BGU Student Spotlight: Ariel’s Journey
BGU Student Spotlight: Ariel’s Journey
August 21, 2025
Negev Development & Community Programs
College In Israel—Ariel Fromowitz grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and attended TABC before spending two years learning at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) in Israel. From there, he was drafted into the IDF, serving for three years in the Intelligence Directorate. After his service, he spent another year learning at an Israeli Hesder yeshiva, Yeshivat Otniel, before beginning his academic journey.
The transition to Israeli academia wasn’t immediate. Ariel had to complete a year of mechina at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), an intensive preparatory program that helps students meet the academic standards required for university admission. This enabled him to fill in gaps in subjects like math and physics that many Israelis complete in high school. With BGU’s new Olim L’Academia program, olim and future olim can start their studies at BGU in English without enrolling in a mechina, and then transfer to Hebrew tracks the following year.
BGU is known for its student-centered culture. Beer-Sheva, sometimes called the “Capital of the South,” has a unique dynamic—students move there and create a tight-knit community, similar to the American college experience. The area surrounding the university is packed with student life, making it one of the most immersive university environments in Israel.
Academically, BGU is highly regarded in STEM fields, particularly engineering. The atmosphere at BGU is rigorous but supportive. “The culture is not cutthroat,” Ariel says. “You know you’re going to work hard, but the university and your peers are behind you.”
BGU also emphasizes entrepreneurship. There’s a venture capital fund on campus funded by the university and run by students, and from their second year of studies, students can train as analysts and apply for funding for their start-ups. The university’s entrepreneurship center offers a variety of programs to teach students how to identify needs, pitch ideas, and develop projects.
Ariel is also part of BGU’s Formula Racing team, a hands-on engineering project where students design, build, and race a car in international competitions. Working on the chassis (frame) team, Ariel gains invaluable experience mimicking a real-world engineering company structure, complete with marketing, HR, and business development divisions.
Ariel’s journey—from Teaneck to Beer-Sheva, from the army to academia—reflects the challenges and opportunities of building a life in Israel. With BGU’s strong academic programs, an expanding city, and a growing community, Beer Sheva is becoming an increasingly viable option for Anglos looking to study and integrate into Israeli society.
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