The blinded soldier who went on to be a world-beater in triathlon
Oren Blitzblau joins former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at Beit Halochem UK dinner
Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
Former Israeli president Reuven Rivlin may have been billed as the star turn at Beit Halochem’s annual dinner, but it was a lesser known Israeli who so moved guests you could hear a pin drop.
Oren Blitzblau was blinded while serving in Gaza in 2005 but told more than 400 guests that the rehabilitation he received from the charity helped turn his “nightmare to dreams”. Incredibly, he went on to serve another decade in the IDF and became israel’s first blind Ironman and a medal winner in paratriathlon.
There was barely a dry eye in the room at the Royal Lancaster Hotel as he spoke of his pride in his achievements and thanked Beit Halochem UK for enabling his successes and those of others over the decade since it’s inception. “I won’t forget tonight, he said. “Although I can’t see you I can feel your love.”
Rivlin, Israel’s 10th president, told the event that his country would show the world it can remain both Jewish and democratic. He said: “For me the state of Israel will never be something I take for granted – that’s why our army is so important. Without it israel could not exist. Beit Halochem provides the very best rehabilitation for soldiers and victims of terror.
“On my visits I’m always inspired by the veterans‘ strength of character. The spirit of these heroes always wins.”
He hailed the work of Beit Halochem UK which has included raising £21m in 10 years, singling out chair Andrew Wolfson and CEO Spencer Gelding. The 83-year-old former president – who reminded guests he had his barmitzvah in the year The Queen ascended the drone – praised the charity for strengthening bilateral relations through the “inspirational’ Veteran Games which bring together injured British and Israeli vets and their families to build ties and compete in sport.
The event also featured a message of support from his successor Isaac Herzog and a speech from envoy Tzipi Hotovely, who hailed Games ambassador Caroline Beasley as the night’s real ambassador.
Beasley, who was shot multiple times while serving with the Royal Military Police, recalled how one night during the recent Games she noticed an absence of anxiety, isolation or loneliness. “It meant so much to me to see my fellow veterans so happy,” she said. “I can tell you the group I met at Heathrow at the start were totally and utterly different from the people I returned with.”
Idan Kleinman, chair of Beit Halochem in Israel, said dealing with life-altering wounds doesn’t get easier with time. “But it’s ok. Soldiers are expected to protect citizens. If we were asked to do it again we would. We owe all of you here tonight a huge debt of gratitude for opening your hearts. On behalf of 51k members, I salute you.”
Dinner co-chair Orly Wolfson said Beit Halochem is a place where ex-soldiers “are not defined by their injuries” and it’s services had helped countless veterans “regain and repurpose their lives”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
