Beit Kobi - In Memory of Kobi Ichelbom

Beit Kobi - A Home & Family for "Lone soldiers" - young soldiers without family in Israel. A training center for commanders and youth. "Beit Kobi" is a non-profit organization founded in July 2002 in memory of Sgt. Kobi Ichelbom, who was killed in military action in Nezarim, in the Gaza Strip. Kobi was an outstanding IDF soldier and commander in the Givati Brigade, who was enlightened by the love he felt towards his family and country. Beit Kobi set a goal to act according to the spirit of the unwritten will left by Kobi as a soldier and commander: to support and help soldiers in need.Approximately 5,000 lone soldiers currently serve in the IDF. Most of them are new immigrants who moved to Israel without their families in order to serve in the Israeli army. Others come from broken homes or from families with severe economic problems. For these soldiers, the military service grants them a chance of successful integration into Israeli society. Recognizing the importance of integrating these soldiers in Israeli society, Beit Kobi is working to bring the issues of lone soldiers to the public awareness. In attempting to do so, the organization initiates various activities in the community as well as in the IDF – creating a civilian social support network for lone soldiers and raising their commanders' awareness of their special needs. All of the activities of Beit Kobi are designed and modified according to ongoing surveys of needs that we conduct among the lone soldiers.