“We Are a Nation of Superheroes”

The panel focused on the stories of the Technion’s heroes – students and faculty members who have shown military and civilian bravery since October 7, balancing the challenges of academic life, reserve duty, and family life. “I am honored to be here to host this panel of heroes,” Guri Alfi said in his opening remarks. “This moves me deeply. It has been a very difficult year, and I feel that we have rediscovered our country and its people during this period.”

Guri Alfi

The panel featured Dr. Hemi Rotenberg, a faculty member in the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, and students Bar Goren (Biotechnology and Food Engineering), Omri Natanson (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Naomi Silverstein (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Stav Aviram (Computer Science), Guy Finkelstein (Medicine), Alex Gerber (Aerospace Engineering), and Nimrod Sideman (Aerospace Engineering).

The panel was one of the first events held by the Technion’s new Resilience Center – a unit that consolidates all aspects related to campus resilience. The Center is led by Ayelet Freiman, overseen by Senior Executive Vice President, Prof. Oded Rabinovitch, and supported by Dean of Students, Prof. Ayelet Fishman. The Rothschild Foundation’s generous support enabled the Center’s launch and the resilience pilot program it operates.

Superheroes Panel

In his remarks to open the panel, Technion President, Prof. Uri Sivan said that “There is a direct link between a community’s resilience and the closeness of its members. We have learned this through all the crises we’ve faced over the past five years. The bond within the Technion community is extraordinary. This unique spirit has always been nurtured since the Technion was founded 100 years ago.”

Nimrod Sideman, who was about to finish his master’s degree in the United States, knew on October 7 that he had to immediately return to Israel and enlist. Naomi Silverstein stayed home with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter while her husband served in the reserves for a total of 175 days. Stav Aviram and Guy Finkelstein, a couple, shared a volunteer project they initiated after the war began – purchasing portable chargers for reservists and later baking cookies to raise money to continue their project. Alex Gerber, who came to the panel in uniform straight from reserve duty, shared that in the weeks before October 7, he was helping his sister, who had been diagnosed with cancer. Just as he returned to his studies, the war broke out, and he was deployed to the South, where he was injured in Gaza. He decided to return to duty two weeks later because his comrades were still fighting. He emphasized that as a student of aerospace engineering – a field that significantly contributed to Israel’s security this past year – his studies carry a clear meaning for him today.

From Left: Bar Goren, Nimrod Sideman, and Guri Alfi

Bar Goren, a student from Kibbutz Nir Oz, spoke of the immense devastation in his community, which was evacuated to Eilat, and his life since. On the night of October 7, his parents were declared missing. They were later identified as hostages and ultimately found murdered. He said one of the most important things in his life now is the Nir Oz community, where he remains active while studying at the Technion. “I discovered that helping others helps me; it strengthens me. We must remember that what matters most is the people around us.”

Omri Natanson shared how, during his reserve service in Operation Iron Swords, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Speaking before the large audience, which included his younger sister who donated bone marrow to him, and three of his oncologists, he said, “In oncology, you learn that you don’t get a prize for suffering, so there’s no point in suffering when you can ask for help. Asking for help is part of effectively managing your resources.” He added, “This year reminded us that some events have no justification, and there’s no point in asking why they happened to us. What’s left is to take colors and paint meaning into life – not necessarily the traumatic event itself, but what comes after. It may sound a bit artificial, but it’s something that can keep us going.”