It was supposed to be the launch of a 10-day advocacy mission across US universities - a vital opportunity to share first-hand accounts of survival, heroism, and the realities of October 7. Instead, right out of the gate, two wounded IDF veterans collided with a chilling new norm on US campuses: a systemic campaign of silencing, intimidation, and a hostile environment where expressing any pro-Israel sentiment is aggressively shut down.
On Monday, as Eliyahu Green and Ariel Saat - brought to the US for a 10-day tour organized by Belev Echad in conjunction with Chabad on Campus - prepared to address students at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), the ambush began.
Shortly before the lecture could even start, anti-Israel demonstrators burst into the hall, shouting to disrupt the gathering and drown out the veterans' voices. Police quickly intervened, escorting the agitators outside and informing them that while they had the right to protest, they could not hijack the room. Yet, the attempt to silence the Israelis did not end there. The protesters remained outside for the duration of the lecture before pushing back inside during the Q&A session, wielding signs in a deliberate attempt to provoke the soldiers and intimidate the Jewish students in attendance.
The intimidation tactics failed to break the soldiers, but they laid bare the suffocating atmosphere Jewish students navigate daily, where standing with Israel often makes them targets.
"We came all the way from Israel to the United States... to speak with our brothers and sisters and strengthen them," Ariel and Eliyahu shared after the event. "We had a warm welcome from our fellow Jewish students, and a really 'warm welcome' from the pro-terrorist organizations on campus. It didn't affect us much. We managed to have an amazing lecture... and we're going to continue doing that in the rest of our campus tours. Am Yisrael Chai."
The resilience displayed in the face of the campus mob mirrors the immense courage both men forged in combat, as detailed in their tour biographies.
Ariel Saat (21) was serving as a Givati Brigade radio operator when the October 7 massacre began. Rushing south to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, he plunged into intense combat. When his teammates were seriously wounded, Ariel held the line - eliminating terrorists and saving his comrades' lives. Left with severe PTSD, he has since rebuilt his life through art and works as a tattoo artist.
Eliyahu Green (28) was a first-year medical student when the war broke out. A former Duvdevan officer, he immediately volunteered for reserve duty in Gaza. Just one week into combat, his unit was struck by an explosive drone. Twelve of his teammates were hit, and Eliyahu suffered severe shrapnel injuries to his head. Following life-saving surgery and months of rehabilitation, he defied the odds, returning to medical school despite permanent hearing loss and the heavy psychological toll of the war.
For the founders of Belev Echad, an organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of wounded IDF soldiers, the immediate disruption of the tour only highlights the urgency of their mission.
"When Eliyahu and Ariel fought in Gaza and Kfar Aza, they faced unimaginable terror to protect the Jewish people," said Rabbi Uriel and Shevy Vigler, founders of Belev Echad. "We brought them on this 10-day tour across United States college campuses so the world could hear their truth. No amount of screaming, silencing tactics, or hateful signs will silence these heroes, nor will it break the spirit of the Jewish students they came to empower."
For the students at Cal Poly, who are often forced into silence to avoid backlash, the contrast between the protesters' hostility and the soldiers' quiet strength provided a much-needed lifeline.
"I am really happy that we are able to bring this to our college campus to educate some minds and share two amazing stories of courage that just needed to be told," said Maya, a Cal Poly student. "This type of event really spreads a message of peace and inspiration - to just keep moving forward with the intense fortitude of the soldiers in Israel."
Rabbi Chaim Leib Hilel, Co-director of Chabad of SLO & Cal Poly, underscored the importance of pushing back against the culture of silencing. "It was incredibly moving to hear firsthand from these brave soldiers. Their courage in speaking openly about PTSD and the often unseen wounds of war was both powerful and inspiring. We are grateful to Belev Echad for giving them a voice."