Vignettes

David

David came to us in the midst of his parents’ messy and painful divorce.  Because of their dire economic situation they continued to live under the same roof, and the endless battles in the family took a severe emotional toll on their son. 

We are pleased to report that during his year in the Mechina David was able to emerge from his painful family life and insular demeanor and build a strong identity for himself, in which not only did he make tremendous academic and social strides, but he also wrote a special and creative research paper entitled ‘Modesty and Humility in Judaism.’  His transformation, against all odds, is truly inspiring and required a special investment of resources on our part in order to empower him.

TAL

Tal is one of four children. His father is unemployed  and his mother holds a low ranking government job. The family lives in Dimona – a remote development town in the Negev, always in the top of Israel's list of towns with high unemployment.

Tal came to the Mechina a year and half ago with a lot of potential, but no aspirations.  Today, after completing the full Mechina program, Tal is a soldier in the commando unit of the Armored Corps in the Israel Defense Forces and is looking forward to learning oceanography and geology in Ben-Gurion University once he finishes the army, two years from now.

Oren and Michael

Oren and Michael are twins whose parents are sickly and unemployed.  They are unwilling to invest in new clothes for their sons, let alone to participate, even symbolically, in paying for tuition. 

The Mechina not only provides them with full scholarships but gives both boys monthly subsistence allowances.  They have been recognized as “lone soldiers” by the Israeli Defense Forces, with the Mechina serving in loco parentis because they have no contact with their family.

Gad

Gad is the fifth of six children in his family.  His father is a plumber, currently looking for work.  His mother works as a house-clear for the elderly via a manpower agency.  Gad’s father cannot afford to take care of his rotting teeth, but was willing to invest in his son to the maximum of his ability.  We therefore came to an agreement that the family would pay only $50 a month of the highly subsidized $300 we charge for tuition.

Yehuda

 Yehuda’s family has been on welfare for three generations, and none of his nine siblings acquired an education or skilled profession.

Yehuda is now an officer in the Air Force and has many aspirations for his future; with the help of the Mechina he has broken out of the cycle of poverty in which the rest of his family is trapped.