BHHS Hosts Rare Guest Speakers on Survival and Resilience

Beverly Hills, CA (November 25, 2025) – In a continuing effort to bring Educational Excellence beyond the textbook, Beverly Hills High School welcomed two extraordinary guest speakers as part of its commitment to real-world, firsthand learning.

One of the most meaningful parts of education is giving students access to primary sources, people who have lived through the very events students study in the classroom. On Monday, November 24, over 200 BHHS students had the rare opportunity to hear from Almog Meir Jan, a former hostage recently rescued from captivity, and Ben Ladany, a wounded IDF soldier and survivor of a brutal ambush, as part of the school’s Guest Speaker Series.

Almog Meir Jan was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 and was in captivity for over 8 months, and was rescued during Operation Arnon, one of the war’s most daring missions. Since returning home, he has traveled internationally to share his firsthand experience of survival, resilience, and the realities of captivity.

Ben Ladany served in the IDF’s elite Oketz K-9 unit alongside his combat dog, Jack. During a mission in Gaza, he was ambushed and shot seven times, tragically,  Jack was fatally wounded while protecting Ben and his team. After surviving two-months in a coma, Ben now shares his story of sacrifice, healing, and unbreakable loyalty.

“Few educational experiences are as powerful as hearing directly from someone whose life has intersected with history in such a profound way,” said BHHS Principal Loan Srirkasa. “Our goal was to provide students with firsthand accounts that foster empathy, critical thinking, and deeper understanding. These were human stories, raw, real, and unforgettable.”

Both speakers have addressed audiences around the world, from universities to public forums, and their visit to BHHS underscores the school’s commitment to deepening student learning through exposure to real-world perspectives.

No textbook can substitute for the kind of encounter students experienced during this event, an opportunity to listen, ask questions, reflect, and connect with history in the most human way possible.

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For Immediate Release 
November 25, 2025 

Contact: Colby Gilardian
Public Information Officer
[email protected] 
(310) 871-8246 Mobile