For Omer Sabary, life changed almost overnight. Days after winning top honors at Technion Pitch Night in New York City — a competition for t:hub students to pitch the next wave of Israeli startups — Iranian missiles rained down on Israel. His apartment was destroyed, his loved ones were in danger, and his world turned upside down.
A Technion Ph.D. researcher and Berger Fellow, Omer had traveled to the United States last spring as part of a student delegation that culminated in Pitch Night. “Being at Pitch Night was the best opportunity,” he recalled. “I took every free minute I had during that week and the week before to practice. I ended up winning both the judges prize and the public award.”
That victory, however, was quickly overshadowed by devastating news. The night after the competition, Omer and his fellow students learned that Israel had entered a preemptive war with Iran.
“I didn’t have enough time to process everything at first. I thought we’d have a one-or two-day delay on our flight and then everything would be OK. But they started to shoot missiles over Israel.”
OMER SABARY
The crisis hit home in the most literal sense when Omer awoke in New York to frantic messages from his partner in Tel Aviv. “He sent me a video of our destroyed apartment,” Omer explained. “Luckily, he’s OK, but at that moment I just wanted to go back and be with him.”
For days, Omer could do nothing but wait while his partner navigated bureaucracy, temporary housing, and the trauma of displacement alone. “For me, the toughest part was being so far away while losing control of my life and not knowing what I have and don’t have anymore,” he said.
Throughout the ordeal, the American Technion Society became a crucial lifeline, providing emotional support, a network of care, and a sense of security. “While we were stuck in Manhattan, we had the full support of ATS and its members. And that was so comforting,” Omer said.
When he finally returned to Israel, Omer faced the harsh reality of starting over. He and his partner lived in a hotel for a few weeks before eventually finding a new apartment.
Now, as he continues his research and prepares for the future, Omer carries lessons forged in hardship. “I’ve learned something about myself: I can handle tough situations and I’m capable of solving even the hardest problems,” he said.
Despite the ordeal, his hope endures. “I believe in peace, I pray for peace, and I wish for peace,” Omer said. “I’m not losing hope in peace.”