I never thought I would be in Syria recording this.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey.
What initially drew you to Torah Tech and how did it shape your journey in Israel?
What initially drew me to Torah Tech was that I was looking for a gap year program that would allow me to grow through Torah learning, but wasn’t looking to learn five days a week. I also loved the idea of living in a city, and Tel Aviv was intriguing to me.
Being at Torah Tech completely shaped my journey in Israel. I was able to meet a lot of mentors and Gadolei Torah in Tel Aviv which opened up a lot of doors and experiences, which ended up leading to a full-time job in financial consulting. Eventually, I decided that I want to spend the rest of my life in Israel, and decided to draft as I understood the importance of going to the army.
Can you share a memorable experience from your time in the program that influenced your decision to stay?
There were a few memorable moments at Torah Tech that really opened my eyes and led me to my decision to stay in Israel. The first one that really sticks out to me was Shabbos in Chevron for Chayei Sara. It was beautiful and I really got to see the combination of the biblical and current state of Israel in one Shabbos. I think all of the trips we went on also influenced my decision to stay, like going to the Dead Sea, the Old City, ADI in the Negev with our tour guide who really understood how to portray the land to us as something we need to keep and be here to make it stronger.
Another thing that made me even more keen on staying was seeing the number of opportunities and growth available not just in business, but in the growing young, vibrant, professional religious community in Tel Aviv.
What specific values or lessons from Torah Tech have stayed with you and guided your path?
The biggest value and lesson that I have taken away from my time at Torah Tech and has guided me through my time here in Israel is the value of balance, of tiferet. Yes, everything in life has to have balance, but specifically, the most important parts of your life as an Orthodox Jew is Torah and Avoda, and Torah Tech is the best example of this. You need a lot of both, but you need to know how to balance your connection to Hakadosh Baruch Hu and working to provide for your family and ultimately bringing that light of G-d into everything.
How did the program's internships and Torah learning components complement your personal and professional growth?
Torah Tech’s internship and Torah learning components really helped me towards personal and professional growth. I didn’t come into Torah Tech with the strongest religious observance, even though my background was very strong. I personally struggled a lot with believing and Torah Tech really changed that for me by bringing me back to my roots and showing me just how important being religious is. And with my roots in Chabad, it helped me come back to them.
In terms of my internship, it really helped me progress professionally. I was able to experience different fields to see whether I liked them or not. I had a few different internships during my first year at Torah Tech from working at a real estate brokerage to Crypto and NFTs, and ultimately settled in finance and Venture Capital. I was really able to expand my horizons and I was able to enjoy my internship.
Where are you serving and what motivated you to join the IDF?
I am serving as a Paratrooper in the 202 Battalion in the Chetz (Arrow) Division. Going back as far as sixth grade, this is something that I wanted to do. But what really got me to take the leap of faith was the understanding that I want to be here for the rest of my life and it is important to protect this land and to fight for our people. Also, I understand that my kids, b’h, will grow up here and will be able to look up to a father that had the option not to draft but yet made the decision to draft and hopefully they will be able to appreciate that.
How did your experiences in Torah Tech influence your decision to serve in the army?
Being around Alumni that were serving as well as Rav Shlomo talking about his army service and Yehuda talking about growing up in Passaic, New Jersey and also choosing to go into the army really encouraged me as they both are amazing influences and role models. Not only that though, they have helped and supported me in any and every way possible.
Were there any alumni or mentors from the program who inspired or supported your decision?
A few other people who had influenced me during my time at Torah Tech were educators Sammy Maimon and Jo Maimon and my cousin Ami Wolf, who was serving in the army at the time. They were also big influences on encouraging me to draft.
Are there any specific teachings or texts that you took away from your time at Torah Tech that have been particularly meaningful during your service?
Vitaher libeinu liavticha viemet was the saying of V4 and is something that I have retroactively taken to heart, I realize now that I didn’t when I was a participant in Torah Tech. Although I haven’t thought of this on an ongoing basis, both my army service and ultimately my service to G-d. I believe that serving in the army is serving G-d as well and to purify my heart so I can serve with truth is a good reason to be here. It is very nullifying to scratch out your ego and put it aside.
What role has the Torah Tech alumni network played in your journey post-program?
Even though I am not in the Torah Tech TLV Army program, I have received a lot of support from the Torah Tech staff. Someone is always checking up on me, always caring what I am doing and reaching out. I’ve also received donations from Torah Tech for things I need, whether it is a jacket or something I need or want.
How do you see the values and skills you gained in Torah Tech shaping your future in Israel?
Looking ahead, I see the values and skills I learned at Torah Tech shaping my future in Israel in a significant way. I got married recently in Israel and hope to soon be able to have children and build a home with the values of Eretz Yisrael and bayit emun.
How do you envision staying connected to Torah Tech in the long term?
I envision staying connected to Torah Tech long term. I would love to be able to teach chassidut and to continue to be a part of the program.
Is there a message you’d like to share with the Torah Tech community about your journey and its impact?
The message that I would give to the Torah Tech community and its impact would be to keep an open mind, you never know where life will lead you. This is something that Torah Tech has taught me.
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