“I Want My Father to Be Proud of Me.” Moshe’s Story

Moshe is only 20 years old and has been in Israel for just over two years. Since childhood, he has been profoundly passionate about everything related to space and aerospace technology. Today, he is chasing his dream despite every obstacle in his path.

Moshe moved to Israel from Baku, leaving behind his father, who raised him and his brother alone. He started with the SELA MIR program in Karmiel, then moved on to the preparatory program at the Technion. As he says himself, it was incredibly difficult—studying entirely in Hebrew—but he persevered. He was successfully admitted as a first-year student to the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and received a scholarship that allowed him to focus entirely on his studies. Yes, he had to save every penny and cut back on everything, but Moshe is the kind of young man for whom achieving a goal is more important than momentary entertainment or pleasure. Unfortunately, such a life left no room to build even a minimal safety net for unforeseen circumstances.

And those circumstances arrived. An early morning call from Baku: his beloved father was gone. They had spoken just the day before, and nothing foreshadowed tragedy. His father had told him how proud he was and that "the only thing I need for complete peace of mind is to know that my son has been admitted to and is successfully studying at the Technion—the place he dreamed of."

Losing his closest person was a devastating blow. Moshe had to fly to Baku immediately to handle documents, arrangements, and the funeral, all while trying to process his grief. His only living relative is a brother just one year older, also a student. Moshe had to take a leave of absence; serious study was impossible in such a state. No studies meant no scholarship—his only source of income. The stress and the weight of the loss triggered a series of chronic health issues, one after another. For a while, despair took over, and it felt like his dream and future were over. But then, his father’s last words would come back to him: "I will be at peace if you graduate from the Technion and reach your dream." To honor his father's memory, to not give up, and to push through the hardship toward his goal—these became his top priorities. And he succeeded.

Recently, he returned to his dorm room in Haifa and immediately threw himself into his studies to catch up with his classmates. He is doing well; he’s getting good grades, and his professors believe he has a strong chance of regaining his scholarship by April. The problem is, he has to survive until April, and he has absolutely nothing left. He doesn't just lack money for notebooks and books—he lacks enough for a box of pasta, a pack of pita bread, or a new pair of socks. Moshe needs to hold on just a little longer until his scholarship kicks in. We aren't talking about astronomical sums—just the basic survival of a young man. He cannot take on part-time work because the sheer volume of material he needs to catch up on requires his full dedication.

This is a situation where your 10, 20, or 30 shekels can radically change a person's life and provide support in the most literal sense. To help him make it until his scholarship. After that, he will be able to manage on his own. And his father will surely be proud of him.