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By Deborah Vietor
San Diego Hadassah hosted a survivor of October 7 and her twin sister at a very special brunch at the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Del Mar in December. Entitled “Rebuilding Hope…Rebuilding Lives: A Life Changing Hadassah Story 2024,” Hadassah’s 28th National President Carol Ann Schwartz introduced Nurse Michal Elon and her sister.
Michal and her husband, Rabbi Omri Elon had often spent Shabbat on the IDF Zikim training base north of the Gaza strip, offering a break to the IDF Rabbis. During the weekend of October 7th, 2023, eight of their ten children joined them at their barracks.
“We volunteer with the soldiers to create a family environment. We talk to them. We bring board games and play with them. We lead activities,” Michal Elon shared. This was to be a weekend of joy and celebration during Simchat Torah with special dishes prepared for the soldiers.
On the morning of October 7, the family awoke to the sound of an explosion at 6:20 a.m. Michael was caught off guard. She thought it odd that soldiers would be doing exercises on Shabbat.
The Elon family stayed in the shelter with all the trainee soldiers. They found it unusual that the commanding officers had not returned to the shelter.
They were not aware that terrorists had surrounded the base, believing instead this was a rocket attack.
During the surprise Hamas attack on the base, six commanders and one new recruit died defending the lives of 120 others, preventing the base takeover by Hamas terrorists. Michal saved a badly injured female soldier, with a serious head trauma who was shot in her watch tower. A second wounded soldier fell into the barracks and Elon tried to save him; however, his injuries were too severe.
While Michal was treating another wounded soldier, she was shot three times by a terrorist infiltrator at point blank.
“He looked me in the eye, raised his gun and shot me. He hit me in my arm, stomach and chest. I didn’t know what to do. I felt my hand falling like it wasn’t connected to my body,” Elon said.
Mical used her head scarf as a tourniquet, ultimately saving her life. She shared her story without animosity of bitterness, her sister filling the blanks as she had a cough.
Schwartz is quoted as saying,” It has been more than a year since Hamas brutally raped, sexually abused and mutilated Israeli women and girls. However, despite overwhelming evidence, the UN has not held Hamas accountable or taken decisive steps towards justice and accountability.”
“As a global humanitarian organization, Hadassah remains committed to standing up for women everywhere.”
Mical’s husband assisted with her wounds as she directed him along with the soldiers who stopped her bleeding with their shirts. Miraculously she remained conscious and after 3 hours she was transferred along with 2 injured soldiers to a medical facility. Later, Mical was transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem in Jerusalem for specialized surgery where nerve damage was repaired in her arm.
Later they learned that close to 2,500 terrorists slammed into Israel from land, air and sea killing 1,400, mostly civilians. At least 212 hostages of all ages were seized while Israeli towns and cities were bombarded with thousands of rockets.
“The bullet in my chest is still in there. I don’t feel it. They decided to leave it because it is close to critical vessels and it isn’t safe to try to remove it,” she said.
Mical credits her children with being the heroes. “They were so brave. They did a lot there. I feel they’re strong,” she said.
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, donors and supporters, Hadassah brings women together effecting change regarding issues such as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health care.
Hadassah leads 65 organizations, speaking at the United Nations’ annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence on October 7, 2023 and beyond.
Through its Jerusalem based hospital system, the Hadassah Medical Organization, (HMO) Hadassah helps support exemplary care for over 1 million people annually, including world renowned medical research. Hadassah’s hospitals serve without regard to race, religion or nationality.
Once completed, the 323,000 square foot Gandel Rehabilitation Center, will care for 10,000 patients annually. Heading the Gandel Foundation as the new Center’s major donors are John and Pauline Gandel of Melbourne, Australia.
About Hadassah
In 2005, Hadassah earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for building bridges to peace through medicine. Hadassah additionally supports two youth villages setting at-risk youth in Israel on the path to a successful future.
Hadassah’s advocacy program with nearly 400 advocates met in Washington DC and in their home congressional districts to advocate for policies advancing the US-Israel relation to combat rising antisemitism and improving women’s health.
Visit Hadassah’s National Action Center to continue advancing critical legislation in the 119th Congress supporting US-Israel alliance, fighting the rising tide of antisemitism and advancing women’s and public health.
Hadassah recently announced the 2024 class of Evolve Leadership Fellows. They have undergone an extensive application process prior to selection as the next generation of Hadassah leaders. All fellows are involved in communal work as volunteers or members of national and local nonprofit organizations in addition to Hadassah. Currently there are 17 evolve communities.
During this critical time, it is vital that we nurture Hadassah leaders to help ensure a strong Israel and fight back against antisemitism. Hadassah is an amazing, ever growing organization assisting people on a multitude of levels. I am personally honored and proud to be a third-generation member, along with my sister Sharon due to the generosity of our grandmother of blessed memory, Anita Finerman.
For more information on Hadassah, how to donate or volunteer: www.hadassah.org
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