Student Profiles in Courage: Bar-Ilan University Shows What True Leadership Looks Like

When a nation is at war, its institutions are tested—not just on their resilience, but on their values. In the face of unprecedented challenges since the October 7th attacks, Bar-Ilan University’s community has done more than endure. The university has stepped up with strength, compassion, and, because of our unwavering Jewish values, an unshakable sense of purpose.

Three stories, each deeply personal yet emblematic of something larger, illustrate how Bar-Ilan students are rising to meet this moment—and how the university is standing firmly by their side. Take Dr. Shimon Dayan. He’s not just a doctor. He’s a husband, a father of two, and a deputy commander in the IDF reserves. His academic journey, including through Bar-Ilan’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, spanned 10 years, punctuated by more than 300 days of reserve duty during wartime. Living with ADHD and dyscalculia, he faced obstacles most would find insurmountable. But Shimon never gave up. He kept studying, kept serving, and finally, he graduated. He proved that perseverance is a force stronger than adversity. His story is Bar-Ilan’s story: one of grit, heart, and unrelenting dedication.

Then there’s Ohad, who couldn’t attend his graduation ceremony because he was deployed with the IDF in Gaza. So, Bar-Ilan brought the graduation to him. Professors from the medical school traveled to the front lines, where he received his diploma in uniform, standing beside a tank, and reciting the Hippocratic Oath on the battlefield. He had juggled nearly 400 days of reserve duty with rigorous medical studies and residency. In that powerful moment, the border between service and scholarship dissolved—reminding us that heroism takes many forms, and that higher education must be flexible, responsive, and deeply human.

Or consider Jessica Bachar, who made aliyah (immigration to Israel) from Turkey at 17 without a word of Hebrew. Today, she’s an award-winning entrepreneur, a Bar-Ilan alumna, and a rising star in Israel’s tech and innovation scene. From founding an IDF unit for new immigrants, to leading humanitarian relief efforts, to consulting for Fortune 500 executives, Jessica is redefining what leadership looks like in the 21st century. And she’s doing it while pursuing her master’s in Human-Computer Interaction, continuing to mentor and uplift the next generation.

These aren’t isolated stories—they’re the product of an environment that nurtures service, resilience, and a deep sense of responsibility to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

The stories of Shimon, Ohad, and Jessica are powerful student profiles in courage that can inspire us all in challenging times. At the same time, their accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without a university-wide support system delivered by Bar-Ilan. In fact, this past April, Bar-Ilan received the Minister of Defense Award of Recognition—one of the highest honors the Israeli government bestows on institutions and employers who go above and beyond in supporting the IDF and its reservists.

At the heart of this recognition is Bar-Ilan’s groundbreaking Academic Armor initiative, which provides academic, financial, and emotional support to thousands of reservist students. More than 30% of the Bar-Ilan student body has been called up for reserve duty since October 7th—and the university responded with a total support package of NIS 50 million (around $14 million) in scholarships and academic resources. This includes tuition relief, personal advisors, counseling, remote learning tools, private tutoring, and housing and laptops for students displaced by war.

Bar-Ilan’s Academic Armor offers a blueprint for what it means to be an Israeli university today—not only to educate but also to empower, to serve, and to lead. And in the face of ongoing war, Bar-Ilan is doubling down on that mission. Academic Armor will continue into the 2025-2026 school year. With enrollment at an all-time high, the university is sending a clear message: If you serve Israel, we will serve you.

Shimon, Ohad, and Jessica are just the tip of the iceberg. As CEO of American Friends of Bar-Ilan University, I’ve had the privilege of hearing numerous firsthand accounts from students, faculty, and other members of the Bar-Ilan community. With each story, I’m reminded that this isn’t just a university. It’s a lifeline. It’s a community. It’s a place where service and scholarship walk hand in hand.

In these uncertain times, when the people of Israel are once again being asked to sacrifice so much, Bar-Ilan stands as a beacon—of resilience, of responsibility, and of what’s possible when we invest in our people and our future.