Inbal Fishbein, 24, who is studying law with a minor in education at University of Haifa, has served about 200 days of reserve duty since the beginning of the Swords of Iron War as a fighter and commander in the IDF’s Home Front Command. When the new academic year kicked off, instead of being in the classroom, she was in uniform in the West Bank. Fishbein sat down with American Society of the University of Haifa to discuss the challenges of navigating between civilian and military life, her academic dreams for the future, and why she decided to enroll at the University.
What made you want to enroll in University of Haifa?
I live in Kiryat Motzkin and after spending three years in the IDF based far away from home, I wanted to be closer to my parents for my studies. Also, my younger brother is also studying at the University, and it’s been great being so close again after so many years apart.
What are you studying at the University and why did you choose that field?
I’m currently enrolled in the University’s law school and am doing a minor degree in education administration and, if all goes well, I’ll graduate in July 2026.
I chose these two fields because I was interested in teaching my whole life. In school, I was in the Scouts program mentoring younger children. In the army, I was enrolled in leadership groups, and I also did community service for children with special needs. And even now at the University, I work with tutoring students from impoverished backgrounds. My grandmother and mother are also teachers, so I was raised to value education from a very young age.
As for law, I thought it would be a useful addition to my education degree. I know this sounds ambitious, but I’d like to work in the Education Ministry and change the system from within. It’s a system that’s been stagnant for many years – the children have changed over the generations, but the curriculum doesn’t mirror that. It must adapt. Also, many students aren’t given real-life skills that help them navigate adulthood and I want to work to change that.
Can you talk about your IDF reserve duty service?
I serve in Unit 982 and I’m responsible for the logistics of combat units. Last January, I assumed responsibility for the entire brigade, and I have 400 soldiers under me. Soon, I’ll enroll in an officer’s course so I can earn that rank. I’ve been called up twice since the war started and I’ve spent nearly 200 days in reserves. Now, I’m based in the West Bank, but my location changes often.
What have been the challenges in navigating between school and service?
I don’t think I’ve done a very good job balancing both aspects of my life. The army is difficult from a psychological perspective. When I came back home from my first round of service, it took me a while to want to get out of bed. I wasn’t depressed, just depleted. It was difficult to figure out what I should be doing if I wasn’t in the army. It was a challenge to snap out of it and go study. I needed to relearn how to worry about myself since I spent over three months caring for others. Naturally, this made catching up on my studies difficult.
Last weekend, I went home for three days, and it was hard to focus again. Even when I was home, I was still connected to my soldiers in the army.
I commend the University for trying to help regarding our studies, but it’s hard for us to explain this feeling when we come back home. They’ve let us take our exams later and have more time to turn in assignments, but it’s not easy for us to explain to our professors that this isn’t just a timing issue. Even when we’re home and we have time to study, it’s difficult psychologically to sit down and do the work. This is a mental health issue, not a logistical one only. Honestly, I’m not sure it’s even the University’s place to figure this out.
Are you still on track to graduate in 2026?
That’s certainly the goal. I have interviews for my legal internships coming up and I can’t give that up. I’m determined to do everything I need to graduate on time. The timing for completing a law degree is critical and if I miss a step, it will severely delay graduation.
What has made you so resilient?
Part of my character is keeping to the goals I set for myself. There are setbacks along the way, for sure, but I’ve never let it stop me from achieving my dreams. My parents both come from the former Soviet Union, so maybe it’s genetic!
What are your hopes for the future?
I hope to start my legal internship next year and then study for the bar exam after graduation. Hopefully, once I pass, I’ll be able to secure a job within the Israeli Education Ministry.