Drafted into the IDF at the end of 1988, Alon Dahan initially served a brief period in the Israeli Navy before joining the 12th Battalion of the Golani Infantry Brigade, proudly following the path of his father and several cousins.
In 1991, during a routine operation, Alon’s vehicle accidentally entered a minefield and was destroyed. Struck by the vehicle’s debris, his back was broken, and he was instantly paralyzed. His first thought after the injury was the haunting realization that he might spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Alon then embarked on a challenging year-long recovery, first at Rambam and later at Tel Hashomer, where he managed to complete his high school matriculation exams and even began pursuing a BA and an MA. He later continued with his academic journey, working on a PhD focused on the messianic doctrine of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Throughout his recovery, Alon became a regular at Tel Aviv’s Beit Halochem (before the Jerusalem center was established). He immersed himself in various sports, proving to himself that, despite his injuries, there was still “hope and optimism, a drive to achieve, and the potential for endless accomplishments.” To Alon, Beit Halochem was a place of faith—a place where he could dream, push his limits, and believe in himself, even with physical and emotional scars.
Reflecting on his journey, Alon shares, “Without the army, we have no existence, and without the Beit Halochem rehabilitation centers, we have no hope.”
Today, Alon Dahan serves as the Chairman of the Board at Beit Halochem Jerusalem. He believes passionately in the center’s mission, saying, “Beit Halochem shows us that everything we once thought impossible can be achieved, and distant dreams can be realized. My hope is that one day, we won’t need such facilities anymore.”