Adi Huja was in the beginning of her teenage years when her whole life changed. She was out with friends on a Saturday night when suicide bombers detonate their devices and a car full of explosives into the crowd. She survived, but suffered injuries to both legs and ears that have required years of recovery and ongoing operations.
Chani Avramov, meanwhile, was serving in Israel’s Border Police, working to capture terrorists attempting to enter the country, when 29 bullets riddled her army jeep, striking her in the leg and jaw. She fell to the ground as the driver sped up to flee the attack. It took three attempts to resuscitate her, and barely survived.
The pair and eight other veterans and victims of terror attacks landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport Sunday, arriving to an emotional reception coordinated by the Belev Echad program, a joint effort by the Chabad-Lubavitch Israel Center of the Upper East Side and the Chabad Terror Victims Project that brings Israel’s wounded to the United States for a relaxing trip and a chance to inspire Jewish communities.
For their first full day in New York, the group of women – a first for the program, which in past years has brought groups of men – enjoyed a helicopter ride over the city, as well as stops at the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
“We are delighted to be honoring 10 of Israel’s heroines,” said Rabbi Uriel Vigler, director of the Chabad Israel Center. “If we can help even one of these brave souls forget her troubles for a moment and see hope in her future, we will have done our job.”
Liora Kutner, a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary who is representing the Chabad Terror Victims Project on the trip, agreed.
“To see young girls whose lives have been shattered mentally and physically, who endure challenges on a daily basis, is simply beyond words,” she said. “When they come to New York City and forget about their troubles and pain, have the time of their lives and receive unconditional love from Jews in the U.S. – this is the greatest present that Chabad can give them.”
In all, there’s 10 days of inspiration and VIP sight-seeing in store for them, packed with shows, other famous New York sites, and chances to connect with community members who want to hear their stories and publicly recognize these young women’s sacrifices. They’ll spend Tuesday shopping at Jersey Gardens Mall, followed by a young professional’s bowling event, visit Macy’s and take a Midtown tour on Wednesday, attend a reception with New York business leaders and take in a Broadway show Thursday, and then head to a spa and Central Park on Friday.
They’ll spend the Sabbath with the community and on Sunday, take a day trip to West Point on motorbikes.
Their time here should be enjoyable, and the community’s message, clear and simple, said Chabad Israel Center member Louis Dubin. “What we want [them] to get out of it is to feel the love and support they have from our community. They’re not alone; there are Jews all over the world that love and support them in every way: That’s really what we’re all about.”
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