Hundreds of new immigrants from all over Israel who made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) without their families are participating in the Jewish Agency's Selah (‘Studentim Lifnei Horim’ - Students Before Parents) program. They arrived in Haifa this week to attend a special scholarship award ceremony named after Asher (Alexi) Naikov – a new immigrant who was murdered by Arabs while guarding a school bus near Kfar Darom.
At the award ceremony, Clara, Asher’s mother, recounted: "Alexi loved to learn. He studied at a Jewish school and was a very independent child. He made the decision to take the Selah entrance exams on his own, and he passed, without telling us….His dream was to study at the Technion University in Haifa. He completed the Technion preparatory program, was inducted into the army, joining the combat engineering corps…he didn't ask me. The last time we spoke, he said he was very happy and satisfied in the army. He told me he would be guarding a bus load of children the next morning --- he saved those children but he himself was killed."
Alexi Naikov arrived in Israel in September of 1996 and attended the Jewish Agency's Selah program. He completed his studies at the Technion and enlisted in the army after deciding to stay in Israel. His parents followed him to Israel from the Ukraine and made their home in Haifa.
Naikov was killed five years ago in a car bomb attack at the Erez checkpoint in Gaza. The explosive-laden car was aimed at a school bus transporting children from the Gush Katif community of Kfar Darom. Naikov’s resourcefulness – as well as that of his friends (who were badly injured) – prevented a major tragedy.
After Alexi's death, the Jewish Agency established the Alexi Naikov scholarship fund to commemorate his life and to strengthen young immigrants who are here without their families – in their new beginnings. This week, thirteen students were awarded the scholarship for excellence.
Naikov’s legacy was repeatedly cited as “an example” as one scholarship recipient after another declared that it was their intention to enlist in the IDF and protect their homeland before starting their studies.
At the award ceremony, Clara, Asher’s mother, recounted: "Alexi loved to learn. He studied at a Jewish school and was a very independent child. He made the decision to take the Selah entrance exams on his own, and he passed, without telling us….His dream was to study at the Technion University in Haifa. He completed the Technion preparatory program, was inducted into the army, joining the combat engineering corps…he didn't ask me. The last time we spoke, he said he was very happy and satisfied in the army. He told me he would be guarding a bus load of children the next morning --- he saved those children but he himself was killed."
Alexi Naikov arrived in Israel in September of 1996 and attended the Jewish Agency's Selah program. He completed his studies at the Technion and enlisted in the army after deciding to stay in Israel. His parents followed him to Israel from the Ukraine and made their home in Haifa.
Naikov was killed five years ago in a car bomb attack at the Erez checkpoint in Gaza. The explosive-laden car was aimed at a school bus transporting children from the Gush Katif community of Kfar Darom. Naikov’s resourcefulness – as well as that of his friends (who were badly injured) – prevented a major tragedy.
After Alexi's death, the Jewish Agency established the Alexi Naikov scholarship fund to commemorate his life and to strengthen young immigrants who are here without their families – in their new beginnings. This week, thirteen students were awarded the scholarship for excellence.
Naikov’s legacy was repeatedly cited as “an example” as one scholarship recipient after another declared that it was their intention to enlist in the IDF and protect their homeland before starting their studies.