Our Soldiers on the Front Line

Since October 7th, the State of Israel has been at war with Hamas, and with it, the full force of its armed forces -- regular soldiers and 350,000 reservists -- are fighting bravely for victory. Left behind are worried families, jobs put on hold, and unplowed and unplanted fields that have not been harvested, packaged or distributed.

Educational institutions of higher education throughout the country have put studies on hold until our soldiers can return, postponing the academic year opening until December 24th, and revamping study programs to accommodate the reality of a longer school year. 

At HIT, 1,300 of our students in all faculties – some 25% - have been mobilized and are currently fighting on the front lines.

In an initiative organized by Capt. (res.) Dr. Elad Segev, a senior officer in a classified unit of the IDF and Head of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Studies program in the School of Multidisciplinary Studies, a HIT delegation traveled into the field and to the bases to meet with HIT students serving in the war. Heading the delegation: Prof. Eduard Yakubov, President, Dr. Limor Sahar Inbar, Dean of Students and Dr. Nava Shaked, Head of the School of Multidisciplinary Studies,

The delegation met with a 2nd year Industrial Engineering and Management student serving in the Armored Brigade, a Computer Science major serving as an officer in an elite unit, an Artillery Battalion Armament officer who is about to begin his first year of studies in the Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Technology Management, a 2nd-year Paramedic in the Artillery Corps from the Industrial Engineering and Technology Management Faculty.

The students were deeply moved by the personal visit from the President and Institute representatives. They openly shared their tough battlefield experiences, the atrocities they were exposed to, and the military challenges they faced daily. They all affirmed, however, that they were determined to serve until the desired military objectives of the war were achieved. 

The main concern raised by the students was that they would not return to campus in time for the beginning of the Academic Year. Prof. Yakubov reassured them: “You are our heroes and thanks to you, we will win this war! You do what you need to do, and you can rest assured that we will do what we need to do to enable you to succeed in your studies." 

The President added that the Institute will not leave anyone behind and will take care of every one of the men and women serving. It has adapted its academic programs to their needs and is providing intensified individual and group remedial studies and expanded financial support so that they can focus fully on their studies.

M.S. summed up the mission at hand: "This is our strength, as Israelis and human beings. We choose to build lives and contribute, developing things that will benefit humanity and the world. The feeling of total solidarity between us, the ability to live a life of science and intellect even while we are vanquishing evil, is the strongest expression of human life."

HIT is proud of its combat soldiers and prays for speedy victory and their safe return to the classroom soon.
Together we will win!