I was matched up with A, who was twelve years old at the time. His home was just a short walk from my yeshiva, so I could very conveniently walk over every Thursday afternoon. When I met A he seemed like a very nice, though somewhat shy, boy who was very well mannered. I was very unsure what to expect but I settled in to my role as a Big Brother very quickly since A was very warm and expressed great interest in whatever we were doing. Upon his request, we would frequently read over and discuss the weekly Parasha or other Jewish texts together. A, who does not have a particularly religious background, consistently amazed me with his eagerness to learn and challenging questions. Our readings frequently led us to conversations about the state of the world, politics in Israel and even life in general. I have been meeting with A for almost a year and half now and he never fails to impress me with his maturity and open-mindedness. We have developed a very strong relationship, one that I have no doubt will continue even beyond my volunteering with ATZUM.

Last June, I attended A’s bar mitzvah celebration at his home. At one point in the evening he thanked me for learning with him and told me that until we had started doing the Parasha together, he never realized how much depth there is to the Torah. That comment made me realize that I truly had managed to accomplish the goal that I had set out to accomplish with ATZUM. I had found a way to help someone and be a postive influence. However, I never imagined before that I would be able to learn so much from A. Despite all the hardships his family had been through, he never wanted anything more than to continue to learn and to grow. That has been a source of inspiration for me that I’m sure will last.

Meet N, 33 years and an inspiration. At the age of 21, her father was murdered in a terror attack while at work outside Israel. At the time of his death, N was completing her army service. “I had a great childhood, but due to financial difficulties my father was forced to travel for work. When he was killed I was at loose ends and didn’t know what to do.”

N, a capable student, decided to go to university. As a Survivor of Terror she was entitled to a tuition grant from the National Insurance Institute. Because she was already 21 when her father was killed, she was not entitled to a living stipend. Therefore, while working odd jobs whenever possible, depending on bank loans to get from semester to semester, she studied psychology full-time.

Upon graduation, she took a job at a children’s home as a counselor, where four years later she continues to work part-time. With the help of several second jobs, working nights and summers, she saved enough tuition for her first year of a graduate school program in educational psychology.

N lives with family in Jerusalem; goes to school in Beer-Sheva; and works in Tel Aviv. Much of her studying is done on the bus. She is now in her last year of class work and has started researching her thesis. In September, she will begin a four-year internship. With your generous help ATZUM was privileged to assist N with her tuition this year.

I was deeply moved by N’s story and asked to meet her. I told her she has amazing courage and strength. I asked how she was able to do all this. Her answer was beautiful in its simplicity: “You have dreams, you have goals, and you sacrifice.”

Abe and Gert Nutkis Scholarship

There is one week left to purchase tickets. This is an opportunity to hear the renowned klezmer and eclectic musician, Andy Statman, in a very intimate setting and support ATZUM’s Roberta Project for Survivors of Terror which assists victims of terror in Israel. If you can’t attend personally, please consider buying a ticket to be left at the door for students or others who couldn’t afford to attend.

To purchase tickets send an email to: statmanconcert@gmail.com

Ticket prices are:

Program Sponsor $720     4 tickets and designation in program
Double Chai $360                2 tickets and designation in program
Chai $180 $180                    1 ticket and designation in program
Donor $ 72
Synagogue Member $ 54

For more information, please see: ATZUM Benefit Concert.

http://ATZUM.org

Two Israeli terror victims K, 17 and A 27, joined the session and shared their experiences of the terror attack they survived. They spoke with great candor to the students about their struggle for recovery and the group asked about their commitment to Israel, their frustrations and their hopes for the future.

In addition we were privileged to have high school and one year program  students volunteering with ATZUM, speak to the group about their weekly work  with families effected by terror. Before leaving, each of the Dallas students made beautiful occasion cards to be send to families on the yahrtzeit of a murdered family member or before holidays when loved ones are painfully missed.

We thank the participants from the Dallas Yavneh Academy for making this session a priority of their visit and for caring so deeply.