Update #4 From AMIT

Over the week as tension on the Northern border increased our troops in the south prepared to enter Gaza. The only comfort we can take for ourselves is hearing of the heroic stories emerging from the depths of hell.

A True AMIT Hero

Matan Abargil z”l, a graduate of AMIT HaOfek Or Akiva, is a true hero. On Shabbat at Kibbutz Nir Am, Matan was in one of the brigades called to defend the kibbutz. He was inside a tank with six others when they were surrounded, unable to escape. Suddenly, a terrorist threw a grenade into the opening of the tank. Matan saw the grenade and without hesitating jumped on it before it exploded. His friends recount that they heard the boom next to them and all thought they were going to die, as the tank is such a small, contained space. Matan saved the lives of six of his friends, and had he not protected them with his body they all would have surely perished. Yesterday at his funeral, all his fellow soldiers from the tank came and thanked him for protecting them with his body. “You are a true hero, a pure soul. We will always remember you and tell your story.” Seventeen years ago, another AMIT graduate, Ro’ey Klein, performed the same heroic act in Bint Jbeil during the Lebanon War. Two AMIT Golani heroes.

Educators Leading the Way

In another heroic gesture aimed to save lives, despite the missiles flying over Ashkenlon, Principal Itzik Abergil, of AMIT Fred Kahana Ashkelon, opened the doors of his high school and recruited the students who study in the carpentry track along with their teacher. Together they created a wooden locking device for bomb shelter rooms for any citizen asking for it. From the stories that emerged from Shabbat in various kibbutzim in the south, the surviving families all recounted that what saved their lives was that they held on to the door of their bomb shelter and didn’t let the terrorists in. In an attempt to prevent people to be able to open the bomb shelter from the outside, this simple, yet life-saving device was designed. They advertised it to the entire city and have handed it out to anyone who asked for it.

Acts of Chesed

In our efforts to help support the growing number of AMIT families that have lost loved ones, this week alone AMIT has distributed 36 shiva packages that include essential non-perishable items to help run the shiva house, along with meals for the family and a personalized letter on behalf of AMIT’s Director General, Dr. Amnon Eldar, and the AMIT community (both local and global).

AMIT's Crisis Response

On Thursday, Amnon, provided a firsthand report on the crisis in Israel and on AMIT’s impact, response, and plans for the upcoming days. Below is a recording in case you were not able to join the conversation.

New Rituals

Speaking of resilience, the children of AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled, stood outside yesterday to salute and show their respect during a funeral procession of a fallen soldier from Gilo, Adir Guri z”l. This is a new ritual in Israel, with communities across cities standing outdoors with Israeli flags when the families of the fallen soldiers leave their homes on the way to the cemetery. In preparation for this, our children prepared a huge “Am Yisrael Chai” sign that they hung outside Beit Hayeled.

Words of Inspiration

This week, AMIT school principals received a Shabbat care package to thank them for their constant devotion – even while facing their own personal challenges. Included were words Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks z”l once shared with our AMIT educators.

"The most important principle in the world is that in order to defend a country – you need an army. But to defend civilization you need education. The IDF will achieve victory with God's help, but you, the educators, will achieve eternity. The Mesopotamians built monumental towers like the Tower of Babel; the Egyptians built pyramids; the Greeks constructed the Parthenon; the Romans erected the Colosseum; and the Jews build schools - because we understand that winning freedom is easy, but maintaining freedom is hard. The only way to ensure that it lasts is through education and schools. Therefore, you, the school leaders, are my heroes, our heroes.” Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Sacks z”l."