אלבום תודה-באלאנס 23

Thank you letters from scholarship recipients of THE GRACE, SHUA AND JACOB BALLAS CHARITABLE TRUST March 2023 | Nissan 5783

Dear Frank and Ben, I am so pleased to forward you these letters of gratitude from the 33 students who received the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Trust Scholarship this year. Although diverse in background and interest, they all show an impressive drive to better themselves, to succeed academically and to help others in the face of otherwise overwhelming personal, financial and health challenges. As you will see, these scholarships made all the difference to these bright students, allowing them to move forward in ways they never thought possible. For the greater part of the past two decades, the Ballas Trust has been enabling deserving students to get a higher education and become productive members of society. Each year we are inspired anew at your continued generosity and vision. On behalf of these students and the entire University administration, please accept our heartfelt thanks. I am sorry we were not able to meet in person this year, but hopefully you will be back here again soon, with a little more available time. Warm regards, Dr. Sharon Goldman Vice President of Development Dr. Sharon Goldman Vice President of Development

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Anael Duan. I`m 26 years old, the second of four siblings. My hobbies are reading books, listening to music, and especially being with my family. I am a thirdyear Optometry student at Bar-Ilan University. I chose to study optometry because I feel it is a profession with tremendous satisfaction - meeting people every day, helping people improve their vision and even discovering various diseases through the eyes. My amazing parents always made sure to point out how important it is to study, grow, and reach as high as possible. This is the path I chose for myself in life. Optometry studies are not easy at all, four out of seven days are full study days. I worked hard and saved money for the first two years. Now I am in my third year and unfortunately, as a daughter of divorced parents, I couldn't turn to my parents for help (I'm sure that if they could help me, they would, but it's not easy these days to finance two houses and to support my two little brothers). In addition, I got married this year, and the expenses were large (event, furniture, electrical appliances, etc.). I has been worried about how I would be able to finance the upcoming college year. And you dear donors- you came to me like saviors. I have no words to describe how much this scholarship helps me. Thanks to that I can continue studying without interruption and invest all my strength in my studies. I so appreciate your giving. Thank you! Anael Duan Anael Duan

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Balas Charitable Trust, My name is Eden Dahan. I am 26 years old and live in Kfar Saba. I am a third-year student at the Faculty of Law, BarIlan University. I am writing this letter to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the generous donation of NIS 4,000 which allows me to succeed in my studies. The financial background I come from does not allow my parents to help me financially with my studies, even though they support me spiritually the whole way. Ever since my childhood, I have been responsible for providing for myself and even helping my parents when needed. During my studies, I work for living, but it drains me of a lot of energy, makes it difficult for me to succeed and is not enough to cover my expenses. Therefore, this donation is a tremendous help to me- it relieves me from the financial stress I am dealing with. From a young age I have been striving for excellence, and this is mainly thanks to my parents. My father is an inspirational model for me; he was born in Morocco and immigrated to Israel as a child with his family. In their first years in Israel, they experienced many financial difficulties, but despite everything he was the first scholar in the family, graduating with an engineering degree at Ben-Gurion University. My dear mother grew up in Yavne. She has a lot of life experience. They taught me to excel in everything I do, and to never be afraid because there is nothing that can stand in the way of the will. I was born into a traditional family that sanctifies the values of giving, helping others and serving the country. Therefore, it was important for me to perform significant military service and volunteer in the community. My parents are role models for me in their constant giving, whether money, or helping a friend in other ways. I believe that I also have the obligation to give, even without many financial resources. As much as I can, I try to help others. Thank you again, I pray that your generous giving will be returned to you abundantly. Eden Dahan Eden Dahan

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Yael Azard. I am 23 years-old from Ashkelon, a BA student in Economics and Accounting at Bar-llan University. I served in the national agency at the Ministry of Defense for two years. I would like to thank you for your kind contribution. Since this degree requires a lot of investment from me, your contribution will help me succeed without financial hassle or stress. Thank you very much, Yael Yael Azard

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Almog Afuta. I am a fourth-year Electrical Engineering student at Bar-Ilan University, majoring in VLSI and signal processing. Thank you so much for the scholarship. It will help me focus on my studies and not worry about finances. My studies are very important to me, and I invest a lot in order to succeed. This financial help will help me to fulfill my dream of getting an Engineering degree. Thank you again for the generous donation. Almog Afuta Almog Afuta

