Atlanta Jewish Foundation Impact Story
October 12, 2026
For many wounded Israeli soldiers, recovery does not end when they leave the hospital. Physical injuries can change nearly every aspect of daily life, while invisible wounds like PTSD can make returning to everyday life even more difficult. Shevet Foundation, formerly known as Erez Foundation, is helping disabled IDF veterans discover what is possible again – one challenge, one adventure and one achievement at a time.
For 25 years, Shevet has used adaptive sports – including skiing, kayaking and cycling – to help wounded veterans rebuild confidence, independence and a sense of possibility. Rather than operating from a single facility, Shevet brings veterans into the environments where these activities take place, giving them opportunities to push beyond perceived limitations alongside others who understand their experiences.
More than 1,000 disabled IDF veterans have already participated in Shevet’s programs.
One of those veterans is Achiya Klein, a former officer in the IDF’s elite Yahalom unit. In 2013, while on a mission to neutralize a terror tunnel, an explosive device detonated, leaving Achiya critically injured and permanently blind.
Shevet became an important part of Achiya’s journey forward. Through extensive rehabilitation and adaptive sports, Achiya began pushing beyond what he – and others – might have imagined possible.
Achiya returned to military service as a Research and Development officer, developing technologies designed to make soldiers safer and more effective. He later joined the founding team of the innovation department at Israel’s Shin Bet. At the same time, he became a member of Israel’s national Paralympic rowing team, competing in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and reaching the finals, where he finished sixth.
Today, Achiya works across venture capital, defense technology, innovation and strategic consulting, while sharing his story of resilience and leadership with audiences around the world.
Last month, Achiya brought that story to Atlanta, speaking to four groups across the Atlanta Jewish community.
Joel Ashner, Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s Director of Planned Giving, attended one of the inspiring conversations: “What struck me was the confidence Shevet gave Achiya and all these veterans to do things they may never have imagined possible. Learning to ski when you’re blind? It gives you the confidence to approach the rest of your life differently. I think that’s what makes their work so powerful.”
That same spirit of possibility is behind a new partnership between Shevet and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).
Championed by Atlanta Jewish Foundation Donor-Advised Fund holders Aaron and Angel Goldman, developed in coordination with FIDF leadership, and led by Mechal Perl, the partnership launched a $1.4 million, two-year pilot to scale Shevet’s work, with a particular focus on PTSD and the long-term rehabilitation of wounded veterans.
Through the pilot, FIDF matched funds raised dollar-for-dollar, up to $700,000. Aaron and Angel committed $200,000 and led the effort to raise an additional $500,000 over the two-year pilot.
“After meeting Major General Nadav Padan, CEO of FIDF, this summer, and introducing him to friends and family in Colorado, we were thrilled to move forward with this collaboration,” Aaron shared.
Now, thanks to the Goldmans’ dedication and the generosity of our community, that $1.4 million goal has been reached.
The full amount needed for the two-year pilot has been secured, unlocking the full FIDF match and providing Shevet with the resources to expand its work with wounded IDF veterans.
But Aaron and Angel aren’t stopping there. They have asked FIDF to extend its generous matching commitment, while Shevet continues working to secure additional funding and expand the program’s reach. If the partnership continues to demonstrate its impact, FIDF has expressed its intention to make Shevet a permanent program under its umbrella.
For Achiya and the more than 1,000 veterans Shevet has already served, the mission is about more than rehabilitation. It is about helping people rediscover their strength, confidence and sense of possibility – and building a future in which an injury can change the course of a life without defining its limits.
Watch this powerful video to learn more about Shevet’s work.
