In one of the beautiful songs he wrote, Yoram Taharlev z"l wrote - "We are like dreamers after the sun." He was right: we are the organism that dreams – and does. And when the dream helps building a better society, we call it "Tikkun Olam" – "fixing the world". Tikkun Olam is the result of clever navigation between three factors: a clear vision; Its wise fulfillment; and values of equality and human rights for all. This is the compass that will make sure that we continue to be dreamers – and doers.
As part of this idea, there is a question I like to ask, and according to the answer I learn quite a bit about the person standing in front of me: the question is "What is your dream?". From time to time, this is what I asked Davidson employees.
Over the years, there have been all kinds of answers. Some of the dreams we talked about we were able to fulfill, some we couldn't. One thing we knew: in order to realize a dream, the dreamer must be committed and willing to invest the work required, usually without initial compensation and even without guarantee that it will succeed; And there needs to be a supportive village around, sometimes even an entire city. At least one.
No dream, even the most detailed, ever comes true exactly as it was dreamed. But even I never imagined the power of realizing the dream that was laid before me one day, when Eli Amedi's answer to my "dream question" was: "To establish a scientific, pre-military gap-year program." He didn't have to say more or explain. My imagination began to run wild, in the good sense of the word. When, a few days later, Prof. Daniel Zajfman asked me if I had an idea for a possible collaboration with the city of Ofakim, one that would be meaningful and influential, I immediately replied, "Yes, I have an idea!" It took me less than five minutes to explain to him what it was all about. He asked me only one question: What do you need to make this happen? After answering him, I saw his imagination begin to dance with mine. After receiving his blessing, I called Eli and said, 'Let's make the dream come true.'
A brief explanation of pre-military gap-year programs: they are voluntary educational 10-month frameworks, intended for high school graduates who chose and receive approval to postpone their IDF service for a year. The cadets in the program learn to live together as a group, engage in learning, prepare for service in the IDF, get to know the different aspects of Israeli society and volunteer in the community in which the program is located. Those who want more details can find them on the website of the "Gap-Year Council", where it is declared that "pre-military gap-year programs were established in order to develop citizens who see themselves as a significant part of society and have the ability to influence its formation, out of a willingness to bear national missions and challenges in the fields of security, social service, education, and more". "Tikkun Olam, did I already mention?
It's not easy to set up a gap-year program. Especially not in 2018, the year the Tzafit tragedy occurred*; And setting up a completely new kind of program, of which among the more than 50 (!) existing gap-year programs there was not a single one like it. "What on earth is the connection between pre-military gap-year programs and science?" the Ministry of Defense, who must approve the program so the cadets can postpone their service, asked us, puzzled. We had to convince them that this was a right idea, that there was demand among high school graduates and that it also had operational feasibility. In order to meet the requirements, we formed a partnership with the various entities in the city of Ofakim and with quite a few other parties, who believed in us and in our ability to fulfill what we promised. We set up a special organizational entity; We recruited staff; We found and prepared a physical location; And we built a detailed and practical plan that will explain what we want to do with the cadets. A year and a half later, after a lot of sweat, frustration, uncertainty, some tears and a lot of daring and enthusiasm, the "Ofakim for Science" gap-year program was established. The first scientific pre-military gap-year program in Israel, which has been operating with tremendous success for the past five years. In the coming year (2024/25), a scientific gap-year program will also be opened in the city of Netivot, which has also become a very enthusiastic partner on the way. This means that there now will be two pre-military scientific preparatory programs in the western Negev.
This week, I met the parents of the new cohort: 64 cadets, who come from all over the country and from various parts of Israeli society, who chose to postpone their military service in order to live together for an entire year in Ofakim or Netivot, to study and volunteer in making science accessible to the community, in the various schools, community centers and more. Think about it for a moment: Anyone who has ever raised a teenager knows it's a challenge. Try a whole group of them, in the same house, for a year. Add to this unexpected challenges such as Covid-19, not to mention the complex situations we faced on 7/10 and we are facing since the Iron Sword War. It's a complicated, albeit fascinating, challenge.
I meet the students throughout the year, both in the classes I lead, in which we deal with issues of "science in society"; And in their various activities, in Ofakim and elsewhere. There are Davidson professionals who claim that they can tell when I just returned from one of the activities with the cadets. They're probably right. Every year, the cadets are one of my sources of pride, and especially hope and optimism, for a better future. During its five years of activity, the gap-year program has become a significant factor in the city of Ofakim and its surroundings. More than 1,000 children and adolescents are exposed to science each week, families participate in science activities as part of "community days", and the number of science classes in the schools is growing. The graduates of the program do not cease to be part of Ofakim and Davidson in a variety of ways, such as when some of them return to us as instructors. The scientific gap-year program has proven to be one of the most innovative and exciting ways to realize contemporary Zionism: rolling up their sleeves, working hard and constantly striving for education, excellence, critical thinking and contributing to the community and the state as leading values. This is the most feasible practice of the sentence "If not us, Who?"
Along the way, we have had and continue to have wonderful partners, each and every one of whom deserves our deepest gratitude - I hope I didn't forget anyone:
The city of Ofakim (Itzik, Yahaloma, Ruthi, Avi, Rachel – where can we duplicate you??), and for about a year now also the city of Netivot (Yehiel, Vered, Tzipi – ditto);
Members of the Gap-Year Council, members of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Settlement;
Members of the Executive Committee and General Assembly of the Gap-year Program and of the Davidson Institute – those who were and those who still are;
Davidson Institute teams and Weizmann Institute researchers working with the preparatory program;
The Scientific Gap-Year dedicated, professional and excellent staff (Hagit - Amir and his camera as well :-)) lead by the one and only Eli Amedi (some duplications are needed here as well...);
Various dedicated and generous donors, volunteers, parents, Friends of Weizmann Asc., and the Davidson Institute Executive Committee;
And in the past year, Yossi Dahan, who thanks to his extremely generous and moving donation - the Gap-Year program is promised to continue for the coming years.
In my office at Davidson, hangs a picture I received from one of the employees. On one side is Herzl and with his immortal sentence, "If you will it, it is not merely a dream."
On the other side, Chaim Weizmann looks at him and replies: "We willed it, and it is not merely a dream"
Thank you all for willing it.
· The Tzafit tragedy – in April 2018, 10 gap-year students were killed in a flash flood while hiking in the south of Israel.
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