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Linoy Sadon. I'm studying Economics, Administration and Accountancy at Bar-Ilan University. I hope to graduate and become an accountant. I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the scholarship you gave me. It has a great value for me, as it enables me to concentrate on my studies with without having to worry about finances. My family has struggled financially ever since I was very young. My mother is a cancer patient and my father is the only provider of our household at the age of 77. I have been supporting myself all these years. Nowadays, I study three full days a week and work at DHL deliveries. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, traveling outdoors and working out. Thank you again, it means the world to me. Linoy Sadon Linoy Sadon

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, It is with the deepest grateful feelings that I'm writing this letter to you. My name is Tamar Cohen. I'm 26 years old, and I live in Jerusalem. This is my third year studying Psychology. I work in the Ministry of Defense. My hobbies are reading, baking, sewing and I love to travel and listen to good music. In addition, I volunteer to distribute food to the needy. I am from a family that is blessed with many children (14) and my parents have a lot of expenses. Three years ago, my father had a medical incident, and since then he could not return to his work. So, my sibling and I are helping my parents financially. The living expenses are high, as are the tuition expenses. With this scholarship I can now concentrate on my studies while continuing to help at home. My ambition is to help people, and thanks to you it’s now possible. I want to wish you health, happiness and good luck with everything. Thank you very much for your generous help! Tamar Cohen Tamar Cohen

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Orel Menachem. I am 24-years old and a bachelor's student in Law at Bar-Ilan University. I live in Jerusalem, and work as a legal assistant. I am the 3rd daughter of 4 children. My parents are divorced, and unfortunately, I have been completely separated from my father for several years. After high school, I did a year of national service at the criminal prosecutor's office in Jerusalem. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the scholarship. I work two jobs, and I am not financially supported by my parents, so this support is very meaningful to me. I always dreamed of studying law, especially after the year of service in the criminal prosecution. This scholarship will make it easier for me to pay for my tuition bills. Also, I will be able to devote more time to my studies. I appreciate your activity on such an important issue, which helps me and many others who need financial help finance their studies. Your support warms the heart and raises the hopes and smiles of the students who receive it! With appreciation and warm regards, Orel Menachem Orel Menachem

To The Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Batya. I am 42 years old and the mother of a ten-year-old, Yahli. For many years I wanted to study and get a bachelor's degree in order to try to advance and acquire an education. Unfortunately, for many years I was unable to pay for my studies. This is my second year at Bar-Ilan and thanks to your generosity I am able to combine my studies with my full-time job and being a single mother to my son. It's exciting that there are people like you helping other people, especially at a time like this when life has become so expensive. Thank you very much. Batya Batya Kalig

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Liraz Cohen, and I live in Kiryat Shemona. I am 22 years old, and I have 7 younger siblings. I attended high school in Kiryat Shmona. While in high school I volunteered for 3 years in the Krembo Wings youth movement in addition to the community service that we did in school. I did national service for two years, the first year in Tel Aviv in the Police Investigation Department and the second year in a high school in Afula. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends, go out to restaurants or walk in nature. I am in my second year of Economics and Business studies at Bar-Ilan University and live in the dormitories. Our family’s economic situation does not allow them to help me fund my studies due to the number of children, the low salaries of my parents, and their many expenses. That's why the scholarship will help me a lot. I was very happy to receive the scholarship and I want to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to succeed in my studies. I hope that all this good will come back to you. Liraz Cohen Liraz Cohen

To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Yamin Ron, and I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your decision to grant me a 5,000 NIS scholarship. I live in Hadera, the oldest of four children. In high school, I took physics, mathematics, English, computers and cyber and had a 90 average. Even though I was diagnosed with dysgraphia, after High School I enlisted to the IDF and served with honor. In October 2021, I started learning Computer Engineering at Bar-Ilan University. In recent years, my family has had difficulties. My father is recovering from cancer, which left him physically and mentally impaired. He went from being a man who started an engineering firm to a man who lives off of a disability pension, and as a result the financial state of the whole family dropped significantly. My mother is a nurse and is now the only provider for the family. In recent years I have been helping my father and my family. In my spare time, I try to help my little siblings with their studies and support them and if I have some time for myself, I like playing on the computer. This scholarship will help me to become a contributing member of society. I thank you again for your assistance and your support. Sincerely, Yamin Ron Ron Yamin

