IDF reservist Adi Timor was trained for combat, but nothing could have prepared him for when he lost his leg on the battlefield.
“I was rescued through the window, with two tourniquets on my legs, unable to move my left arm and still unaware of the extent of my injuries,” said Timor.
Timor is one of many Israeli soldiers now navigating a long road to recovery. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the number of newly disabled Israeli army soldiers has exceeded 70,000, according to Israel’s Ministry of Defense.
While injured soldiers receive a stipend from Israel’s government to purchase assistive devices, many are unaware of the available options, or how to best use these aids in their everyday lives.
This is why the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, through its support of the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), stands behind initiatives like JDC’s Tech for Heroes program.
Tech for Heroes utilizes an AI platform to match the soldiers with the most suitable assistive solutions – from communication aides to cognitive assistant tools, mobility devices and more.
“When I meet with a soldier, we check what they need, and what they would like to do that they can’t currently do,” said Orit Grinstein, Tech for Heroes program manager. “We evaluate where they are challenged in the rehabilitation process and how we can help through technological solutions for independence and quality of life.”
In addition to equipping injured soldiers with customized assistive technology, Tech for Heroes also provides a dedicated technology coordinator to support the soldiers in personalizing and adjusting their aides.
“The fact that there is someone who is there to listen to you, and wants to help you solve your problems is encouraging and lifts the spirits,” said Timor.
Beyond the motivational benefits of personalized care, it is also integral for successful integration. Only 10% of people with disabilities use assistive technologies, as stated by a 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) report, and research has shown that around 75% of people give up on their aides within three months due to integration, training and needs not met by the selected device.
To date, JDC’s Tech for Soldiers program has worked with 30 injured soldiers to regain autonomy. Over the next year, the initiative is set to expand, with plans to support an additional 150 soldiers.
“I think it’s really important that we get all the solutions quickly, from the prosthesis to all the technologies that can help us on a daily basis because that’s what brings us back to life,” Timor said. “I choose to see my situation not as an obstacle, but rather, a part of my life right now.”
In addition to these focused programs, the Jewish Federation has been a longtime supporter of JDC’s mission. For Fiscal Year 2025, the Jewish Federation has allocated $700,000 to support JDC and its worldwide rescue, relief and rehabilitation services.
Last year alone, JDC’s programs impacted over one million people in Israel, including providing trauma support to 2,800 individuals through their trauma centers. Overall, JDC provides humanitarian services in over 70 counties, serving – as they put it – as the “global Jewish 9-1-1.”
“We have been longtime supporters of JDC and the important work it does in Israel,” said Tali Lidar, Jewish Federation’s director of Israel and Global Operations. “Seeing how JDC continues to adapt their programming to meet the needs of all — including newly disabled soldiers — reassures us that our support is making a meaningful, inclusive impact.”
By supporting organizations like JDC, the Jewish Federation remains committed to ensuring that every individual — both locally and overseas — can live a life filled with dignity, opportunity and hope.
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You can help support disability inclusion by making a donation to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia at jewishphilly.org/donate.
