Pinhas Ben-Aryeh has known both war and unbearable loss, yet is now fighting for his own life. The bereaved father, a past recipient of the Israel Defense Prize for a life-saving system he developed, is in dire need of a new kidney.
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Antithetical to his normally private nature and following a great deal of apprehension, Ben-Aryeh, 69, is now turning to the public for help.
"I was in the army 25 years and left as a lieutenant colonel," he says without elaborating. For many years, Ben-Aryeh served in various classified roles in the Israeli Air Force, culminating, as stated, in the development of a life-saving system that still cannot be divulged to the public. Following his discharge in 1995, he entered the private sector.
In February 2003, his entire world collapsed when Amir, his son, an officer in the Paratroopers Brigade, fell in battle near Nablus.
Under the cover of darkness, two terrorists armed with Kalashnikov rifles infiltrated the perimeter of his paratroop outpost on Mount Gerizim and opened fire. One terrorist was killed in the immediate gunfight, along with IDF soldier Idan Suzin. Lt. Ben-Aryeh, the commander of the outpost, then climbed to the roof and exchanged fire with the remaining terrorist. During the firefight, Ben-Aryeh was shot in the head and killed. The second terrorist was killed soon after. Two other soldiers were moderately and lightly wounded.
Lt. Ben-Aryeh's comrades later recalled that his final words were a command to charge the enemy.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, who was the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade at the time, is still close with the family. Prior to being appointed to his current position as army chief, he devoted every Memorial Day to Amir and his family.
In a film produced by the family several years ago commemorating their son, Kochavi recounted going up to the roof where Lt. Ben-Aryeh was killed. "We reconstructed the entire incident. I remember going up to the roof and lying down in the spot where he was killed in an effort to understand what happened. I remember then, and now, the sense of a warrior," Kochavi said in the film.
Pinhas, Amir's father, told Israel Hayom that the family refused to sink into grief. "We chose life. We did many things to commemorate our son, including establishing a new Tzofim )Scouts( troop in Modiin under his name."
Fifteen years ago, however, Pinhas found himself in another battle. "I suffer from kidney problems, which have gotten worse over the past 8-9 years," he says. His condition has deteriorated even further in recent months. "The situation is getting more difficult. I'm at the point right before needing dialysis, which can happen almost any day. I have an excellent doctor who is managing to keep me on a low flame and off dialysis for the time being, but that could change at any moment."
Ben-Aryeh deliberated long and hard before turning to the press, but his condition ultimately left him with no choice. Under the recommendation of Or Lamishpachot (Light to the Families) – an association that helps bereaved parents in their long and continuous process of returning to an active and productive life – Ben-Aryeh chose to go through Israel Hayom to ask the public for help. "My concern is that I'm on the verge of collapse and dialysis. My doctor more or less begged me to find a donor."
Potential donors can contact Or Lamishpachot Association CEO Irit Oren Gunders at telephone: 054-8008263.
Or Lamishpachot has said it will handle all related medical expenses and donations.
"I went back and forth a lot before coming out, it's incredibly difficult for me, but I have no other choice," said Ben-Aryeh.
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