About Us

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Our Story

Friends of Our Wounded Veterans

My name is Judy Isaacson Elias. I am the founder of Heroes to Heroes. In many ways, though I am not a veteran, I am the first participant. At the age of 16, having given up on faith and life, my parents sent me on a journey to Israel with USY Pilgrimage. It was during that journey that I found my faith, connection, and myself. Heroes to Heroes is dedicated to my Dad. Growing up as a daughter of Master Sergeant Irving M. Isaacson, a proud veteran of World War II and a volunteer with disabled veterans until his passing (in 2001) I was raised to be proud and respectful of our military and those who fight to preserve our freedoms.

After my father’s passing I felt a strong pull to continue his work with disabled veterans. This purpose was defined during a trip to Walter Reed Medical Center. The young men and women we visited have such a strong sense of belief, purpose, and duty. In spite of their injuries they wanted to go back into battle to complete the goal that they had set out to accomplish. How could we possibly find the right words to thank these young heroes, not just for their tremendous sacrifice for our freedom but, also, for giving us the opportunity to give something back to them, in gratitude for their commitment and service?

As an American Mom I had to do something. I volunteered to help and while volunteering at a few organizations, was haunted by the amount of suicides among our veterans. At the time, the official number was 22 per day – a national crisis. I studied suicide and found that belonging and faith are crucial to life and knew what I had to do. Learning from my father, I knew that no veteran should be left behind. In March 2010, Heroes to Heroes was founded. Cliff Nolan, of blessed memory, joined me to build this program that has now developed into the premier program dealng with the social and spiritual aspects of moral injury. 

Moral injury is one of the most difficult challenges to overcome. For many who suffer, there is no key to faith. Entering a place of worship does not feel like an option and most isolate as they self-destruct. Heroes to Heroes tends to be an organization of last resort and we are honored that we can provide that elusive key. 

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Our story

Many veterans end up lost and alone...

Following our visit we learned that once these men and women leave the protection of the hospital and rehabilitative facilities (and the notice of their fellow Americans), many of them end up lost and alone. After listening to their stories, and learning of their challenges, we realized that something has to be done to make sure that these men and women are given the tools and resources necessary to make their transition to civilian life clean, clear, direct and purposeful.
After studying the many available programs we wanted to offer something different, an experience of a lifetime, one that will allow our disabled veterans access to a different perspective about their service, to explore their spiritual roots, to develop an international support system, and to gain some insight into using their military experience for private sector employment.

Heroes To Heroes was built from our desire to help American disabled veterans from all walks of life who are struggling to re-enter civilian life.

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An experience of a lifetime

After studying the many available programs we wanted to offer something different, an experience of a lifetime, one that will allow our disabled veterans access to a different perspective about their service, to explore their spiritual roots, to develop an international support system, and to gain some insight into using their military experience for private sector employment. The Heroes To Heroes journey to Israel is our way of saying thank you and of giving American disabled veterans ten days of education, personal exploration, fun, and connections, with a lifetime of international peer support to follow. A few hours in Walter Reed changed our lives. Maybe Heroes to Heroes will change theirs. We are looking forward to serving our veterans and can’t thank them enough for this opportunity.
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Our veterans need your support

Please make a gift to support those who continue to sacrifice for us. For many of our veterans, simple words and gestures do not cut through their spiritual pain. They are in a war for their souls. Your support gives them life.

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