to Beit Halochem. He saw the wounded veterans with their children and grandchildren, active, happy, optimistic, people with meaning in life and it gave him strength and hope to look to the future. He began visiting regularly and soon Beit Halochem became his second home.

However, it wasn’t just physical rehabilitation that Beit Halochem offered him. The organisation also supported his desire to further educate himself by offering him an Academic Scholarship.

This opportunity helped him to achieve his educational goals by completing both an MA and MBA with honours and gave him the chance not only to improve his life but also the lives of his family.