Moving Through Two Realities

The Loved Ones Who Wait and Worry

Even those not in uniform experienced fear and hardships. His partner stayed home, “but she went through a lot of loneliness, worry, and a strong feeling that she had no control over what was happening,” he said. “Of course, she was also afraid to lose me.”

Soldiers in his unit were given only a few minutes every few days to talk with their family, and these calls were often quite emotional. N. recalled struggling to sound calm on the phone when war was exploding around him. “When I think about the impact of the war, I see not only the soldiers at the front, but also the families who stand behind us and pay a very heavy price in silence.”

Carrying the Weight of War Back to Campus

All the while, N. felt divided between his academics and the reality of war. “The Technion became a kind of ‘second reality,’ a picture of normal life inside the chaos,” he said. Taking books with him to the front, he said, “I tried to stay connected to my future by studying in short breaks. It was a way to hold on to normal life and to the future I am building.”

Returning to campus also was not easy. “Life resumed. Students filled the corridors, the coffee shops were busy, exams returned to the calendar. But inside, I carried memories, worries, and the names of friends who were still in uniform or who did not come back.”

The Technion stood by him as it did for all returning soldiers, making special adjustments such as providing extra exam dates, help with catching up on material he missed, and access to recordings of lectures.

In Israel, serving in the military is a lifelong commitment. N. has learned to integrate its challenges into the whole of his life — and is hopeful. “You learn to tell the people you love that you love them, and how important they are to you … And to not lose faith that a better future is waiting,” he said.

“Continuing my degree is another way to protect and strengthen Israel, this time with knowledge and innovation instead of a rifle.”