It often seems that the things that we enjoy (lounging in front of the TV, eating cream cakes) are bad for us, while anything healthy is unpleasant or involves hard work. As the saying goes, “everything I like is immoral, illegal or makes me fat.”

But there are exceptions to this rule as you can prove on Friday May 8. That’s the date of the third annual community sponsored walk in aid of the Benji Hillman Foundation. Walking in a group with family and friends is healthy and lots of fun too. And as a bonus you’ll be helping support a very worthwhile cause.

Benji Hillman’s family made aliyah to Raanana from London in 1983, when Benji was four years old. In June 2006 Benji married his long-term girl friend, Ayala Berger. Two weeks later, on July 12, the second Lebanon war began. On July 20, just three weeks after his wedding Benji, a divisional commander in the Egoz commando unit of the Golani brigade, was killed in action.

“Benji was an outstanding leader of men who really cared for the soldiers under his command,” says Benji’s father, Danny Hillman. “We wanted to honor his memory in a way that would continue his legacy of helping people, just as he did in his lifetime.”

Benji was particularly concerned about the “lone soldiers” under his command. Lone soldiers are volunteers who have left their home countries to serve in the Israeli army. With no family in Israel, and often few friends outside the army, life for lone combat soldiers can be very difficult.

Weekends and leave days mean going back to a solitary room and deciding whether to catch up with much needed sleep or do essential chores such as food shopping, laundry or getting the cell phone fixed. There are no home comforts and very little practical and emotional support.

After Benji was killed his family set up the Benji Hillman Foundation to raise funds for Habayit shel Benji (Benji’s Home), a home for lone soldiers in Raanana. Staffed by a house mother and supported by volunteers, HaBayit shel Benji will be open to lone combat soldiers and soldiers from underprivileged families, for use when on leave and after their army service. The soldiers will receive financial support, laundry service, meals, access to computers for communicating with their families abroad and help in finding work and continuing their education after their army service. Most of all, the home will be there to offer warmth and support.

“Benji would often come home for Shabbat, bringing some of the lone soldiers in his unit with him, so HaBayit shel Benji is such an appropriate way of commemorating his life and continuing his legacy,” says Danny Hillman.

The Raanana municipality has allocated land in Haprachim Street near Raanana College; building plans have been drawn up and the project is in the final planning stages with the municipality. The Foundation has already raised over $2.5 million and another $400,000 is needed to cover the building and first year running costs. The Community Walk has become the main fundraising event for the Foundation.

And this year there is another option for any inveterate TV watching /cream cake-eating readers for whom the idea of walking sounds much too energetic: you can still take part and support the fundraising effort by sponsoring a soldier. But please try and join us – it would be a shame to miss out on a fun, healthy and worthwhile morning.

To register, sponsor a soldier, or for more information contact;

David Rurka 052 660 8655 rurka@zahav.net.il

All proceeds go to the Benji Hillman Foundation, www.benjihillman.org registered charity 580466332.

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About the author

Barbara Grant

Barbara Grant is a freelance academic editor who previously worked in marketing and PR in the high-tech sector. She made aliyah from the UK in 1996 and lives in Raanana ...
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