Meet Our Students

Gabe (Gabi) Ganeles, 24, grew up in an Orthodox community in Connecticut (USA). At 18, he came to Israel on the Masa program run by the Shalom Hartman Institute. “I had visited Israel as a kid because I have aunts and cousins here,” he said, “but Masa was different. I met Israelis in a pre-army academy and was deeply impressed by the strength of Israeli community life. I knew then that I wanted to make Aliyah, but the COVID pandemic sent me back to the U.S.”

After he returned to the States, Gabi was considering two options for his next move:  joining the IDF or beginning his academic studies in America. Ultimately, he chose a third path: the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. “The Technion International program let me pursue a degree in English while living in Israel, which was a perfect opportunity for me.” At age 20, he returned to Israel, completed the international prep program, and began his B.Sc. in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. “My older brother had made Aliyah before me, and though my parents were sad to say goodbye again, they were very proud.”

After a year in mechanical engineering, Gabi decided to switch paths. “I wanted to study in Hebrew like most Technion students,” he explained. He left the international program and moved to the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, where he studies today.

During his degree, Gabi joined the research lab of Dr. Arielle Fisher, who collaborates with the Israeli Olympic Committee to improve the performance of Israel’s Olympic windsurfers. This partnership has already yielded impressive results at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where sailors Tom Reuveni and Sharon Kantor won gold and silver medals. Now, all eyes are on Los Angeles 2028. Gabi is contributing to the research under Ph.D. student Raz Margi, focusing on the biomechanics of the athletes and analysis of windsurfing techniques to optimize performance, especially for Olympic competition.

The strong sense of Israeli community that Gabi discovered in the Masa program has only grown stronger since moving to Israel. “Israelis are more community-oriented. There’s genuine care here that aligns with my values. Within the international program, I immediately found a new family. I live in the Neve America dorms at the Technion, but during the war with Iran, I left Haifa to stay with friends in Jerusalem – naturally, fellow students from the International program. It’s a stressful time, and the strength of the community matters.”

Gabi is now finishing his final semester. His next step: joining the IDF through the academic reserve track, a special path for university graduates.

Good luck, Gabi!