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/// MILUIMNIKIM (RESERVIST) CLUB
HOW THE EFI ARAZI SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE FIERCELY SUPPORTS ITS MILUIMNIKIM
With the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War, following the horrific events of October 7th, 2023, Reichman University’s management team knew they had to do whatever they could to support the many students drafted to reserve duty. With 50% of Reichman students on reserve duty at some point during the war, Reichman University leaders knew they needed to show them they had their backs and that they should not worry about their studies, only about what was in front of them—fighting Israel’s enemies.
Each and every school on campus found a way, in addition to the general outline the management drafted, to help its miluimnikim (reservists).
Such was the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science. The dean, Prof. Yacov Hel-Or, with the support of the academic and administrative staff, decided to open a specialized mini-semester just for miluimnikim. This special semester began towards the end of the first regular semester, and the professors, in their free time, repeated the lectures they had already given to the students who did not serve.
When the second regular semester began, staff and students realized that another specialized minisemester would not be as efficient, and decided to open the “Miluimnikim Club”, as a response to miluimnikim’s academic needs. The club began modestly with pizza and two and half hours of weekly recorded tutoring sessions but quickly grew into a more organized initiative tailored to the needs of three distinct types of miluimnikim. These included those who work in shifts and can study on campus between shifts, those stationed at the front who can join sessions via Zoom, and those unable to attend live sessions but who could rely on the recorded materials.
The club, which was developed with the full backing of the academic and administrative staff of the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science, has been providing two and a half tutoring hours per week with a social gathering first. During finals season, it offers five tutoring hours for each course that the school offers. As there are more than 100 miluimnikim in the school, the club has been a tremendous support for them.
Major (Res.) Tamir Sida, who was a first-year student when the war began, said “Without this club I wouldn’t have made it through my first year, both in the academic aspect and also in the social aspect. I’ve been in miluim since October 7th, and I managed to successfully finish my first year and am currently in my second year, without having to retake or finish up courses from the first year, all thanks to the club.”
His miluimnikim friends share his feelings, saying that without this amazing support of the Dean and the entire school staff, they couldn’t have moved on to the follow up courses–and passed them. They feel they have the support and ear of the staff, who ensure they know they will help the miluimnikim solve any issue that might arise from their service, and that they should focus on the work they do in the IDF.
