Dear Friends,

After the death of our son Udi in battle in Lebanon, we chose not to sink into mourning, but to grow life and hope from bereavement.
We dreamed, like Udi, an outstanding officer and wonderful person, to give a real opportunity to every child and young person in the State of Israel – to lead, to succeed, and to build a valuable and productive life in the country we’ve dreamed of for thousands of years.
Over the years, and thanks to true partners, we’ve been fortunate that the initiatives have become groundbreaking national programs that are changing Israeli society.
Since October 7th, the State of Israel and the residents of the Negev have been in one of the most difficult and fateful hours in the history of our people. Especially at this time – a time of national loss and grief, it’s time to turn mourning into dancing* – to look straight ahead to a future of excellence and development in the Negev as a sign of the victory of life.
In this booklet, we invite you to be a partner in the next breakthrough. Beit Udi is a central milestone in realizing a grand vision. A unique project that will combine education, military service, academia, and industry – all in Be’er Sheva and for all youth and young adults residing in the Negev. Join us as partners in establishing an innovative center that will provide a practical path to a better future for tens of thousands of youth and young adults from Be’er Sheva, Yeruham, Netivot, Sderot, the Gaza envelope, and more.

Best regards,
Mordechay & Georgette Elgrably

Mordechai and Georgette Elgrably, leading Israeli social entrepreneurs and founders of Rekah Pharmaceutical Industries Group, have made significant contributions to Israeli society. Mordechai, formerly Deputy Director of the Planning Department in the Ministry of Education and a member of the 9th Knesset, pioneered the “Elgrably Index,” which allocates school funding based on the number of students needing additional support, promoting educational equality in Israel.
After their son Udi was killed in a heroic battle in Lebanon, the Elgrablys established the BeNetivei Udi Non Profit Organization (NPO) in 1994, dedicated to advancing equal opportunity, national unity, and resilience. The family recently created a special fund to build Beit Udi and to ensure the center’s ongoing operation.

Our Vision

Imagine a place where young people can come together, learn, and dream big—far beyond the limits of their everyday lives!
Now, imagine that these are the young people of the Negev, gathering in the beating heart of Be’er Sheva’s innovation hub!
Beit Udi will be the first technology incubator of its kind in the Negev—a center for education and excellence, a launchpad for social entrepreneurship, and a center for unity and equality.
The youth of the Negev—and all of Israeli society—need a place like this now more than ever.

Let’s build it together! Now is the time!

As we mark 30 years since Udi’s passing, BeNetivei Udi is closer than ever to realizing our greatest dream. With the building site and permit now in hand, Beit Udi is within reach!
With your support, by next year, thousands of young people will step into Beit Udi to receive cutting-edge tech training, opening doors to countless new possibilities and a brighter future.

Beit Udi Projects

Beit Udi will be a center for inspiration, leadership, and vision—a place that brings together, unites and aspires to shape an exemplary society in Israel. Here, young people will learn values, gain social awareness, and develop the skills needed to become the leaders who will shape Israel’s future.
Beit Udi will welcome any youth who wishes to join. It will offer a variety of educational, social, and leadership programs. In partnership with academia, the military, industry, the education system, and the community, Beit Udi will foster connections and collaborations that create a lasting impact on all who come through its doors.
The work at Beit Udi will leverage and build on the activities of the growing existing programs – Nitzanim and Garinei Udi – alongside new initiatives and activities:

Education

Development and operation of unique technological training programs for youth designed to reduce disparities, promote gender equality, and facilitate social mobility through technology education. These programs will equip students with the skills and ethical framework needed to become engaged citizens and positive contributors to their communities. By immersing them in the vibrant fields of the innovation district—such as technology, cybersecurity, food technology, AI, and more—we will offer a stimulating learning environment that cultivates essential skills and critical thinking. This will prepare them for a successful future in the technological military units, higher education, and the high-tech industry.

Employment

Development and operation of professional technological training programs for discharged soldiers and young adults, enhancing human capital in the Negev’s high-tech industry. By increasing the representation of diverse populations in the Israeli high-tech market, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive workforce.

Leadership

Development and operation of joint leadership programs for religious and secular youth that foster unity and dialogue through social action for the common good. Beit Udi initiatives will cultivate social awareness, empowering proactive values-driven young leaders. Together, graduates will actively shape a community landscape defined by unity and social solidarity.

Social Entrepreneurship

Development and advancement of social initiatives and partnerships that create transformative impacts, enhancing national resilience in Israel.

Inspiration

An innovative center that serves as an incubator for young people, igniting social engagement and technology education grounded in the values of solidarity, tolerance, and community engagement. Beit Udi will cultivate strategic partnerships within the Be’er Sheva ecosystem, connecting education, academia, industry, local government, and government ministries thus facilitating the implementation of impactful change initiatives.

Target Audience

Be’er Sheva, is the largest city in Israel’s southern region. The city serves as an educational capital for the surrounding communities.
Beit Udi will serve all residents of the Negev and Be’er Sheva, with emphasis on Nitzanim Programstudents and its graduates from peripheral communities.

Projected population by 2026

240,000

Over residents

200,000

Over promising youth

100,000

Over Nitzanim Students

3,000

Operational model

The center will operate according to a unique methodology based on varied learning systems in collaboration with academia, the IDF, and industry.
At the core of the process is a multi-year mentoring model from initial exposure to technology and the hi-tech world, through deepening skills and knowledge, to practical integration into technological roles in Be’er Sheva’s innovation district:

1

Exposure Stage

The Beit Udi Center will expose over 5,000 young people on an annual basis to advanced hi-tech worlds through unique programs (Nitzanim Junior, Algo Program, and others).

2

Advanced Stage

About 1,000 students per year will participate in Nitzanim courses in software, AI, machine learning, hardware and deep tech with access to study labs and a large lecture auditorium. They will also amass leadership skills and be introduced to the espoused by late Udi.

3

Professional Stage

Thousands of graduates from all over theNegev will be integrated into advanced programs in DevOps, Full Stack, and Data fields. They will also be integrated into the innovation labs, providing them with the necessary skills to collaborate with academia and industry

Events

the support statements of the Mayor of Be’er Sheva regarding the establishment of Beit Udi

NEWS