The Benji Hillman Foundation

The Benji Hillman Foundation [ [http://www.benjihillman.org Foundation Website] ] (BHF) was founded in August 2006, in memory of Major Benji Hillman - killed in the 2006 Lebanon War, to help the lone combat soldier and soldiers from deprived backgrounds in Israel Defense Forces, both during and after their army service. The Foundation is building a home and offers programs and solutions for these soldiers.

Foundation's work

"Lone Soldiers" are young men and women, who have decided to leave their country of origin and join the Israeli army. Lone soldiers often have no family in Israel, may barely speak the Hebrew language and in most cases have no place of their own to go when they get leave.

The Foundation is implementing a number of projects to make the lives of these soldiers more comfortable, and to assist in integrating them into Israeli society.

The Foundation's flagship project, which is already deep in the planning stages, has been named Habayit Shel Benji (Benji's Home). The Foundation's goal is to provide general assistance, a warm bed, good food, a surrogate family (from members of local community - Raanana) and all the comforts of home.

The foundation has received land from the local municipality and plans to begin building the project in June/July 2008.

Furthermore, The BHF intends to advance its objectives by offering a number of solutions and programs (educational and vocational) to both the residents of the house and to lone combat soldiers in general.

Benji Hillman

The foundation is named after Major Benji Hillman (1979–2006), a company commander in the elite Egoz Reconnaissance Unit, who was killed in Maroun al-Ras leading his troops into battle. Hillman is said to have had an unstinting sense of responsibility toward the soldiers under his command, particularly the lone soldier.

Benji was born on 3 October 1979 in North West London to Judith and Danny Hillman. He had an older sister, Abigail and younger brother Shimon. His family emigrated to Israel in 1983 to Ra'anana. He attended the local primary school and then went to the Mechina in Kfar Saba and subsequently to the Midrashiya in Pardes Hanna. He also spent a year at Bnei David, the pre-military Yeshiva in Eli.

In 1998 he entered the army and was accepted to the Egoz Reconnaissance Unit. He was named outstanding soldier in basic training and in combat courses following. In 2000 he graduated from the officers' course with distinction and held positions in both Egoz and in the Golani Brigade's 51st Battalion. In June 2006, less than a month before he was killed, he married his long-time girlfriend Ayala Borger. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1164881840303 Jerusalem Post dated Dec 7, 2006] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1153291988218 The Jerusalem Post`s tribute to Benji`s life]
* [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/863412.html Haaretz National Paper talks about the importance of the Benji Hillman Foundation]
* [http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArtPE.jhtml?itemNo=863547&contrassID=2&subContrassID=21&sbSubContrassID=0 The Haaretz National Paper report on the annual Benji Hillman Foundation walk]
* [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/584/863.html Maariv Online - NRG talks about the Foundation]
* [http://www.givingwisely.org.il/cgi-bin/xGWexpandF.pl?language=E&amuta=580466332 Foundation details from charitable foundations database]
* [http://www.raanana.muni.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%94%D7%95%D7%93%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA+%D7%93%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%AA/%D7%94%D7%95%D7%93%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA+%D7%93%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%AA+%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%95%D7%93%D7%A9+%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%99+2008/%D7%A8%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%A0%D7%94+%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93%D7%AA+%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%9F+%D7%A8%D7%A1%D7%9F+%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%99+%D7%94%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F+%D7%96%D7%9C.htm The Raanana Municipality partners with The Benji Hillman Foundation for the annual walk]
* [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/Israel-Hizbullah+conflict-+Victims+of+rocket+attacks+and+IDF+casualties+July-Aug+2006.htm Israeli Ministry of Defence - IDF Casualties, see July 20th]