Miss Israel World International honors the heroes of Israel in New York with Hakav Hameached
As Miss Israel World International and proud titleholder of Miss World International 2025, I have always been deeply committed to using my platform to give back. One cause especially close to my heart is my yearly volunteer work with the Israeli summer camp Hakav Hameached—an extraordinary organization that gives children with cancer the chance to step outside hospital walls and simply be kids again.
Last month, I had the honor of supporting a mission that was both deeply meaningful and emotional. For the first time ever, Hakav Hameached brought its largest delegation to date—32 wounded IDF soldiers and children battling cancer—on a life-changing Dream Journey from Israel to New York.
Many of the soldiers were injured during or in the aftermath of the tragic events of October 7. Alongside brave young patients whose innocence has been stolen by illness, they found comfort, joy, and healing in moments that transcended pain and hardship.
None of this would have been possible without the unwavering generosity of Israeli Jews who gave their tremendous support, and the American Jewish community, whose commitment turned this dream into reality.
Among the group were two reserve soldiers with a story the world has never seen before. Both were hospitalized in the same ward. Both were newly married. And both carry something so rare, no one else in the world shares it with them.
They are the only two lung transplant recipients in the IDF from the Iron Swords War. Each of them now breathes with the lung of a fallen hero—a gift of life born from ultimate sacrifice.
The challenge of such a transplant does not end in the operating room. It is not just the surgery, the grueling rehabilitation, or the long hospital stays. It is every breath afterward, at home, for life. And yet, even with all they have endured, the moment they heard the children’s stories, they broke down.
They could not believe that children so small and pure are forced to face such unimaginable suffering.
That is when an argument began. Each soldier insisted the other was the “real hero.” Both refused the title for themselves, saying they had simply done their duty. “We are not heroes,” they said. “The true heroes are the children—those who fight their battles every day with courage, even when strength is gone.”
But the children refused to agree. For them, it is the soldiers—men who risked their lives for Israel and now carry wounds etched in both body and soul—who are the real heroes.
In that unforgettable moment, heroes recognized heroes.
The Dream Journey reminded everyone present of a profound truth: heroism is not just one story—it is many. It is found in soldiers who sacrifice everything for their people. It is found in children who smile through pain no child should ever have to endure. And it is found in the Jewish people who open their hearts to make such miracles possible.
In the face of tragedy, these warriors and children alike have shown us what it truly means to fight—not only for survival, but for life, dignity, and joy.
As Miss Israel World International, engaging with these brave children and soldiers reminded me that being a public figure is not about titles, beauty, or recognition—it is about using every platform to shine a light on resilience, kindness, and unity.
This journey was a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit—to appreciate the simple moments in life, to cherish health, and to give to others with love and solidarity. It is a call to share Israel’s heroic stories, to honor their courage, and to remind the world that even in our darkest hours, the Jewish people do not stand alone—we lift each other up.