Jews You Should Know: Episode 045

Doron Almog hunted the Munich Olympic terrorists, was the first soldier to land in the raid on Entebbe, and ultimately rose to head the Southern Command in the Israel Defense Forces.

But nothing in his storied military career could prepare him for the birth of his severely impaired son, Eron, in 1984.

After mourning the loss of what he had always expected and hoped for, Almog eventually shifted gears, and began researching options to treat and care for his child. He discovered a culture ensnared in shame, and a population terribly under-serviced. Thus began a 30-year journey to improve the lives of children and adults with severe disabilities.

He could sense his son – who never uttered a word in his life – crying out to him: “Abba (father), you freed the hostages in Entebbe, but they were held only for one week; I have been a hostage every day of my life!” With that impetus, he built an incredible residential village in the Negev – part of the ADI network – and forever transformed not only the care of, but the attitude towards, Israeli society’s most disadvantaged members.

For this and more he was awarded the Israel Prize, the state’s highest honor, in 2016. Hear and learn from this amazing military and social warrior.