Almog Ochayon To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Almog. I am a student at Bar-Ilan University. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for the scholarship that you have awarded me. It is an honor and privilege to receive it, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. I come from a humble background, and financial constraints have always been a major challenge for my family. As the eldest of my siblings, I always felt a sense of responsibility to help support my family's needs. However, despite the financial hardships we have faced, my parents always encouraged me to pursue my academic goals and fulfill my dreams. In addition to my academic pursuits, I also work in the security forces. This work is important to me, as I am committed to serving and protecting my country. However, balancing my work and studies has not always been easy, and the scholarship you have given me will help me to continue working effectively while pursuing my academic goals. Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support. With this scholarship, I am now one step closer to achieving my dreams. I will make sure to use this opportunity to work hard and succeed. Best regards, Almog Ochayon

Esther Albaz To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Esther Elbaz. I am 23 years old. I am studying Education and the Hebrew language at Bar-Ilan. My dream of being a teacher is finally coming true- and you are a big part of that! I come from a big family- I have 8 brothers and sisters. I don’t receive any financial support from my family, because my father is not working now. My mother works part-time. I’m sharing an apartment closer to campus with some other girls. To pay for my studies I work every time I can and this scholarship helps me so much. I am sure that when I’ll become a teacher, you will be a part of my educational mission. So again- thank you very much! Esther

Maayan Alblach To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, It is an honor to be chosen for the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Scholarship! I came from a family with little means- I always knew that if I wanted to study, it would be on my own since my parents couldn’t help me with the tuition fees. The thought of seriously pursuing academic studies never crossed my mind because I thought that I wouldn’t be able to meet the payments. After working only in non-serious jobs, I decided to look for a serious job, but I ran into an obstacle- I don't have a higher education. I didn't want to give up, and looked for an opportunity to get a bachelor’s degree while working, which led me to find the Yansufim program at Bar-Ilan. It is really important for me to thank you for your generous contribution. You were able to help me move forward in life. Thank you again for your financial investment and far-reaching impact on my life, Sincerely, Maayan

Elisheva Sinai To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Elisheva. I am a second-year Law student at Bar-Ilan University. I live in Jerusalem, and I am the second of eight children. I am very happy with my choice to study Law, even with all the challenges it entails. It's interesting and stimulating, and to me it’s the key to improving the state of Israel and helping people in their hardest moments. In my free time, I love to read, cook and spend time with family and friends. After my national service, I immediately started studying so I didn’t have time to save money. In the beginning of the academic year my parents separated. They are currently in the middle of a complex legal process and the connection with my father has been severed. My family is undergoing a challenging time coping with the new financial and emotional reality. At the beginning of the year, I had a lot of worries of how I would be able to devote many hours to studying and also work to finance my studies. Thanks to this scholarship I can study without the added worry of working. I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for deciding to choose me as a recipient. I appreciate the kindness and generosity and I hope to one day be able to pass it on to others in need. With much appreciation, Elisheva Sinai

Leah Amzallag To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Leah Amzallag. I am a 24-year-old undergraduate student, double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology at Bar-Ilan University. I was born and raised in Jerusalem to two parents who immigrated to Israel (my mother was from the USA and my father was from Morocco/France). My father died when I was 10 months old and my mother raised me, my twin brother Yonatan and two more brothers on her own. Before starting my army service, I volunteered and studied at a pre-military preparatory school (“mechina”) for 1 ½ years. After the preparatory school I enlisted in the army’s 8200 Intelligence unit where I served for two years and ten months. My time in the mechina and army were significant and satisfying. In my free time I enjoy cooking, athletics, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. I rent an apartment close to the university in Givat Shmuel and pay for daily living expenses. This is a challenge as I spend most of my time studying. I want to express my appreciation to the Foundation for the generous study scholarship you provided me. Warm regards, Leah Amzallag

Chaya-Sara Ben Adarat To The Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, I was so happy to learn that I was the recipient of the Jacob and Grace scholarship. I am writing to thank you for your generous financial support towards my higher education. My name is Chaya, I’m 20 years old. This year is my second year in law school. I am planning to graduate b”h in March 2025. I have 3 sisters, me being the middle child. I was raised Haredi, so my choice of going to law school was unusual. I chose the law because my childhood dream was to become a lawyer and make this world a better place. I love reading, meeting new people and learning about new cultures . This scholarship is helping me fulfill my dream, and for that I’m beyond grateful. My parents are doing the most they can to help me, but unfortunately my dad is disabled and isn’t capable of working a full-time job, so this scholarship is really needed and appreciated. May you always be on the giving side, Chaya

