A great light shines upon us — on the occasion of the release of our brothers and sisters who were held hostage in Gaza.
We are experiencing profoundly moving and uplifting moments of immense joy and love with their return from the tunnels of darkness. Our hearts overflow with emotion and tears, even as we stand amidst the immense tragedy and pain that have marked these past two years.
With mixed feelings of gratitude and grief, we also receive the bodies of dozens of our precious fallen soldiers, and we raise a prayer for the speedy return of all those still missing, among them our dear graduate, Hadar Goldin, z”l. These two terrible years, which began with disaster and failure, are now drawing to a close as the face of the Middle East changes and our brave soldiers deal a decisive blow to our enemies on all fronts.
We must never forget that this victory, including the miraculous release of our brothers and sisters, came only through the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of our soldiers and commanders who risked their lives for our people, to redeem our captives, and to ensure the safety of our nation.
We salute with pain and deep reverence the memory of the fallen, including 65 AMIT graduates and three of our educators, who gave their lives for Am Yisrael, for the return of our captives, and for the continued existence of our beloved State of Israel.
May their memory be a blessing.
Special thanks and heartfelt appreciation to the reservists, their spouses, and families, many of them principals, teachers, and staff within our own AMIT family, who served for months on end, protecting us all and creating the conditions for this historic moment of release and renewal. We recognize the heavy price they and their loved ones paid, both personally and professionally, throughout this long and painful war.
Gratitude lies at the heart of our mission and education. We give thanks to the millions in Israel and around the world who prayed daily for the hostages’ return and for the safety of our soldiers and to the Almighty, who heard our prayers.
We also express deep appreciation to the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and his team for their tireless efforts to help bring Israel’s longest war to an end and to secure the release of our hostages. We extend heartfelt thanks to the soldiers and commanders of the Israel Defense Forces, whose devotion, faith, and bravery made this moment possible.
Our enemies have learned to recognize the inner strength of the Jewish people and we, too, have rediscovered it within ourselves. This war began in an era of internal division and disillusionment, a time when our unity felt fractured. Two years later, the greatest lesson we take away is that Am Yisrael must live in unity — not uniformity. Disagreement for the sake of Heaven can strengthen us; hatred among brothers can destroy us.
At AMIT, we will continue with renewed commitment our sacred work of nurturing connection and healing within Israeli society: to teach how to speak and to listen, to understand and to respect one another, even when we differ. We owe this to our fallen brothers and sisters, to the wounded in body and soul, and to the future of the Jewish people.
To our friends, partners, and supporters around the world — thank you. Your steadfast support from the very first day of this war has been a true lifeline. You have stood with us, prayed with us, and believed in us. This moment reminds us that the story of AMIT is the story of Am Yisrael bound together by sacrifice, gratitude, and unshakeable hope.
As we celebrate Simchat Torah, nearly two years after the day that changed our lives forever, we pause to breathe, to reflect, and to allow light to pierce the pain.
With emunah (faith) and tikvah (hope), we look ahead to a year of healing, renewal, and unity for the People of Israel and for our AMIT family across the world.
With deep appreciation,
Dr. Amnon Eldar
Director General, AMIT Educational Network
