Chili Tropper

Chili Tropper (google ())

"I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people" (Maya Angelou). I believe a hero is someone who doesn't wait for an opportunity to help others, but creates it. Someone who does his best to make the world a better place and to make the life of some people nicer. The reason I chose Chili Tropper as my hero is that he does exactly that all his life. He finds people who needs help, gathers people to participate and leads a process of change.

Chili Tropper was born in Jerusalem on April 22, 1978, and today he lives in a community of religious and secular people on a moshav called Moshav Nes Harim (A moshav is a type of Israeli town, a cooperative community which has individual houses and sometimes farms). He has nine brothers and sisters, one of whom is disabled in a wheelchair, which I think is one of the reasons he felt obligated to help people that things are harder for them. He served in the army as a combat solider and commander in the Duvdevan unit, an elite special operations force within the Israel Defense Forces, part of the Commando Brigade. He holds a BA in Humanities and Social Sciences and a Master's degree in Jewish Education and History. In the past sixteen years, Tropper has been involved in the fields of education and social activity- with an emphasis on reducing gaps in education.

During these years, Chili Tropper was a counselor to street gangs in Jerusalem and took part in the founding of three incredible associations. "Shachen Tov" ("A Good Neighbor") - which helps weak populations in the Israeli society. This organization opens learning centers to students from weak families, roaming cafes for people who can't get to coffee shops, and distributes food to about 650 families from around the country every week. "Maagaley Tzedek" ("Circles of Justice") - which protects the justice in our everyday lives. It performs various activities, such as giving social certificates to businesses that protect employee rights and to business that are accessible to the handicapped. "Psifas" ("Mosaic") - which gives donations to people who need financial help to make an important change in their lives. Tropper also volunteered in "Aharai!" - A social educational organization that develops young leadership and promotes social involvement among youth in the periphery. It provides its youths a sense of achievement and capability and encourages them to fit in as contributing citizens in the State of Israel. Tropper volunteered in the organization for 5 years and even was its vice president. Between the years 2005-2011, Chili Tropper was the principal of Branco Weiss High School in Ramla. This school specializes in teaching teens who have dropped out of the education system and gives them a last chance to get a high school diploma. Between 2013 and 2015, he was advisor to the Minister of Education, and since then he has been the director of the educational, welfare and culture division in Yeruham.

The deeds I mentioned before are so amazing, that it is hard for me to believe one person, who is now just 38, perfomed them all. Chili Tropper is an extraordinary man, who has dedicated his life to giving and helping others. All he wants is truly just to make the world a better place for everyone, and he spends his life gathering and encouraging like-minded people to make a change. When I hear about people like him, it makes me think about how good people can be, and how nice the world would be if all people were like him. Tropper's conduct is inspiring, and just thinking about everything he has accomplished makes me want to do something good, to give from myself to others, to be a part of this process of changing. This man's spirit is incredible and I am definitely proud to say he is my hero.