Maayan Vikel To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable trust, Thank you very much for giving me this scholarship. The last few years have not been easy for me and my family. My mom got a new kidney, and my father got a new heart. These days my father doesn't work, and my mother works parttime. We are all hoping for better times for both of them! Because of their situation, I needed help financing my studies. Thanks to you, I have some relief from the worry. I'm studying bioinformatics. It’s a very interesting topic, combining computer science and biology. In my free I grow plants and like to travel. Thank you so much for the scholarship, it helps me a lot! Maayan Vikel

Lilach Hagbi To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, I am writing to thank you for the scholarship that will support my dream of getting my bachelor’s degree. I am a single mother to a wonderful 21- year-old son who is currently serving in the IDF. In addition, I have a second “son” of the same age, who I took under my stewardship three years ago when Covid arrived and he lost his way with his own family. He, too, is serving in the IDF. I work in an organization called “Elwyn” that helps disabled persons to find sustainable employment. In addition, we run a course called “Shoval” through which university students provide instruction to disabled students. It is a wonderful and highly impactful project that I am proud to be part of. I also volunteer weekly at the hospice in Tel Hashomer. I feel energized on each occasion, knowing that I made someone smile or gave them a comforting hug when needed. Furthermore, I am doing what I can with regards to climate change. I lead petitions against the destruction of thousands of trees in the deserted army base area near Petach Tikvah. I believe that global warming is a serious concern, and we need to be proactive to save our planet. I have two wonderful and playful dogs, like music and am learning to play the guitar. As far as my studies are concerned, I am really enjoying learning pschology and criminology in particular, both of which I find fascinating. People know me as a very positive person. I realized that in order to maximize my potential and make the most of my positive nature, it was key for me to study and broaden my horizons. I am immensely appreciative of this scholarship, which helps make my dream of completing my bachelor’s degree a reality. Yours Faithfully, Lilach Hagbi

Yuval Haliva To The Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Yuval Haliva. I am a second-year student in the bachelor's program for Social Work at Bar-Ilan University. I would like to thank you for your generous sponsorship. As part of the social work program’s framework,I have the opportunity to obtain practical experience and training through an internship at the Community Mental Health Clinic. During this internship I am gaining hands-on experience assisting people with various mental health issues, utilizing the psychodynamic methodologies I have learned. The studies are so time intensive and demanding that I have not been able to maintain a steady income, which has been impeding my ability to pay for my studies. Additionally, my parents have not been able to help support my studies financially. For those reasons, I am very grateful for the kind donation. Your scholarship has enabled me to fund my education and makes a very big difference for me personally. Thank you again, Yuval

Sharon Taib To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Sharon, and I am a 2nd year Economics and Accounting student at Bar-Ilan University. I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to study this year through the assistance of your scholarship program. I am the only one in my family who was able to continue studying and pursue a degree, despite the financial difficulty I face during these years as a student. Be that as it may, I choose to continue in this path in order to improve my future. This scholarship allowed me to concentrate and focus on my studies, and as a result I achieved good grades. I would like to thank you once again for your generosity and for making it possible for me and many others to fulfill their dreams. Sharon

Shiraz Cohen To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Shiraz Cohen. First, I wanted to say thank you! I am 21 years old. I recently finished my national service and started university right afterwards, so I only had a little time to work and save money. Although I don't come from a low-income family, I come from a family with many children (we are six children, and I am the eldest). My parents work hard to provide for all our needs, whether it's private tutors, classes, or family outings and trips, so I decided to take it upon myself to pay for my tuition. Therefore, the scholarship helps me a lot. In addition to your scholarship, I work during the week at the university. Furthermore, the Law degree requires participation outside of study hours in various law-related projects, so I volunteer at an association called Nadan. This association helps soldiers with their legal problems. Receiving the scholarship from you makes it very easy for me and allows me to focus on my studies and external projects. Thank you very much for your assistance! Shiraz

