ISEF's generous support has enabled me to fulfill a dream and a professional aspiration. Thanks to ISEF I was able to commit my post-doctoral research in one of world's most prestigious institutes in my field, Material Science. As a mother for a beautiful three year old girl, it was a significant financial challenge to move to California but ISEF's support made this dream possible. It is also very important to mention that throughout the post-doc period the ISEF team provided me outstanding assistance and support, and I am truly thankful to for that.

I feel a great debt of gratitude to the ISEF family and the incredible Nina Weiner for the unimaginable support. ISEF supported me through my studies abroad. Without their generous support, I could not make my dreams come true.

One of the most challenging aspects of raising scholarships for studies has been the need to justify my choices(to study cinema abroad) to many funders who seem to believe that culture and creativity are the prerogatives only of those who can afford it.

I can only say what I believe, which is that those for whom culture and creativity are seen as unessential luxuries, those whose voices thus go unheard and unheeded, are precisely those for whom the chance to speak is nothing short of an essential necessity.

When I got to ISEF I didn't need to explain any of this, it was clear from day one, that I matter. Beyond the financial support, the most important thing ISEF staff(highlighting the extremely kind and supportive director of student affairs- Adi Helfer), ISEF board(in particular: Nina Weiner, Carlos Benaim, Avi Abergel) and my fellow students gave me is much-needed encouragement in this journey,they've been for me my home away from home. I'm grateful to have all of them in my life.

I've been with ISEF since my undergraduate studies through my postdoc now. It is a warm and welcoming family! They literally do an amazing job without a lot of hype and PR.
I learn so many things about myself, my country, social justice and so on in their rich programs. I defiantly recommend other to be involved with this organization.

This is my 2nd year at ISEF's scholarship abroad program, this foundation has made a tremendous impact on my life as a student, giving me the assistance i need in order to complete my studies as a MD. I'm proud to be a part of this program and foundation which represents a vision that i totally believe in and identify with.

Coming from a less privileged background in Israel has posed financial challenges in fulfilling my academic aspirations throughout the years. My parents, descendants of Sephardic Jews who have less than a High School diploma, could not provide me with financial assistance. By awarding me a scholarship, ISEF has lightened my financial burden, and without a doubt, it plays a key role in achieving my educational dreams. I am forever grateful for that. Currently, I am a PhD Candidate in law at Harvard Law School, researching about one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. A technology called "CRISPR" has produced great interest globally due to the insights it would yield regarding fundamental biological processes and its potential impact on human health and well-being. However, with these opportunities come significant legal and ethical challenges. My research dissertation will be a starting point for addressing some of the fundamental challenges the topic raises. As a first-generation student in higher education in my family, I have now the privilege to pursue a position that can make a groundbreaking contribution in the future and all thanks to ISEF’s help and faith in me.

My name is Nofar Edri, I graduated from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, with a degree in emergency medicine.
I am currently pursuing a medical degree at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.
Recently I have been granted a doctorate scholarship from the ISEF foundation thus covering my tuition fees.
Isef has become an important part of my life. Without Isef's help, everything would have been so much harder and my dream would have stayed far away.
I'm very honored to be a member of the “Isef” family, looking forward to help others pursuing their dreams, as Isef just did to me.

Yamit Cohen
University of Haifa
Studying Law

ISEF has allowed me to realize my dream and finish law school with honors. I think that without the foundation, I would not be able to withstand the economic pressure to be able to complete my studies satisfactorily.
Beyond the foundation’s financial support, which I am forever grateful for, the organization has helped me shape my personality, allowed me to express and believe in myself and my abilities.

I have received a scholarship from ISEF. However, it didn't come just with money, but also with a supportive environment and amazing people to be involved with.
I recommend anyone who can to apply for this scholarship. Worth much more than the money it gives.

ISEF supported me through my very first steps in the university all the way to my post-doctoral research. Their support was incredibly valuable to me and helped me steer my life to fascinating fields of knowledge and science I could never dream of growing up. Thank you for believing in the young generation of Israel!

