A Mission to Heal the World
When E.R. speaks, his words carry the weight of war, the rigor of academia, and the warmth of a soul committed to service. He’s a master’s student at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, a data analyst at Ernst & Young (EY) in Tel Aviv, and a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces. But titles alone cannot capture the essence of a man whose life is a testament to resilience, purpose, and hope.
Born and raised in Jerusalem to Iranian Jewish parents, E. grew up in a home steeped in tradition and service. His father, a shop owner in Jerusalem, was a kind of ambassador to the world, welcoming tourists with warmth and curiosity. That spirit of connection and responsibility shaped E.’s path from an early age.
After high school, he enrolled in a pre-army yeshiva, a place where young religious men prepare not just physically but spiritually for military service. “If you don’t stop and ask why you’re doing something,” he said, “you won’t be able to do the hard work.” For E., the “why” was always clear: to make the world a better place.
He served five years in the IDF, rising through the ranks to become a semi-company commander in the Rimon unit of the Givati Brigade. His service included combat during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, where he lost close friends. “Being a commander isn’t just about tactics,” he reflected. “It’s about being a big brother, leading with your soul.”
After his service, E. traveled the world, taught at his former yeshiva, and began his academic journey at Ariel University. But the Technion was always his dream. “It’s the best,” he said simply. “I knew I had to be there.”
Getting in wasn’t easy. Initially rejected, he was admitted after a professor wrote a passionate recommendation. Today, he’s at the top of his class in the Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences, balancing a demanding job at EY with a rigorous academic schedule.
Then came October 7, 2023.
Just days before the semester was supposed to begin, war broke out. E. was called to reserve duty and deployed to Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit communities in the Hamas attacks. “I saw things no one should see,” he said. “Children’s homes and kindergartens burned, the bodies and blood, lives destroyed. It changed me forever.”
He spent seven months in reserve duty, including combat missions in Gaza to dismantle tunnels and rocket-launch sites. Despite the trauma and injury – he suffered hearing, knee, and back injuries – he continued his studies, even preparing for exams in the field. “The Technion supported me,” he said, “but they didn’t lower the bar. That’s what makes it special — professionalism and humanity.”
He resides in three cities to juggle work, study, and family. He rents an apartment in Lod with friends, a mixed Jewish and Muslim lower-income city outside Tel Aviv. “It’s a hard neighborhood and we wanted to make it a better place.” He volunteers in the community, teaching children English, providing food to those in need, and keeping neighborhoods clean.
He also lives in a dorm at the Technion. A three-hour drive from Lod to Haifa for classes would be next to impossible for his demanding schedule. “Master’s degree students don’t generally get dorms. I got special permission because I’m a reservist,” he explained.
“I have a class or a test at nine in the morning. If I would not have a place to sleep, I would have to drive in for the final. So usually, I come a day before. For me, it’s a life-changing thing.”
His academic work reflects his personal mission. Inspired by his grandmothers — one of whom just died and another who is not well — and a beloved uncle who died of a heart attack while suffering from COVID-19, E. co-developed a machine learning model to predict early onset Alzheimer’s. He also worked on a fall detection system for the elderly, using sound-based AI to identify dangerous incidents in the home, and wants to develop other technologies to prevent life-threatening conditions. “It’s all the same mission,” he said. “Whether I’m in uniform or in the lab, I’m trying to protect people.”
E. dreams of bridging cultures through technology. This goal became even more important with the start of Operation Rising Lion in Iran. Fluent in Hebrew, Farsi, English, and Spanish, he sees language and data as tools for peace. “Even in Iran,” he said, “people use Israeli tech. We’re all connected. I want to use AI to build those bridges.”
He’s also a singer. At 17 he was a contestant on “Israeli Idol,” and has a song on Spotify titled Meirim Neshamot – “Enlightening Souls.” It’s a fitting metaphor for a man who sees every challenge as an opportunity to bring light. Whether mentoring young soldiers, helping children, or developing lifesaving technology, E. is driven by a singular vision: to make the world a better place.
As he considers pursuing a Ph.D., he remains grounded in gratitude. “The Technion didn’t just give me an education,” he said. “It gave me a platform to serve the world.”
In a time of darkness, E.R. is a beacon — a warrior, a scholar, and a soul on fire with purpose.
