At a recent Real Estate Community event, Tomer Tzabar, a 2009 IMPACT! graduate, shared a deeply moving letter of appreciation for Sasha Wainstein of Long Island—the donor who made his scholarship possible with a single gift nearly 20 years ago. His story is a powerful reminder of how one act of generosity can change a life and inspire a legacy.
Dear Sasha,
I hope this letter finds you well.
My name is Tomer Tzabar, you don’t know me, but still it’s safe to say – you have changed
my life.
Almost 20 years ago, you donated a full scholarship to the FIDF – IMPACT program, I’m
the one your scholarship went to. Back in time, 2006, I was a young man, coming from a broken home, no parents, no assistance, no money – my life was literally hanging on a thread, all I had was my military service background which gave me one important asset- discipline. While my high school friends traveled the world after their military service, I had only one mission- to get out of the abyss. I know that whatever I’m going to do with my life- I will do with dedication and determination, as if – failure was not an option (I understood very well it wasn’t). So first of all I decided to register myself into college for accounting program, at that time I didn’t have the money for it, I only had the money for the registration fee but I believed somehow I will make it work – I worked 3 jobs at that time as a delivery guy, day
shift, evening shift and on the weekends.
One of my closest friends at the warehouse where I delivered to, told me of a rather new scholarship for combat soldiers, at first I thought to myself – I don’t want any charity, I was too proud to get any help, but my friend kept encouraging me to apply, knowing I had no chance otherwise…
We sat down for a couple of hours one evening and filled the application form, coming from a broken home was quite difficult because I had very few documents describing my status, but we did it. Now it’s waiting time.
As you get older, you don’t remember everything you experience, but even now, 20 years later I remember the day I got the phone call saying I got the scholarship like it was yesterday, I remember where I was, what time it was and how I jumped up and down exited and thrilled – that moment changed my life. I went on and finished 4 years of studying and still working 2 jobs in order to sustain myself, at the end of 2009 I passed my final exams becoming a graduate and a certified public accountant, later on I got accepted to an internship position at Ernst & Young (EY), the biggest accounting firm in Israel.
After 8 years growing and developing my skills at EY becoming a senior manager, I was offered to become a CFO of a large residential REIT here in Israel, that was my shot showing my management skills and work ethic. I had great experience there and 5 years later I got an offer to become the CEO of a midsize private real estate company, I’ve finally reached my career goal – sometimes I ask myself how all of that can be? Is this me? Are they referring to me calling for the CEO? I’m still that young man, working 3 jobs, looking down at the abyss and running from it.
By that time I graduated from college I had already met my wife Keren, we got married back in 2008 and we are happily married and the proud parents to three amazing children- Or & Ziv (12 years old twin sisters) and Yanai (9 years old boy). I accomplished my dream of becoming a father, having my own family, having the opportunity to experience real and normal childhood with my kids, providing everything I can for them to grow and do good for the world.
I know now, my life story is not ordinary. It takes more than just will and desire in order to succeed, you need help too, someone to be at your corner. Whenever I need to talk about my life and explain what got me so far, I always start the story on that one phone call that changed my life, that first feeling in life- someone is in my corner.
I try to be a role model for my kids, teaching them something that accompanies me throughout my life- don’t ever take something as granted, appreciate the good in the world as it doesn’t always comes to you at a clear form, sometimes there’s an energy of someone doing good floating towards you from the other side of the world – as your energy of doing good found me 20 years ago.
I know there is not much I can do to show you how grateful I am for your kindness and generosity in a physical form, thank you is not enough. I want you to know you made a huge impact on someone, an impact so strong it resonates on and on, affecting not only my life and my family but also the people around me. For the past three years I have been volunteering as a mentor for young people trying to find their way in the world, people like me that need someone at their corner, paying it forward…
I hope you are well and healthy, I hope your family members are all doing great – I hope that reading this letter will make you feel happy and proud of yourself, knowing you did good in this short period of time we have on this planet.
I wish you all the best Sasha, to you and your family, it would be an honor for me to hear from you – if you wish to do so.
Thank you, Sasha – from the bottom of my heart.
With love and appreciation,
Tomer Tzabar
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