A Man of Faith and Space: Meet the Engineer Behind Israel's Moonshot

Meet Ariel Gomez:

Ariel Gomez, 37, is married and a father of four, living in Beit Shemesh. He is an engineer at SpaceIL, the organization responsible for developing and launching the 'Beresheet' spacecraft to the moon.

Childhood Dreams:

"I was born in France and immigrated to Israel alone at 18. My family joined me a few years later. I've accomplished many things here, starting a family, earning a degree in electronic engineering at Machon Lev, serving in a technological unit of the army, working at Elbit Systems, among others. But during my childhood and adolescence in France, I have many memories, some negative.

"I particularly remember the long walks with my father to the synagogue on Shabbat. We lived near Nice, in southern France, and the nearest synagogue was over 40 minutes away on foot, regardless of whether it was winter or summer. It was just my father and me; my sisters didn’t join, and my brother was too little. During one walk, I told my father that I dreamed of building a car that could fly over other cars. Perhaps that's where the seeds were planted that led me to build a spacecraft.

"On the less positive side, I can definitely say that, during our walks, passersby would often shout 'dirty Jew' at us and hurl other insults not worth repeating. Admittedly, the situation in France wasn’t as severe then as it is now, but experiences like these made me want to move to Israel. I simply didn’t feel at home there, and thankfully, I was able to make that dream a reality."

Breaking into Space:

"I was connected to SpaceIL through a recruitment agency. I attended an interview, and beforehand, I tried researching them online. I didn’t fully understand what they did, and during the interview, when my boss asked if I knew of them and what they did, I admitted I didn’t. In response, he said they were building a spacecraft destined for the moon. I laughed, thinking it was a joke, but he assured me it was true.

"When I told him I didn’t have a space background, he replied that what mattered was not whether I knew how to get to the moon at that moment, but whether I was willing to think together with them about how to achieve it. My answer was yes, and the rest is history.

"However, it wasn’t smooth sailing. We faced numerous challenges. Professionally, I was asked to tackle complex tasks I didn’t know how to approach, with no one to consult, as no one had done such a thing in Israel before. Many times, we had to make assumptions without knowing if they were correct, and no one could confirm their accuracy.

"To reach the moon is no trivial feat. For example, no European country has yet succeeded. Recently, representatives from the European Space Agency visited us to initiate collaboration, eager to learn from us. It’s fascinating because their budget and size can't compare to our team.

"What we’ve done is incredible. During tough moments, I reminded myself that Hashem wouldn’t place me in a situation without the tools to succeed. I prayed a lot, tried hard, and with divine help, we succeeded. This will be remembered and studied for generations, and I’m grateful to Hashem for the opportunity to be a part of it."

Faith and Science:

"Hashem is deeply present in my life, significantly influencing my actions. I’ll give a few examples. Everything concerning the moon connects to sanctifying the month. In the tractate *Rosh Hashanah*, there's a story about two witnesses who testified before Rabban Gamliel about sighting the new moon. As a result of their testimony, Rabban Gamliel decided to sanctify the month, despite some other sages disagreeing. Ultimately, the month was sanctified as Rabban Gamliel headed the Sanhedrin.

"I never understood this *Gemara* until working on the 'Beresheet' project. I learned that sometimes the moon progresses then slightly regresses, a phenomenon recognized by scientists only in recent decades. We have an ancient tradition regarding this, showing the eternal truth in our Torah, even if its full meaning isn’t always clear at the time.

"In my other Jewish connections, let’s talk about operating the spacecraft on Shabbat. While just two of us are religious within a 30-member team, the entire team greatly values Jewish principles. We represent all of Israel in 'Beresheet', and ensuring everyone is as comfortable as possible is important, alongside personally adhering to *halacha*.

"We visited the Technological Institute for *Halacha* for advice on operating the spacecraft on Shabbat. We also consulted a special advisor for *halachic* matters. After gathering our data, representatives met with Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who guided us on how to proceed. Rabbi Yosef permitted some actions and prohibited others. We use special keyboards on Shabbat, following his instructions.

"Interestingly, the initial launch time fell on Friday evening, which would conflict with Shabbat. The Americans urged a Shabbat or Saturday night launch, but we insisted otherwise. This condition was even embedded in the project's initial contract. Ultimately, it launched on a Thursday night, a significant *kiddush Hashem*."

Inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe:

"In matters of space and broader issues, I draw much inspiration from the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbe advocated for engaging with these fields as far back as the 1960s, suggesting the use of advanced technology within the bounds of *halacha*.

"The Rebbe addressed several *halachic* questions about lunar exploration and resolved them. Notably, he permitted humans to reach the moon, despite the 'sanctification of the moon' text saying 'I cannot touch you'. The Rebbe also taught spiritual lessons through space travel, emphasizing the importance of listening to distant voices, much as an astronaut must heed instructions from far-off control centers."

Professional and Personal Journey:

"When I began with 'Beresheet', I told my children about starting a new job. My oldest son asked if I would still work with lasers and cameras, and I surprised him by saying I’d be building a spacecraft. His astonishment was palpable.

"Considering the job offer, I sought advice from my wife and father. My father likened career opportunities to arriving trains, suggesting whether to board depends on the situation, but this was one he thought I should board. I’m grateful I listened to him.

"The whole project began as a Google competition, offering $20 million to the first non-governmental team landing a spacecraft on the moon, transmitting images and traveling 500 meters on its surface. Though Google’s prize wasn't enough, at roughly $100 million investment, we had *b'ezrat Hashem* and donors. Though the competition concluded in 2018, our drive to continue is fueled by a deeper mission, and I’m glad to be part of it.

Lessons Learned:

"There were significant crises during the project, including budget issues and layoffs. I was anxious, frequently anticipating a potential layoff. But after a Shabbat 'sanctification of the moon', I resolved not to leave on my own accord, trusting if let go, it’d be Hashem’s will.

"Industry partnerships faltered, hinting at imminent failure, yet I chose to persevere, believing if Hashem placed me there, there was a purpose. We overcame these struggles, and it’s an enduring lesson for my life and to share with others: as long as you see benefit and have the choice, keep going. Sometimes, dreams do come true."