Mossad Chief Urges Immigrant Teens to Face Challenges Head-On

The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman, visited the Neve Adassa youth village to meet with teenage immigrants from former Soviet Union countries. During the meeting, Gofman discussed education, integration into Israeli society, personal responsibility, leadership, and the pursuit of high achievement with the students.

Gofman shared his personal journey from his own immigration to Israel, through military service, to reaching high government positions. He emphasized that his progress was due to hard work, self-development, perseverance, and a willingness to overcome difficulties, as well as the trust placed in him over the years. He also highlighted the significant contributions of immigrants from former Soviet republics to Israel's development, stating that "waves of immigration were an important milestone in building the country, fostering a new generation of leaders, and making huge contributions to science, medicine, culture, economics, security, and public activity."

Reflecting on his previous role as the Prime Minister's military secretary, Gofman noted that it provided him with an inside view of state-level decision-making, reinforcing his sense of responsibility and duty. He stated that being chosen by the Prime Minister and having the rare opportunity during wartime to be in the room where critical decisions about Israel's security and future were made made him feel more Israeli than ever before. He stressed that such opportunities carry immense responsibility and require trust built over years through actions, values, and a readiness to take responsibility even in the most challenging times.

Gofman told the teenagers that his life story demonstrates that one's future is not determined by their starting point. He explained that his path from a new immigrant to a key decision-making juncture in Israel reflects the opportunities Israeli society offers to those who choose to become part of it, contribute, and take responsibility for its future. He also outlined his guiding principles in service: leadership requires seeing reality clearly, acknowledging dangers and threats without ignoring them, understanding them, preparing for them, and acting decisively and responsibly.

He applied these principles to both national security and personal life, urging the students to "look difficulties in the eye, not run away from them, take initiative, and act to change reality." He concluded by emphasizing the vital role of educational institutions like Neve Adassa in fostering a sense of belonging, providing tools for development, and enabling full integration into Israeli society. "The resilience of the State of Israel begins with its people, with education, moral values, a sense of belonging, and young people's belief that they can achieve a great deal. The State of Israel needs you: your initiative, your responsibility, and your willingness to contribute," he stated. Gofman connected these principles to the Mossad's work, noting that its employees operate globally based on duty, responsibility, initiative, striving for results, courage, trust, and the determination to identify and counter threats to ensure citizens' safety.