(Courtesy of American Friends of Migdal Ohr) Meet Alex, an alumnus of Migdal Ohr who owes his direction in life to his experiences at the Zoharim Boys Youth Village. Alex is among the tens of thousands of alumni who are leaders in Israel today because of the community and acceptance they found at Migdal Ohr.
In his own words, Alex shared, “My father experienced a lot of antisemitism in Russia and came to Israel to escape persecution. I grew up as a typical ultra-Orthodox boy in yeshivot but quickly found that that was not my path.
“As soon as I could, I left that world and decided that I wanted to find a way into the army. It was hard because I didn’t know where to go and got lost, living and sleeping on the streets. No one accepted me. The first smartphone I got, I Googled: ‘How to become a commander in the army.’ I saw that I would need to get my high school diploma and good marks. Where would I even start?”
At Zoharim, the tagline is “A home that believes in you,” and that’s exactly what it was for him. The other guys, mentors and families on the campus know what it’s like to struggle to find your way. Most of them had been in Alex’s shoes and offered exactly the right encouragement and support to help him get his life on track.
Aside from academics, Zoharim has an army preparation program specifically for teens like Alex, who will be the first in their families to enlist. The program orients youth from the ultra-Orthodox sector to the army and culture so that they feel part of Israeli society and know what they need to do to get into the most elite units. The running club on campus, called the “Zoharim Lions,” helps guys build confidence by training every day.
“I wanted to enlist in duvdevan — the top of the combat units. I felt that the most perfect place for me was protecting Jews and being the one to make sure that Israel really is the safest and most secure place for a Jew to be. I want to continue in the IDF, to advance and continue to serve the Jewish people using all my strengths.
“After Oct. 7, I came home to visit my family. There was a massive change in their attitude. My mom, who hadn’t slept for many nights worrying about me, was just relieved that I was alive. She was so proud that I was doing something valuable to protect the entire country. Neighbors came out cheering, with cakes, to greet me. It was a really emotional moment, coming full circle and seeing that I had made it.”
Alex’s story is possible because of donors across the world who believe in Israel’s at-risk youth and know that they are the future leaders of our people. In fact, his commitment and dedication are that much stronger because of the struggles he went through to get to where he is today.
Transforming Israel’s Future One Child at a Time
For over 50 years, supporters across the world have forged meaningful relationships with Israel Prize Laureate Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman and the children growing up on Migdal Ohr’s vast campuses across Israel. They have celebrated bar and bat mitzvahs with the Migdal Ohr community, visited with delegations, provided care and support to thousands of at-risk children, and hosted Rabbi Grossman during his travels abroad.
These partners encouraged the rabbi to dream big and to build bigger facilities and programs that would accommodate the thousands of orphaned and neglected children growing up on Israel’s streets. Today, thanks to them, there are tens of thousands of alumni leading companies, serving in the army, holding leadership roles throughout Israeli society, and raising strong Jewish families. They are the shield of resilience that will rebuild Israel after the war and determine our future.
Now Is the Time to Get Involved for the Long-Term
There are many ways to get involved in caring for and empowering Israel’s vulnerable, at-risk youth. When people join, children feel the love and receive the essentials, education and tools to reach their true potential.
To learn more about how to get involved, visit migdalohrusa.org or email [email protected] or call
(212) 397-3700.
