To Eat, to Learn, to Remember

On May 15th, exactly two weeks after Memorial Day (for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism) and Independence Day, a meaningful and inspiring project was inaugurated at a high school in Kiryat Gat for at-risk youth — a dining hall dedicated to Staff Sergeant Roi Marom z”l, a fighter in the Haruv Reconnaissance Unit who was killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip in November 2023.

At the end of October 2023, just before entering the ground maneuver with his fellow soldiers, Roi approached his unit’s education officer and said, “If I die, I want you to do something for at-risk youth. But I’m not going to die — I’ll come back and do it myself.”

Roi had been a troop leader in the Scouts, an outstanding graduate of a pre-army leadership program, and an idealistic young man who dreamed of working in education and making the world a better place.

His chilling yet beautiful final wish has now come to life, in partnership with his parents and family, at Israel Sci-Tech Schools in Kiryat Gat. This school serves girls and boys from complex socio-economic backgrounds. Led by educator Avi Hajaj, the school strives to provide a holistic, home-like environment that also meets students’ basic physical needs, enabling them to focus without distraction on learning and personal growth.

This need led to the establishment of a dining hall, as part of the Ministry of Education’s school meals program, offering students a nutritious hot meal each day. However, the school did not want to create just a dining hall — they envisioned a space with deeper meaning, a place of active learning, a room that offers added value to all who enter.

Through the involvement of Village Way Educational Initiatives, which works closely with the school, a connection was formed with Tali and Raanan Marom, Roi’s parents, who came to the school to share his story with students and staff.

Over the following months, a joint team of students and teachers designed and created the large space in a way that reflects Roi’s legacy and personality, and serves an educational purpose.

Roi was deeply influenced by the phrase, “A person is the sum of their life experiences,” and so a large erasable board was placed in the dining hall where students can share their personal experiences. Roi also believed that “coffee connects people,” and he made a point of preparing coffee for each of his comrades according to their individual preferences. A special coffee corner in the room honors this beautiful ritual — in addition to the “Marom’s Coffee” project his family initiated a year ago.

Roi also believed in setting goals — another key visual element in the room, which holds particular significance when working with at-risk youth.

Israel Sci-Tech Schools in Kiryat Gat embraces a philosophy of “pedagogy of love that shapes students’ vision for their future.” The connection to Roi’s final wish and his legacy feels almost natural.

At the inauguration ceremony on May 15th, attendees included the Minister of Education Yoav Kisch, the Mayor of Kiryat Gat Kfir Swisa, and staff members from Village Way Educational Initiatives, who were instrumental in connecting the school with Roi’s family.

Tali Marom, Roi’s mother, shared:

“At the emotional event in Kiryat Gat, we felt this was exactly what Roi meant when he said those words — words that left us with a very clear mission.

The connection, through Village Way Initiatives, between principal Avi Hajaj and our family was clearly no coincidence. It created a deep educational process that resulted in something precise, wise, and deeply moving.

A room dedicated to the most basic need — a hot meal for youth — and filled with Roi’s words of wisdom and inspiration. It made us and everyone else feel that Roi was right there, working alongside these incredible students, exactly as he had wanted, planned, and was supposed to do. We felt his presence with us.

Just this week, a close friend of Roi’s sent us a conversation they had when they were 18. In it, he wrote to her that one day they would build a youth village together… We’ve been carrying that sense of loss these past few days.

And still, everyone who took part in this incredible dining hall project succeeded in fulfilling Roi’s final wish and bringing his dreams to life — with immense love, respect, and sensitivity. From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.