Alumni Profile: Elitan Morell ('89-'91)
Eitan Morell (89-91) grew up in Binghamton NY, a close friend of Rav Doni Goldstein (89-90) from a young age. He attended school in Binghamton, and learned in MTA for high school. Upon graduation, Eitan studied for two years in Yeshivat Sha'alvim and then was inducted into the IDF as part of the Machal program (together with Rav Dr. Yoel Finkelman, Mr. Naftali Greenfield, Dr. Daniel Kazovitz, and Shana Bet Mashgiach, Rav Ezra Shapiro). He served in the Armored Divison (tanks). Eitan attended Yeshiva University for a year and then studied at Bar Ilan University (where he learned Arabic).
Eitan is married to Varda Linzer and they make their home in Talmon. They are the proud parents of Dovi, Eli, Shachar,Maoz and Elkana. The Morell's familial connections to Sha'alvim are myriad. Eitan's older brother is Rav Avi Morell (86/7). Varda is the younger sister of Mr. Elliot Linzer (84) and cousin of Dr. Dov Linzer (87) and Rav Menachem Linzer (91/2). Eitan works for Probook in Tel Aviv.
Question: What led you to make aliya?
Answer: One of the things that I came to realize in Sha'alvim was that if I wanted to live a complete Jewish life, this could only be accomplished in Israel. Exclusively in Israel does each aspect of my life have significance. Subsequent to this realization, living anywhere outside of The Land was not an option for me.
Question: What was the most profound memory from Shana Aleph?
Answer: Rosh HaShana was an experience that has affected all subsequent Yaminm Noraim.
Question: What do you most vividly recall from Tzahal?
Answer: I once fell asleep while on a night long hike and fell into a minefield.
Advice for Shana Aleph students: Stay in touch with your Sha'alvimchevra as the years go by. This is not easy but is worth the effort.