On a hot morning in early July, Adir Eliyahu an 11th grader at AMIT Eitan HS for Boys Maaleh Adumim , was on his way to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station to catch a bus to his computer-communications bagrut exam. As he approached the station, he saw an elderly woman in distress who told him her smartphone was stolen just moments earlier.
Without hesitation, Adir chased down the broad shouldered culprit, even knowing it would cause him to be late to this crucial exam, and possibly cause him to fail. “I thought to myself if this happened to someone in my family, I would want someone to help,” said Adir. “I did not have any reservations or fears, just a deep desire to help.” Adir confronted the mugger, cornered him in a alleyway and waited for the police to arrive. The police were awed by his bravery and decided to award Adir with a certificate of honor for being a model citizen.
All the while, AMIT Eitan HS principal Daniel Be’eri noticed Adir was missing from the exam and called him to inquire on his whereabouts. He related to the principal the unusual predicament and the Bagrut exam coordinator contacted the police who attested to Adir’s act of bravery and helping someone in need. When Adir finally arrived at school, an hour after the exam began, the principal escorted him into the exam and praised him in front of his peers. Adir was granted extra testing time and successfully completed his exam.
“I am so proud of this amazing student who put his own personal needs aside to help someone in need. He knew helping would interfere with his own personal success and did the right thing,” said Be’eri. “His act is an example of the values AMIT infuses in its students. Grades are important, but being a good person who helps others is the most important of all.”
