Noam Gershony

Many people choose their heroes by their actions, publicity, or name. Although, after much consideration in seeking my "perfect" hero, I can tell you that my hero isn't so perfect, isn't so famous and doesn't have a body like Superman's either. Yet, my hero can inspire people Like most ordinary people , my hero wasn't always a hero. Actually, he was completely ordinary, I'd say, until not too long ago. My hero didn't choose to be a hero (back in 2006), yet, the way he has dealt with his obstacles, makes him, in my opinion, a hero.

Noam Gershony, after receiving his gold medal. (The Times Of Israel (Razi Livnat))

Although most of you have never heard his name, Noam Gershony is an incredible person, who I hope, through his personal story, will inspire you as much as he has inspired me. Noam Gershony was born on the 30th of January, 1983 in Israel, which makes him 34 years old today. Noam, like most Israelis, served in the Israeli Army as a pilot, which is a very hard job to get into. Tragically during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, while he was flying a helicopter, it collided with another helicopter, in a terrible accident leading to the death of Noam's co-pilot and leaving Noam terribly injured in all four of his limbs and with many bone fractures. During his recovery in the hospital, he was told that he would never walk again, would never be the same. After a very long and hopeless year in the hospital, Noam Gershony joined the "Beit Halochem" (in Hebrew- The Warrior's House) center in Tel Aviv, where he started playing wheelchair tennis and surfing.

Beit Halochem, is a program which helps Israel's 51,000 disabled veterans. Since 2007, Noam has made incredible changes in his life and has inspired many others. Noam, still in a wheelchair, has won about 10 awards between the years 2010-2012. He even won both gold and bronze medals in London's 2012 Paralympics games (Olympic games for disabled people)! Amazingly, Noam soon after received a call from the head of the Israeli army, saying he absolutely salutes him, which of course is an incredible honor. Noam is considered as one of the best wheelchair tennis players both in Israel and around the world! Nowadays, he gives lectures about his story across Israel, and volunteers in a hostel in Tel-Aviv for at-risk youth, called "Makom Acher" (in Hebrew- A Different Place), where he teaches math, and continues to inspire so many people.

"This country is worth getting injured for", Noam would say in his interviews. That shows he's strongly dedicated and loving towards his country. It is clear that Noam wasn't born a hero, but he was clearly born with spirit and determination. Another reason why my hero is Noam Gershony, is his modesty. Noam doesn't reach all of his records for the fame of it, but for himself. He is just himself- a fighter, who simply fights as much as he possibly can. All for his own accomplishment.

Without meeting him, I can say Noam Gershony is a role model to me, and to many other people as well. He has actually been called the Hero of Israel several times! Therefore, my emotional connection with him is very strong, like his personality. If I were asked how Noam can inspire us in our daily lives, I would say, very simply- if you're going through rough times, try as much as you can. You're doing this for yourself, not for anyone else. Because, Noam had no clue he would end up as an Israeli hero when he left those hospitals . He had no clue; and look at what he is today- a hero! It actually says on the Beit Halochem site- "Beit Halochem Rebuilds Lives. Helping Israel's 51,000 disabled veterans regain dignity and quality of life". I know Noam Gershony succeeded in that very much.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you'll reconsider what a hero is to you!