Marom Was Shocked by What He Learned

July 19, 2024

Marom Eliya Faraji is the youngest of eight siblings and a 24-year-old father living in Beit She’an. After serving three years in the Egoz Unit, he began studying law in 2022. On October 7 Marom was called up for reserve duty with Battalion 7220, composed of Egoz veterans. They experienced fierce fighting in Gaza.

On January 9th, in Al-Bureij, while they were preparing to attack a Hamas stronghold, a remote control bomb was triggered close by. Marom’s team went down and after eight long minutes under sniper fire, a Hamas bullet struck Marom in the head. Although his helmet saved his life, he was still seriously injured. The same bullet then hit a wall and ricocheted into Marom’s friend, Elkana Newlander. Elkana received severe shrapnel wounds to his neck and died ten minutes later.

Marom was immediately evacuated by Unit 669 to Sheba Medical Center. He was put into intensive care in critical condition with skull fractures and brain hemorrhages.

Marom spent a week and a half in the ICU and after being stabilized, and he was transferred to Sheba’s rehabilitation center, where he underwent comprehensive treatment for two months. Now, he visits outpatient rehabilitation three times a week, receiving hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychiatric care, all at Sheba.

Despite his injuries, Marom returned to his law studies, though he now faces significant challenges with attention, concentration, and memory due to his injuries. He has adjusted his course load and received necessary accommodations, determined to complete his degree and fulfill his dreams in law and entrepreneurship.

While in Sheba’s Neurological Rehabilitation Department, he was approached by another recovering soldier named Yaron in the common room. Marom started the first conversation with “Sorry, I don’t get along with anyone”.

Yaron persisted in connecting with him.

A reserve officer in a special classified unit, Yaron realized he might have been on a mission in the area and time when Marom was wounded. At first, Yaron hid the fact he knew about the incident, but after two days of chatting he asked Marom the date of his injury. Yarom then showed him a video of the incident. Marom was shocked and from that moment they connected deeply.

They began to encourage one another in their therapies and hand in hand, made painstaking progress together.

Brothers in arms became brothers in healing.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Brian.