Zeev Bielski
zeevik@jafi.org

Letters of Gratitude:

Dear Friends,

I chose to write this letter in an informal manner because I feel the need to thank you personally. This past summer was difficult and traumatic for me. Not only was I forced to cancel my plans to work and save money for the upcoming school year, but I was also called up for 30 days of emergency reserve duty. On top of this, I had spent approximately a month in a bomb shelter because rockets were raining down on my hometown, Haifa.

During my fighting in Lebanon, my friends in the North were also fighting for their lives. Even my girlfriend Yaeli did not wait for me at home; she fled to safety with her family in the center of the country.

Just like many of my friends who are students, summer vacations are reserved for intense work in preparation for going back to school and the expenses that go along with that: tuition, rent, books, bills, and even a beer with friends every once and awhile. In truth, nothing about this summer went as planned; things did not go the way anyone could have predicted. Your financial assistance may not give me back the summer I lost, but it certainly helps me overcome battles on the financial front…

We live in a time when individual benefit is valued more than the whole; this is expressed in many ways, including elderly people relegated to seclusion and isolation and children living in poverty. This is only because people are cut off from one another. In my opinion, the gesture of solidarity that your organization expressed to the student reservists (a population of people who shoulder the responsibility for Israel’s future from every perspective), strengthens us and gives us a sense of Jewish unity that is the most glorious. It enhances my belief that the Jewish people, despite it all, are still a united people.

The generous financial scholarship from the Jewish Agency helped me from a financial perspective. But even beyond that, it moved me and made me feel a renewed sense of belonging and pride. I want to thank you for this and express my sincere gratitude to you and all those who helped make this important project a reality.

Many thanks and thanks again,
Guy Taib- student in the Technion, Haifa 

My name is Mazor Levanony and I am a 3rd year student in the Open University.
Today I received the check for the students who fought during this summer’s war in Lebanon.

I would like to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the wonderful initiative—an initiative that is only one part of all the other significant things the Jewish Agency does.

My heart warms with the thought that there are good people in all sorts of places that think of others, and willingly give of their private wealth to those for whom they care.

I thank you for the thought you put into this effort and for all the hard work that brought about such a positive outcome.

I believe that I speak not only for myself, but on behalf of the thousands of students who also received the scholarships. May you be blessed.

With best wishes,
Mazor

Hello!

I would like to thank you for the help I received from you—for the contribution that was given wholeheartedly.  I really appreciate this gesture and am grateful for your concern. Your willingness to give warmed my heart, especially in light of this summer’s war, after which my economic situation worsened. I am happy that there are good people like you who helped me finance my studies and focus on succeeding in school and not on paying for it.

I want to tell you that you have helped me fulfill my dream and my success in the future. This has been my dream since I finished my army services in the Golani brigade. The scholarship gave me a good feeling and the strength to continue, especially because I know that there are people who are backing my dream.

During the war, my family was in bomb shelters and I was on the frontlines. In the days following the war, I was overcome by the concern that I would be unable to pay for school; I had been called up for emergency reserve duty during the precise time when I planned to work and earn essential funds to pay for the upcoming academic year. I am comforted by the thought that there are people who appreciate our actions, braveness, and motivation to be strong.

On behalf of myself, my family, and the residents of Shlomi, I want to thank you for your generosity. Your tremendous partnership with the residents of the North during the war makes you a part of our extended family.

I only pray that one day I will merit being in your position. I am sure that giving is as terrific a feeling as I know receiving such a special gift is.

Sincerely,
Sharon Biyadani

 Dear Mr. Bielski,

We are a group of students who would like to thank the Jewish Agency for Israel for their thoughtfulness in allocating the scholarships and financial aid.

It is good to know that there are people and institutions that, during such critical periods for the State of Israel, when we were sent to protect and serve our country, knew of our needs and helped us through the difficult times.

Thank you also to Ms. Carmit from the Call-in Center who, despite the repeated questions, the pressure and the overwhelming workload, was always willing to help us and to answer our inquiries calmly and patiently. Her care was remarkable and heartwarming. We would be most grateful if our appreciation would be passed on to her superiors.

Thank you Carmit; thank you Jewish Agency.

With greetings,
The Students