Louise Lavi To The Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the scholarship you have given me! My father died 4 years ago, and I help my mother finance our house, so I have a lot of trouble also financing my studies! I am in my last year of studying accounting and I am very excited that thanks to the scholarship I will have to work less and can devote more time to learning and succeeding in my exams. I personally thank you for choosing to honor me by giving me this scholarship that will definitely help me continue my studies! My dream is to finish my degree and make my father (of blessed memory) proud of me! Thank you for helping me advance another step towards my goal- becoming the best CPA! Louise Lavi

Lior Meman To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, Thank you very much for your scholarship. The help you gave me allows me to complete my studies and I am so grateful. I come from a background where I don't have anyone in the family who is an academic, so it is very important for me to finish my degree. My father works as a janitor at a school and my mother works as a cashier at a supermarket. I live in a rented apartment in Rishon Lezion, because my relationship with my parents at home is not very good. I have no help from my parents, because I also have older sisters who are married with children and whose financial situation is also not good. In my spare time I work in an accounting firm so that I can cover my bills. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the donation that helped me a lot. Lior Meman

Hadar Salniker To The Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Hadar Salniker. I am 25 years old from Kfar Yona, and I am currently in my second year studying Biology at Bar-Ilan .I would like to thank you for scholarship you have given me. My major in high school was Biology, and I served as a medic in the IDF. These two paths helped me understand that I would like to work in something in the field of biology that will allow me to help and change people's lives. In order to fulfill my dream, and to be able to have a positive impact on people's lives, I know that I will need to go a long and difficult way. I am the youngest daughter of divorced parents. My mother's parents are from Iraq and my father was born in Ukraine. Unfortunately, my mother is a single-income parent for two children, so she cannot help me with financing my studies even if she wanted to. In addition, I have struggled with ADHD since childhood, so I have to invest more time in learning than my classmates – making it almost impossible to combine studies and work together. With your help, I was given the opportunity to "breathe easy" for another year, invest all my time in my studies and strive for excellence. In conclusion, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, and to emphasize that the generosity you have shown has had a positive effect on my personal and academic life. Thanks again, Hadar Salniker

Naomi Puor To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Balas Charitable Trust, Thank you so much for granting me this scholarship. Receiving this aid means very much to me. I am a divorced mother of two growing children, aged eight and ten, and need to provide a steady income for them. I have always found myself teaching and enjoying it, and now I would like to become a professional. In the past I have taught yoga, sewing and doll-making, and for the past few years I have taught small children spoken English in small groups. I am now doing a BA in English literature, as I fell in love with the language again after starting to teach. For me the joy in literature is the combination of creativity and academic critical thinking, which I found lacking both in other art paths and other academic paths. Along with my BA I am working hard to get my teaching certificate, as I need to increase my options and eligibility on the job market. My aim is to provide a steady financial base to provide for my children. Your help in realizing this dream is extremely appreciated and I thank you again and wish you health and happiness. Regards, Naomi Puor

Nofar Shabo To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, I would like to thank you for awarding me this scholarship for the current year. My name is Nofar Shabo, and I am a second-year student at Bar Ilan University. My military service was as an Iron Dome fighter, and when I finished I began my studies with great hope to advance academically. My family's financial situation is not good. My little brother is a teenager at risk, and he is getting medical treatment. During Corona, our financial situation worsened. My grandmother is disabled and when I'm not at the university I take care of her, helping her with basic activities like showering. I like volunteering very much. For the whole first year of school I volunteered at Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital and visited patients there. My hobbies are mainly spending time with my family, reading books and articles that interest me, and enriching myself with new knowledge. I am an excellent student, maintain a high average and have a strong desire to complete my first degree and continue on to a master's degree at Bar-Ilan. The scholarship I received from you will help me a lot. Now I can keep helping my grandmother, and not worry about asking for help from my parents to pay the tuition when they have an additional financial burden. I thank you very much. Nofar Shabo.

Evyatar Haim To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Evyatar Haim. I study music and the Middle East at Bar-Ilan. I have a twin brother who studies at Peres College of Business Administration. We served in the IDF and have a sister our age who suffers from autism. Our mother stays at home to take care of her, and my father is retired from his work as a company driver. For myself and my family I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help. I appreciate it very much. Evyatar

