On Dec 10, we listen to the extraordinary story of
Nova survivor and former hostage Almog Meir Jan and injured IDF soldier Ben Ladany will discuss what it means to face trauma, rebuild identity and return to the world with renewed purpose.
Ben a lone soldier who left his home in South Africa to serve in Israel’s elite Oketz K-9 Unit.
Ben was shot seven times while trying to save his partner, a military dog named Jack.
He spent two months in a coma, and many more months rebuilding his life piece by piece.
Ben’s courage, resilience, and refusal to give up symbolize something deep about the Oketz community: They lead first, they carry the heaviest weight, and they pay a price that most people never see.
Tonight, in hearing Ben’s story, you are entering that circle.
And we invite you to stay in it.
Why Your Support Matters:
American Friends of Oketz (AFO) is the U.S. nonprofit that supports the IDF’s elite K-9 Unit
and its soldiers, veterans, and retired canine heroes.
Together with the Oketz Foundation in Israel, we provide:
• Mental-health support & trauma programs
Peace of Mind, NATAL counseling, and specialized therapy for soldiers processing service-related trauma, including the unique grief of losing a canine partner.
• Resilience programs for veterans
Surf-therapy (Swelldogs), yoga-based resilience (Upward-Facing Dog), mentorship, community-building, and reintegration support.
• Critical care for retired military dogs
Medical treatments, surgeries, food, and support for young soldiers who adopt their canine partners after service.
• Emergency equipment & unit support
Medical gear, veterinary equipment, and wartime needs that keep both soldiers and dogs safe.
These programs exist because of people like you, people who choose to stand with a community that rarely asks for help but deeply needs it.
Every contribution directly supports mental health, veteran care, and lifesaving treatment for retired military dogs.
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