It began with a clarion call to the “troops” from the general. AMIT Director General Amnon Eldar sent a message of action and hope to his principals at the start of Israel’s coronavirus pandemic lockdown, which closed schools in mid-March for more than 37,000 AMIT students.
“This war cannot be won alone, and the civilians must be involved in terms of personal responsibility, caring for and taking care of one another, giving and contributing on the one hand, while following all guidelines carefully so we prevent spreading the coronavirus on the other hand,” Eldar said. Adding, “A crisis is also an opportunity.”
New opportunities were thus born – opportunities for creative online distance learning, generosity, chesed, and opportunities to prioritize the social good.
With whip-like speed, AMIT lent out thousands of computers to its most disadvantaged students who didn’t have computers at home to do distance learning. Teachers received online training and support. The Torat Chayim department created online tools to prepare for the upcoming Pesach holiday, new WhatsApp groups, and pivoted to the new medium without compromising on educational content.
And very soon into the pandemic, chesed began.
Daniel, a 9th grader at Yeshivat AMIT Ashdod launched a nationwide 200-strong volunteer effort that brought food and medicine to the vulnerable. AMIT Tzfat and the Welfare Ministry identified 300 families who couldn’t afford a Seder. The school committed to supporting them. Students from AMIT Technological HS in Ashdod purchased flowers from a farmer, packaged them with food, and delivered to seniors.
Creativity blossomed.
AMIT’s first Pesach Haggadah supplement, filled with D’vrei Torah ideas from AMIT students, was created. To keep spirits up, students created and shared inspiring videos with the Reshet. Contests in writing and other endeavors that touched on the pandemic took place, And, to cap the national holidays, an AMIT-wide Israeli flag art contest invited students, who shared their aesthetic and inspiring work.
AMIT marked its national holidays virtually, but meaningfully.
Yom Hashoah’s “Adopt a Survivor” program at AMIT Hallel Rechovot had students looking after survivors. For Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, AMIT’s young leadership students went to homes to help say Kaddish and hold memorial services. On Yom Yerushalayim more than 23,000 took part in a Reshet-wide virtual Escape Room game and heard moving stories about Israel’s heroes from the Six-Day War.
They came back home.
And last month, students returned to school in a limited way. Some said the shehechiyanu, the blessing of new beginnings, upon return. Before long, all grades were back in business with the hopes of continued learning and good health.
