Why we opened this campaign
“Shalom, my name is David. I’m finishing my army service in July. Would you be able to help me? I need a laptop—any laptop—to keep studying…”
That WhatsApp message was how our team first met David, the hero of this story.
And “hero” is no exaggeration. He has lived in Israel a little over two years, nearly all of it in the army—most of that time on combat duty. Back in his home country, David studied medicine; his dream now is to continue his education.
After hearing his full story, we realized he needs help with more than just a laptop. He needs a real start in civilian life—practically no time passed between his aliyah and the army. He needs funds for exam prep, basic living expenses, and a chance to avoid 12-hour factory shifts so he can go straight to university. We believe he deserves to begin his life in Israel without debt or loans.
David was born and raised in Moscow. Sadly, he lost his parents early; his only close relative is an elderly grandmother. She introduced him to the Jewish community in Fili and later Maryina Roshcha. David finished medical college and entered Saratov Medical University, took part in Jewish youth programs (Yachad), attended events on Bronnaya and at Maryina Roshcha, and underwent brit milah as an adult.
In March 2022 the Russian army made it clear it would gladly draft a healthy young man with medical training. How David managed—literally within a day of receiving his draft notice—to pass the Israeli consular check and join the MASA program is nothing short of providence. Immediately after MASA he enlisted in the IDF’s combat units. Then came 7 October 2023—and David found himself on the very front lines. In nearly two years of service he spent 51 days in Gaza, plus constant operations in Judea and Samaria.
Now, with only weeks left in uniform, David is planning his future. First comes a psychometric-prep course so he can resume his medical studies. Ahead lie apartment rent, basic furnishings, a laptop, additional language courses. “I’ll manage—I’ll take a loan if I have to,” David says. We feel that’s profoundly unfair: real heroes who risk their lives at the front shouldn’t start civilian life in debt. David has no family or relatives in Israel—but we, the people of Israel, are his family now. Together we can help. Together we can make sure there’s one more good Jewish doctor in our country.
We believe our nation is unbeatable precisely because of our mutual support!
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