VIRGINIA BEACH — The world’s only known one-armed sniper is coming here to discuss the book he wrote chronicling his journey.
Author Izzy Ezagui will tell his story of overcoming adversity as the featured speaker for the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s annual campaign kickoff on Sept. 6 at Jewish Community Center in Virginia Beach, according to news a release from the federation.
Ezagui, an American, was 19-years-old when he enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces — then lost his arm in a mortar attack on the border of the Gaza Strip. Determined to join the IDF again, Ezagui went through a tortuous rehabilitation program back in the United States, according to the news release.
After passing all the required tests, he re-enlisted and became the world’s only one-armed sharpshooter.
As a result of months of rehab and realizations about adversity in life, Ezagui wrote a memoir called Disarmed: Unconventional Lessons from the World’s Only One-Armed Special Forces Sharpshooter.
“I just want to tell a story, and I hope that by osmosis people will feel the love I feel for Israel,” Ezagui said in an interview with The Times of Israel.
For information, email the UJFT Arts-Ideas manager, Callah Terkeltaub, or call 757-321-2331.