Engineering a New Future
T.B. didn’t take the typical path to higher education. At 32, he’s a father of two, an ultra-Orthodox cantor, and a former CNC programmer with nearly a decade of hands-on manufacturing experience. Today, he’s a student in the Technion’s pre-academic program – part of a unique track designed for students from disadvantaged communities, including the ultra-Orthodox and those facing resource disparities, who do not have access to high-level instruction in subjects like math, physics, and English. T.B. himself attended a yeshiva, which placed less of an emphasis on secular subjects and focused mostly on Talmudic studies.
“They cover everything and more,” he said of the curriculum. The program is a year-long intensive crash course designed to prepare students for matriculation into the Technion’s undergraduate programs. Now, T.B. is working toward a goal he never imagined as a younger man: earning a degree in mechanical engineering.
His background in manufacturing doesn’t make the academic work easier, but it offers a valuable perspective. T.B. hopes to combine his practical experience with his future degree to help bridge the gap between design and production. “I want to be the guy who figures problems out, things other engineers can’t do because they haven’t been on the shop floor,” he explained.
The road hasn’t been easy. Outside of school, T.B., a member of the Chabad Hasidic movement, performs as a cantor on Shabbat and holidays and in concert both in Israel and overseas. This Passover, he conducted a service for more than 300 people in Monaco. He juggles his studies and his career while helping to raise his daughters. Through it all, his wife has been a constant support. “She’s amazing,” he said. “This isn’t just my journey – it’s our way to build a more secure future.”
Following October 7, T.B. volunteered to transfer into a new IDF reserve unit, the Military Rabbinate, where he conducted funerals and memorial services for fallen soldiers. He served for 100 consecutive days and after that served monthly.
While the experience was harrowing, it also reshaped his view of Israeli society. “Despite all the grief, it gave me great hope,” he said. “We’re more alike than we are different.” Still, the emotional toll was immense. “Your mind and your brain feel paralyzed.”
Balancing studies with the mental and emotional strain of reserve service has been a challenge. T.B. credits his family, his fellow soldiers, and his Technion advisors with helping him through it. He speaks especially highly of Yifat Dekel, a counselor in the pre-academic program. “She’s an angel – really doing everything she can for our success,” he said.
T.B. has learned quickly that the Technion demands total commitment. “Even though I knew it would be hard, it’s much harder,” he said. “It’s 24/7.” But he remains driven by the dream of using his experience to make a real impact — and by the hope for a better future.
“I hope that one day my role in the army won’t be needed anymore,” he said. “And then I can use my voice only for happiness and joy.”
