As the nation locked down even more vigorously during the Passover holiday, AMIT teachers and students did many acts of chesed to help vulnerable people celebrate the holiday.
The AMIT student leadership had launched an initiative called ואת פתח לו (v’at petach lo, literally “you opened for him” meaning “you should begin the conversation”) – a phrase taken from the Hagaddah that refers to starting the conversation with one of the four sons because he doesn’t have the ability to ask. The students have been reaching out to people within their vicinity who are home alone. They called them for the holiday, sent notes, picked up groceries, and left the door open during the Seder to enable them to hear their neighbor’s Seder.
In another effort, the principal, students and teachers of AMIT Tzfat joined together and asked the Welfare Ministry if they could identify families that would not be able to afford Seders. The municipality identified 300 families and everyone in the school committed to supporting those families’ Seders at a cost of 500 shekels each.
And in keeping with the laws of Pesach, Yeshivat AMIT Eliraz ran a virtual siyum bechorot on erev Pesach. Erev Pesach is the fast of the firstborns – firstborn sons traditionally fast because they were spared from the tenth plague, the slaying of the firstborn. In lieu fasting, it is customary to make a siyum, that is to complete a tractate of Mishna or Talmud. Due to restrictions on gatherings, the virtual siyum bechorot allowed for this to take place.
