BGU Wounded Student-Reservist Inspires in Detroit
BGU Wounded Student-Reservist Inspires in Detroit
August 14, 2024
Jeff Kaye, BGU VP of Public Affairs and Resource Development, Alon Jacobs, and several A4BGU staff members at Adat Shalom Synagogue on June 18.
The Detroit Jewish News – Alon Jacobs, an engineering student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) who was wounded during his IDF reserve duty in Gaza, recently spoke at Temple Israel. The 26-year-old from Hod Hasharon, who studies industrial engineering and management at BGU, was the featured speaker at “Remarkable Resilience and the Way Forward,” hosted by Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) at the West Bloomfield synagogue.
“Our event powerfully demonstrated just how vital BGU has been to Israel’s remarkable resilience in the aftermath of October 7,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU. “At the same time, as the anchor institution and engine for growth in the Negev, BGU represents the way forward for both the region and the entire nation.”
Alon Jacobs served in the IDF special forces’ Egoz Unit from 2016-2019; and has served in the reserves for the last four years. He was called up for active duty on the morning of October 7 and spent several days helping to secure the kibbutzim that were attacked by Hamas. Jacobs subsequently completed five cycles in Gaza before sustaining injuries. Despite his challenges, he has since resumed his studies at BGU.
BGU’s community has been disproportionately impacted by the Oct. 7 atrocities compared to other universities in Israel, in terms of the number of students, faculty and staff who were killed, wounded, kidnapped and called to reserve duty. And yet, BGU is simultaneously rising to the challenges of this moment by spearheading the nation’s rebuilding and recovery.
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