Aaron’s Leadership Shines Through

August 30, 2024

Aaron Bours is a 34-year-old lone soldier from Great Neck, New York, who serves in the Givati Brigade of the IDF.

Before Oct. 7, Aaron was making significant strides in both his military and professional life. He is a founding team member and the Chief Marketing Officer at Hyro, a conversational and generative AI startup in digital health.

Aaron and the team at his startup.

Aaron also dedicated time as a mentor for entrepreneurs at Techstars, served on the board of Nevo Network, and was actively involved in the G-CMO Forum. With nine years of experience in the tech sector, including roles at Check Point and Google, Aaron combined his professional expertise with his commitment to Israel through his service in the IDF reserves.

Aaron’s wedding, two months before the war.

Aaron and his wife, Tal.

Aaron’s journey took a harrowing turn on November 14th during his deployment to Gaza.

Despite being abroad at a work conference in Las Vegas on October 7th, Aaron rushed back to Israel to join his unit as they prepared for the conflict. After 15 days of intense combat, Aaron was shot in both legs while heroically attempting to save his officer, Omri David z”l. This battle exemplified the brutal and chaotic nature of urban warfare, where Aaron demonstrated remarkable bravery under dire circumstances.

Aaron and his officer, Omri David z”l.

After being airlifted to Sheba Medical Center by the 669 Search & Rescue unit, Aaron was deemed critically injured. He underwent intensive orthopedic surgery on both legs, as well as his right hip and lower back. Remarkably, doctors managed to avoid amputation, performing a bone graft to rebuild his tibia and fibula. Aaron has spent five months in rehabilitation at Sheba’s “Returning to Life” ward, where his recovery became much more than just physical.

Aaron describes his time at Sheba with deep appreciation: “Thousands of visitors, hundreds of speaking opportunities and interviews, dozens of concerts and big events; this isn’t a normal rehab center by any means. Sheba is ripe with high morale; it’s a microcosm of the complex melting pot that is Israel.” He speaks highly of the diverse staff, noting, “About 33% of our nurses and doctors in the ward are Arab-Israeli, and they’re a godsend.”

The atmosphere at Sheba was unique, filled with support from all corners of the world. “Donors and volunteers vary from secular Jews providing free acupuncture, right-wing Hasidic Jews distributing ice cream, atheist hi-tech employees handing out tablets, and diverse groups of teenagers from the south coming to sing, albeit often out of tune.” Aaron reflects on how these visitors, expecting to cheer up the wounded, often found that it was the injured soldiers who provided “infectious smiles and a newfound zest for life.”

In Aaron’s words, Sheba is “a surreal place, a cross between a college dorm, a summer camp, and a hostel in Bali. The vibes are amazing.” He feels blessed to have been surrounded by “people with genuinely good hearts, dedicated to seeing us heal.”

Aaron’s story is one of courage, resilience, and the profound impact of community and support during recovery. Even after his discharge from Sheba on April 25th, he continues to advocate for international support for Israel, sharing his experiences with grace and determination, and never forgetting the oasis of healing and care that Sheba provided to him and so many others.

Am Yisrael Chai.