On Tuesday night, exactly one year since the terror attack suffered by their children, Drs. Naftali and Zahava Nevies, parents of terror victim Nahum Nevies, held a small Zoom event to give thanks for the medical miracles their children have experienced.
Nahum, 18, and his older sister Noam, now 20, were injured last August in a ramming attack while on their way to a family vacation. In the attack, Nahum sustained a severe injury to his head and required emergency surgery, while his sister Noam was moderately injured.
The Zoom event was attended by family in Israel and abroad, as well as by friends and medical staff. The parents thanked all those who supported them during the family's difficult period, and asked some of the viewers to speak.
Participating in the event were Mercaz Harav Yeshiva's dean, Rabbi Yaakov Shapira whose daughter is married to Zahava's brother; Rabbi Yitzhak Dor, principal of Horev Yeshiva High School, where Nahum was studying; Elazar's Rabbi Haim Iram; the victims' grandmother, Arutz Sheva editor Rochel Sylvetsky; the surgeon; and the physiotherapist who has worked with the family during the treatment and rehabilitation periods.
At the end of the event, Nahum thanked everyone, reciting the "shehecheyanu" blessing and chapter 100 of Psalms, since the family's rabbi has said that Nahum should not yet recite the "hagomel" blessing.
In the attack, Noam, who was in a religious young women's dance troupe in addition to doing her National Service, suffered an injury to her leg and knee, and underwent a difficult operation performed by Dr. Liebergal of Hadassah. She was released two weeks later and began physiotherapy, which she continues to this day. Noam is scheduled to undergo additional surgeries at the end of the summer. She, however, left the wheelchair behind long ago and has only a brace on one leg, which will hopefully be unnecessary after the surgery.
Senior neurosurgeon Dr. Samuel Moskowitzi said that due to Nahum's young age, he decided to operate on him upon his arrival in the hospital, despite the fact that Nahum's identity was not yet known and he evinced no reactions to stimuli. Afterwards, he told the family that if Nahum survived the next 48 hours, he had a chance of survival. Nahum made it through that period, later undergoing a series of additional surgeries and spending several months in the ICU, where he suffered several medical crises.
During Nahum's stay in the hospital, Israel's chief rabbis visited him, as did Rabbi Mutzafi, the commander of the IDF's Central Command, the Gush Etzion Brigade commander, MK Naftali Bennett (Yamina), and others. In addition, Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, who is a Kohen, visited Nahum in the ICU every Friday, in order to bless him.
In addition, the Chabad Rabbi whose Tanya lectures appear on Arutz Sheva made a special effort to ensure that Nahum and Noam's names were at the "Ohel" of the Rebbe and that Nahum was davened for there during each operation, the women who daven at the Kotel at dawn (vatikin) prayed for Nahum every day and synagogues all over America wrote that they were doing the same.The American Consulate followed his progress and proferred aid, as they do with American victims of terror abroad. The One Family organization has stood by the family's side throughout.
Slowly, after several weeks, Nahum Elimelech - who received the additional name Refael - began to show signs of improvement, regaining consciousness and later the ability to breathe independently, respond, move and communicate.
Upon his release from the hospital, Nahum was transferred to the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital. Now, he prays, holds conversations, walks, eats regular food, and even began reading and writing, with each advance the result of practice, therapy, and the loving patience of the wonderful staff and his parents, and especially Nahum's own efforts to succeed. Nahum, who was scheduled to take his matriculation in harp playing this year, has also resumed playing, thanks to the unending dedication of his teacher, Gitit Boazson. During the Zoom event, he played a well known song set to words by Rav Kook, "Ascend, ascend, because you have much strength.".