Our friends Leah and Gabi Spitz were in the car with their children on their way to volunteer in the fields in the South when they received a life-altering phone call telling them that their oldest son, Ari, had been severely wounded in Zeitoun in Gaza.
In that same incident, two commanders were killed by an explosive device, and seven soldiers were severely injured. Leah and Gabi changed their destination and headed straight for Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. During that car ride, they made a conscious decision to be strong and optimistic throughout the ordeal that awaited them. Leah and Gabi have remained true to their word.
Within a day, Leah was interviewed on the radio, updating listeners about Ari’s condition. Leah began the interview by talking about the loss of Capt. Itai Seif, who was killed in the incident. He had been the unit’s commander since they had enlisted in the Army. Leah described Itai as a quiet but decisive leader who accompanied the boys through thick and thin. She is concerned that it will be painful for Ari when he hears the news when he wakes up.
Throughout the interview, which soldiers in Gaza could hear over the radio, Leah exuded deep emunah. She acknowledged that Ari’s survival is due to the shlichim (messengers) involved in Ari’s care and the many miracles he experienced.
After the explosion, those who were with Ari thought he was dead. But Dr. Shachar, the doctor of Ari’s battalion, was able to find a pulse and acted immediately to save Ari. Military doctors carry pints of O-negative blood (universal donor) in the field. This blood saved Ari’s life. Rather than waiting to load other wounded soldiers into the rescue helicopter, Dr. Shachar sent Ari off immediately. Every second was critical. Within 45 minutes, Ari was on the operating table. Ari lost both of his legs and received 15 pints of blood. He has had many surgeries and will require many more. An emotional reunion occurred when Dr. Shachar came to see Leah and Gabi at Soroka.
My husband and I visited Leah at Soroka. Leah expressed an enormous amount of gratitude towards the doctors, nurses, and all of the staff at the hospital. She has found them to be helpful in every way. The Army also gives them full support and provides them with a hotel room near the hospital. As Leah shared her story, she radiated strength and positivity rooted in absolute faith. We had come to give support, and we left strengthened.
Many people have reached out to Leah and Gabi. Someone high up in the Army who had also been wounded went to meet them at the entrance to the operating room to offer them support. The rabbanim of Ari’s yeshivah visited Ari while we were there. Leah said it was the third time that week that they had come from the Golan in the North to Be’er Sheva in the South. They told Leah that they spoke with Ari and felt he heard them. Leah was not surprised. A soldier who had sustained similar injuries said that when people talked to him when he had been anesthetized, he could hear them.
Someone dressed in an army uniform visited Leah and Gabi at the hospital. When Leah and Gabi told him the extent of Ari’s injuries, he didn’t react much. They were taken by surprise. The visitor then lifted the leg of his pants and exposed his prosthesis. They were surprised once again. Seeing this soldier living a normal life with a prosthesis gave Leah and Gabi a lot of chizuk.
Leah knows that once Ari’s condition stabilizes, b’ezras Hashem, his rehabilitation will be a long and difficult process. He needs many more miracles to help him on this journey. Leah is optimistic. She describes Ari as a strong boy, a hero who fought like a lion. She firmly believes that Ari will one day live a full life and a good life.
In high school, Ari did the Shvil Yisrael, a hiking trail that crosses Israel between the southern and northern borders. Ari had planned to do that same hike again when he finished his army service. Leah believes that one day, Ari will do the hike once again. She is also convinced that she and her husband will dance with Ari at his wedding.
Please daven for the complete recovery of Moshe Aharon ben Leah Beila, and continue to daven for the recovery of the wounded, the release of the rest of the hostages, and the safe return of all the chayalim and security forces.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