Omer Even-Hen To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Omer Even-Hen and I want to thank you for the scholarship you have granted me. This scholarship has relieved me from the worry of paying my tuition and allowed me to give my utmost attention to my studies, in which I have a 92 GPA. My mother is a single parent. When I was 12, she had a stroke that left her disabled. Since then, she has been unable to work and relies on social security as an income. Most of this income is used to buy the medicine she needs for her condition, and the rest goes for food and the maintenance of the house. Both me and my 2 younger siblings live with my mom and from a young age we worked to help with payments. Even while constantly dealing with financial difficulties, I always believed that if I worked hard enough, I would achieve my goals, however big they are. With the help of your scholarship, I was able to fulfill my true potential. I am forever grateful for the opportunity. Sincerely, Omer Even-Hen

Rotem Salamon To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Rotem Salamon and I'm writing to thank you for the scholarship I have received. I am a third-year student in The Department of Hebrew Literature at Bar-Ilan University. I chose to study Hebrew Literature because I believe that books, stories and songs are like a secret code to ancient times. I was born in Petach Tikvah in 1996. I still live in the same city with my mother and my two little brothers. My father was born in Israel and is a medical technician. My mother was also born in Israel and works in technical support. My parents are divorced. I am the oldest in my family- I have 2 brothers and 3 more little sisters from my father’s second marriage. I served in the IDF for two years a social worker. During my service I would help my soldiers by arranging financial help and giving food baskets every year before the holidays. It was a huge opportunity to help others and it was really meaningful for an 18-year-old girl. After my military service I studied acting for two years at an acting studio. I enjoyed that as well but during my time there I understood that it was not the direction I wanted to go in. I was more interested in the text then the acting part, and that is the reason that I started to study literature. When I finish my studies, I hope to continue on to a master's degree. You helped me very much and I didn’t need to worry about paying for my studies. Thanks again, Rotem Salamon

My degree is a busy and extremely demanding one that combines courses from the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Department of Computer Science. I aspire to progress to research in the field of computational biology and to obtain an advanced academic degree, all of which requires me to succeed in all my courses. Today, the desire to succeed academically in addition to the help I give my parents prevents me from working and saving money. I am paying for my studies on my own, with money I saved in recent years while I was a combat support soldier in the IDF (coordinator of investigations and intelligence, operational investigator). I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for giving me the scholarship. It helps me a lot financially and helps in my further academic development. The scholarship also allows me to continue helping my family at home. Best regards, Or Gabay Or Gabay To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Or Gabay. I am a third-year Computational Biology student at Bar-Ilan University. I am 22 years old and live in Rosh Ha'Ain with my mother. I have been a vegetarian for many years (which contributed to my wanting to study a field related to biology). In my free time, I like to learn more things in the field of biology by reading articles and watching videos and TV shows (mainly about nature and animals). I also like to read books related to empowerment and personal development and to work out in the gym. My father is on medical retirement due to a 92% disability. Due to a new diagnosis of fibromyalgia, his percentage of disability will probably increase. After going through bankruptcy about 3 years ago and suffering from medical and mental disability, my father cannot function independently. He lives on a meager social security allowance, and his medical condition requires the purchase of multiple and expensive medications. My mother works as a part-time substitute teacher. She also suffers from illnesses that prevent her from working full time, including advanced type 2 diabetes. Due to her medical condition, she has to invest a lot of money from the little salary she receives in buying many medicines. I provide daily help to both my parents due to their financial and medical situation. About a year ago I underwent a major surgery that temporarily prevented me from working during the summer vacation last year. Due to many illnesses and medical problems, I am also required to buy many medications each month.

My father, his partner, and I rent an apartment together where I sleep in the middle of the week when I am at university. My father takes care of my elderly grandmother, who lives on disability and long-term care pension. After a lot of time and emotional treatments, I renewed the relationship with my mother and today we are in a good relationship. But she has never been able to support or help me financially. The expenses for the apartment and the drives to work are a lot for me on top of tuition and other expenses. In addition, because of my studies, I work fewer days a month, which is significant in my salary. It is important for me to tell people that I am the first in the family to attend university and it is very important for me to succeed and bring pride to my family. The scholarship that the kind donors gave me takes pressure off me regarding payment for my studies. You are an integral part of making my dreams come true and my ability to achieve. I am writing this letter with tears in my eyes considering my less brilliant past, looking forward to a smiling and good future in which I will reach great achievements. I will continue to study hard and earn high grades as I pursue my dream. I will always use you as an example of amazing and good people, and hopefully I will one day be able to be like you and give to others. A huge thank you to you. Tamar Shani Tamar Shani To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Tamar Shani. I am 23 years old, a third-year Geography and Environmental Studies student at Bar-Ilan University. Among my hobbies, I love surfing in the sea, watching old movies and hanging out with friends. In addition, I really like to learn and explore new and interesting things. I see myself as an optimistic, happy and sociable girl despite the difficulties I have had in my life. My parents divorced when I was two years old. Initially I lived with my mother but when she got married, I moved in with my father and his partner. Life at my father's house was very challenging for many reasons. At the age of 18 I did my national service as a tour guide (for the Ministry of Education) through the Nature and Parks Authority (ג"רט ( in the city of Arad. I fell in love with the desert and nature, so I decided to move to Ein Gedi and started working there as a ranger in the nature reserve. I really love working there, taking care of nature and making it accessible to travelers. About two years ago I started my studies at Bar-Ilan. I decided to study geography and environment so that I could continue my path and my personal contribution to the world through nature. Currently, I work full-time in Ein Gedi and drive back and forth about 4 times a month.

