Israelis must balance their personal lives with their obligation to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Young people put their plans for the future on hold during their time in the army or reserves. This can make pursuing higher education especially challenging due to admission requirements and costs.
The Fellowship helps by providing financial aid to IDF soldiers so they can pursue their callings after defending the Holy Land. This month, we received letters of gratitude from some of our young IDF beneficiaries, who shared what they plan to do with their lives beyond the army.
The first came from Yehuda, who is currently studying to earn his bachelor’s degree in special education and teaching. Yehuda has served in the IDF for almost 13 years. After signing up for military service, he joined the Golani Brigade in a combat role in 2013 and was discharged in 2016. He then joined the Oded Brigade as a reservist, where he has continued to serve for the past 10 years. Since the Swords of Iron War began, he recalls serving more days than he did during the previous decade.
Yehuda currently volunteers in his hometown, bringing joy to his neighbors and their families. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he plans to work with at-risk youth and pursue a master’s degree in education. The Fellowship supports him by providing vouchers to reservists attending his college. Yehuda sends his heartfelt thanks to The Fellowship and our donors.
The Fellowship also heard from Linoy, a second-year undergraduate student studying psychology who has served more than 550 days since the outbreak of the war. As a reservist, he was an officer in the Medical Corps with the 2nd Infantry Division at Ichilov Hospital. Linoy cared for wounded patients and supported their families during hospitalization, including many victims of terror attacks. His other responsibilities included managing IDF delegations to Poland and training soldiers in Gaza following October 7, 2023.
Linoy says he never imagined that his military service would become such a significant and ongoing part of his life, and he hopes to continue serving as long as he can. Meanwhile, The Fellowship provides him with financial assistance as he works toward his goal of earning a master’s degree and pursuing a career in the mental health field. Knowing that there are people who not only think of him but also support his dreams gives him a great deal of strength and encouragement.
“You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me” (Psalm 18:39).