Barnoar volunteer denied insurance since 'it has not been proven you experienced an accident'
Chen Langer, 29, was shot in deadly attack at LGBT youth club in '09; however, due to clerical error, the National Insurance Institute refuses to recognize his injury; 'There is no question that I volunteered there that evening,' says Langer; National Insurance Institute: 'We did not receive confirmation that he was participating in a volunteer activity.'
One of the volunteers who was present at the deadly shooting attack at the Barnoar LGBT youth center in 2009 has yet to receive compensation from the National Insurance Institute, all due to a clerical error.
For some unknown reason, the National Insurance Institute has yet to receive verifiable proof that Chen Langer, 29, had been volunteering at the gay youth center after being referred to do so by an authorized public body, and therefore, his injury is not covered.
"We feel it has not been proven that an accidental event occurred during and due to your volunteer work," the institute's response to Langer's request stated.
In August '09, a still unidentified assailant entered the youth center and opene fire, killing guide Nir Katz and teenager Liz Trubishi and injuring several others. Langer, who also volunteered as a guide at the Barnoar that evening, was shot by a bullet in his leg and left with a lifelong disability.
Following the attack, Langer filed a lawsuit, seeking compensation and recognition of his injury as a work injury. Last week, he received a definitive rejection of his request.
Prior to volunteering, Langer filled out the relevant forms with the LGBT Taskforce, which at the time housed the Barnoar's youth activities. He also interviewed with the volunteer coordinator, but apparently the form verifying all this, which was sent to the Tel Aviv Municipality, never reached its destination.
"There is no doubt that I volunteered in an area recognized by law as a national necessity," said Langer. "A volunteer coordinator interviewed me, I signed insurance forms for the Tel Aviv Municipality and confidentiality forms that ensure that the information from the young members is transferred only to professionals and the social workers of the volunteer association," said Langer.
"On the eve of the attack, I took care of LGBT boys and girls, talked to them and listened to them with great love, because I was once like them," he added.
Langer received a letter last week from Inbal Segev, a work injury claims officer at the National Insurance Institute. In it, Segev wrote, "Following a review of the details of your claim and the inquiries we have conducted, it has not been proven that you were directed to carry out activity on August 1, 2009 by a public body authorized to direct volunteers.
"In spite of our request, we did not receive documents that support your injury claim," added Segev. "And it was not proven that your injury was caused by your volunteer work."
Former minister of social affairs and current MK, Meir Cohen, wrote a letter regarding Langer's case to the director general of the National Insurance Institute, saying, "This is a classic case of embarrassing conduct carried out by the establishment vis-à-vis the citizen. This injustice must be immediately rectified, while sticking to the facts and not asking any unnecessary questions on the unfortunate circumstances that Chen found himself in."
In response to further inquiry, the National Insurance Institute stated, "We asked Mr. Langer and his attorney to bring a document that would prove he was injured while performing volunteer work. Unfortunately, we did not receive any such document or confirmation that he was carrying out volunteer work. We will reassess his case should such a document be presented."