This is a very common disease which causes inflammation and mainly pain. I underwent surgery a year ago and two months later the situation seems to be improving. In addition to all this, they also discovered eosinophilic inflammation in my stomach which is considered rare in adults. As a result of the inflammation, I had to go on a special diet and I today I still have to buy special food which is more expensive. After all the things I went through, I doubted if I would be able to start my studies at all. As much as I wanted to give of myself to others, I struggled, and still struggle with my health, which prevents me from working. For me, the financial support gives me air to breathe. Knowing that there are people who support what I do motivates me to continue studying industriously so that in the end, I can help others and continue the cycle of giving. I am a girl who is trying to be optimistic. I love to dance and am even working on writing a book. One of my dreams is to influence this world, and that's why I went to study social work. Thanks to this scholarship it seems more possible. Tehilla Tehilla Hili Yahav To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, My name is Tehilla Hili Yahav. I am a first-year BA student at Bar-Ilan University in Social Work. I would like to thank the wonderful donors who allowed me to study properly and help others. The fact that I am capable of going to university is a huge thing for me. Even though I'm only 22 years old, I've been through things in life that made me doubt whether I would even be able to get a degree and work in something I want. About five years ago, when I was in my senior year, something I call “the snowball” started. It started when I found out that my father has paranoid schizophrenia. I spent all of my last year of high school, including during my final exams, trying to take care of him and help him. To this day I have no idea where I got the mental strength to concentrate on my exams at this time. Not only did I survive this entire period, but I also received excellent grades. Unfortunately, today I'm not in contact with him or with his side of the family at all. After school, I completed my national service at a school for autistic children. I gave them lessons, arranged activities, and helped the permanent staff. It was undoubtedly one of the most impactful and amazing things I have ever done. Even though I would come home every day exhausted, and sometimes even bruised, I would be happy. I enjoyed coming every day, seeing the students and their progress, and feeling their love. When I was with them, I discovered a whole world. The pure love I experienced gave me the desire to give this warmth to others. In the last year of my service, I started feeling a huge pain in my stomach every month that disabled me completely. When I simply collapsed in tears from pain that unfortunately, no pill was able to relieve, I went for a long series of tests that revealed that I had endometriosis.

Rivka Hagma To the Grace, Shua and Jacob Ballas Charitable Trust, I am a psychology student at Bar-Ilan University, and I am 20 years old. From the time I was a young child I was very interested in psychology and in learning. I am thirsty for knowledge, devoted to success and reaching my potential. I wish to say thank you very much and to show my heartfelt appreciation for your generous contribution. I was born into a family with many children- I have nine brothers and sisters. Our family struggles financially and my surroundings do not support my ambitions. Therefore, I have to finance my studies and living costs on my own. In addition, I have a medical condition (teeth, mouth and gums) that causes me a lot of pain and requires expensive medical treatment. Although my medical treatment is a priority, I am not willing to give up on my studies. Therefore, the funds provide me with tremendous help, exactly at a time when I did not know how I would manage with the financial burden. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help! Thank you again for your kind donation. Now, I will be free to devote my time to my studies. You made it all possible and so much easier for me. You are an instrumental part of my future success and for that I am deeply grateful! With warmest appreciation, Rivka

Sharon Goldman VP of Development Tel: 972-3-531-7602 Mobile: 972-54-8643920 [email protected] Bar-Ilan University (RA), Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel Bar-Ilan University ,Impacting Tomorrow Today