Yoav Tzivoni: A Soldier Continues to Serve
by Howard Blas
I have never been a big believer in miracles—until I started following the story of elite Israel soldier Yoav Tzivoni. I wrote about him in these pages after visiting him Samson Assuta Hospital in Ashdod back in December.
I have known Yoav since he was a young child, attending Camp Ramah in New England with his mother, head of the Israeli delegation and his father, head of our boating department. To be succinct—Yoav was close to death from injuries sustained fighting in Gaza. He had a collapsed lung, shrapnel injuries and became a new below the knee amputee. He had already endured dozens of surgeries when I visited him. He was barely able to speak—but he managed to utter that his only regret was that he was not still in Gaza with his team. He expressed determination to return to Gaza.
He almost “fished his wish.” When I called his mom to say hi during a June 2024 trip to Israel, I asked about Yoav. His mom asked if I was sitting down. Yoav has received a prosthetic, attends twice-weekly outpatient therapy, lives with his girlfriend in Tel Aviv, and…..is currently on reserve duty with his elite unit. Yoav petitioned the army to rejoin as a volunteer. His treatment team agreed that this would be an important part of his treatment and recovery. Yoav is now with his unit in the north of Israel, in working in communications. He is also keeping sharp, as the photo above–which has essentially “gone viral” on social media”–shows! He will be back in combat soon.
You are a real hero, Yoav—and proof that having a disability is only one aspect of who you are!
Howard Blas has a wide range of professional and personal interests. He has served as a director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network of the National Ramah Commission, working with Ramah camps as they include and support campers with disabilities. Howard previously served as the director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England for 15 years. Howard discovered his passion for working with people with disabilities when he served as a counselor and division head in the Tikvah Program starting in the early 1980s.