Meet Zuria, Whose Optimism and Love for the IDF Can’t be Ignored.

Following a challenging childhood, Zuria fulfilled his dream of volunteering in the IDF and now serves in the “Special in Uniform'' program, a unit dedicated to integrating people with special needs into the IDF. 

His father, a military Rabbi in the IAF, looks back on the last 17 years of Zuria’s difficulties. It was only after Zuria was born that his family discovered that he had Down Syndrome. Their lives changed once again when Zuria was  diagnosed with Leukemia as a child.

“In two weeks Zuria was out of severe danger and after eight months of treatment, he was completely recovered. Between treatments, Zuria walked around the hospital hugging everyone. I remember one time after a nurse treated him, he hugged and thanked her. You can’t help but love this kid.”––Maj. Briner (Zuria’s father)

Since he was young, Zuria viewed his father as a role model and looked up to him with admiration everytime he put on his army uniform and went to base. “He lived through my army service with me. We celebrated the holidays on the IAF bases and visited many places. He connected with all of the soldiers and always wanted to be like them.”––Maj. Briner

These days Zuria is fulfilling his dream of serving in the IDF in the “Special in Uniform” program––headed by the Logistics Corps and the “Lend a Hand to a Special Child” (״יד לילד המיוחד״) organization. As part of the program, the participants volunteer in the Ashdod Naval Base and at Camp Bilu of the 98 Division. 

Maj. Briner

“Providing these teens with a place that they love which loves them back—doesn’t only affect them, it affects us as parents too. When I, as a father myself, look at a parent, I know they want to know that people are taking care of their child. That people are giving them something that will make them happy and meaningful—no matter what. The “Special in Uniform” program shows them that they’re treated as equal and it means the world to them.”–– Maj. Briner