I was an ISEF scholar for 6 years and for me, ISEF is more than just a scholarship. It is a family. You know that if you have a problem, they will help. This includes academic and personal problems as well as financial. In the U.S., ISEF's support was even more important. Firstly, because studies and life there are so much more expensive and secondly because, being Israeli, it was hard for me to be away from friends and family.

My Name is Menny and I have been supported by ISEF for 6 years in which I conducted my graduate and postdoctoral studies in pure mathematics.

I do not know any mathematician in Israel coming from Sephardic background. During my studies, something without noticing it, this fact made me feel that "you don't belong here", " this is not for you", "success in academia is for others".

ISEF support was a vote of confidence in me, in my way, in my deserved place in the academic world. It is like saying “keep going! You have the same rights and possibilities as your colleagues!”.

The gift ISEF gave me is a one that goes into my heart, my self-esteem and pride. But it manifests itself also in many day to day things… For example, we have enough money to give my 8 years old daughter, Alma, harp lessons! Art lessons for my 5 year’s old son, Amitai, and also for the well-being of my wife Dahlia, and our 3 years old Amalia. ISEF scholarship is exactly what bridges the gap between being stress about making hand meet, to feeling that we have enough money to anything that we would like do.

My dream is to become a scholar that can contribute to society in general and Israeli society in particular. ISEF has been helping me to achieve this goal. I would not have been able to pursue doctoral studies at Brandeis University without ISEF’s support. ISEF’s mission to enhance Israel’s well-being is a blessed and important one. It is a mission that I share whole-heartedly.

Hello, my name is Eytan Damari. I can only try to express my appreciation towards ISEF foundation by words, but I think what and who I am today, will express it far better. I 28 years old, six years ago I started my medical studies, which without the support of ISEF, I wouldn't be able to start nor will I be able to finish them. These day, I am proud to say I have finish my studies and I am now a medical doctor - only due to the support of ISEF along the year. ISEF is more than a simple organization, the people working in ISEF are truly helpful and understand that the whole is composed of individual persons, and so they act and treat accordingly. From all this huge organization, I have been treated like I am the only person there, always checking on you, supporting in ways beyond required. My degree I owe to ISEF.

Dear all, my name is Liran Odeni. I am 30 yrs old and a 5th year medical student at Semmelweis University in Budapest. Ever since I can remember, I knew I wanted to become a doctor but unfortunately in Israel, the available places at the university are extremely limited to a few students every year. In order to study abroad, each year I had to pay a very high price that my parents couldnt afford themselves. ISEF has been supporting me economically and emotionally all the way from the beginning. Through ISEF, a guy with a very low socioeconomic background will graduate next year who plans to contribute to our society by giving proper and equal medical care to all. Without ISEF, I could not do this and I want to say THANK you all for your contribution and support. Liran Odeni

One of the burning issues in modern Israeli society is the inequality between those that come from strong socioeconomic backgrounds and those that do not. The one indisputable way of closing gaps within a society is to advance and enable equal opportunity for education for young men and women. This is the International Sepharadic Education Foundation's (ISEF) main goal. Furthermore, ISEF is unique in that it enhances equal opportunity throughout all educational levels, from school to post-doctoral training.

Education is the key to Israel's future and supporting ISEF is supporting the age old vision of an enlightened and just modern Israeli society, a beacon onto the nations. ISEF has played a key role for myself and many others in being able to dedicate oneself to learning and research despite the heavy financial burden of paying for tuition and living expenses on one's own.

My name is Tamir Arviv. For me, ISEF is a place of belonging and empowerment. ISEF has supported me for the past 10 years. From my first steps through the gate of Tel Aviv University to my current PhD studies in the University of Toronto.
I am the first in my family to attend University and I can’t imagine going through my studies without the warm support that I have been receiving from ISEF.