PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF A4BGU
26 | AUGUST 8 • 2024
J
N
A
lon Jacobs, an engineering student at
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
(BGU) who was wounded during his
IDF reserve duty in Gaza, recently spoke at
Temple Israel during an event that demonstrat-
ed Israel’s resilience in its recovery and rebuild-
ing efforts following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist
attacks.
Jacobs, 26, of Hod Hasharon, who studies
industrial engineering and management at
BGU, was the featured speaker at “Remarkable
Resilience and the Way Forward,” hosted
by Americans for Ben-Gurion University
(A4BGU) at the West Bloomfield synagogue.
He served in the IDF special forces’ Egoz
Unit from 2016-2019; and has served in the
reserves for the last four years. He was called
up for active duty on the morning of Oct. 7 and
spent several days helping to secure the kibbut-
zim that were attacked by Hamas. Jacobs sub-
sequently completed five cycles in Gaza before
sustaining injuries. Despite his challenges, he
has since resumed his studies at BGU.
BGU’s community has been disproportion-
ately impacted by the Oct. 7 atrocities com-
pared to other universities in Israel, in terms of
the number of students, faculty and staff who
were killed, wounded, kidnapped and called
to reserve duty. And yet, BGU is simultane-
ously rising to the challenges of this moment
by spearheading the nation’s rebuilding and
recovery.
“Our event powerfully demonstrated just
how vital Ben-Gurion University has been to
Israel’s remarkable resilience in the aftermath of
Oct. 7,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU.
“
At the same time, as the anchor institution
and engine for growth in the Negev, BGU rep-
resents the way forward for both the region and
the entire nation.”
Wounded Student-
Reservist Demonstrates
Israel’s Resilience
From left to right: Jeff Kaye, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Vice
President for Public Affairs and Resource Development; Ari Steinberg, Senior
Director of Development at Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU); Alon
Jacobs, IDF reservist and engineering student at BGU; Sheryl Korelitz, manager,
Programs & Experiences at A4BGU; and Rachel Morof, Associate Director of
Development at A4BGU, at Adat Shalom Synagogue on June 18.
Attendees at “Remarkable Resilience and the Way Forward,”
hosted by Americans for Ben-Gurion University at Temple
Israel on June 19.
Jeff Kaye, Ben-Gurion University
of the Negev’s Vice President
for Public Affairs and Resource
Development, speaks at Adat
Shalom Synagogue on June 18.
Alon Jacobs,
IDF reservist
and engineer-
ing student at
Ben-Gurion
University of
the Negev, at
Steve’s Deli
in Bloomfield
Township.
faces&places