Outstanding educator and outstanding soldier go hand in hand at AMIT.
Yair Chetbon, principal of Yeshivat AMIT Eliraz High School in Petach Tikvah, recently received the “Outstanding Soldier” award, a top honor by the IDF, for his service as a major in the reserves in the elite Duvdevan counter-terrorism commando brigade.
This weighty IDF responsibility – he serves as many as 35 days per year and commands a company – comes in addition to his other familial, professional and community responsibilities. Chetbon is the father of four young children, works as a principal at the AMIT school, and volunteers for his community.
His work – in the IDF, the schools, family and community, are exemplar role models to his students and staff. AMIT values national service and helps its students not only serve but attain higher-level positions when they go into the army.
AMIT’s value-based education imparts the importance of significant military or national service. There are 97% of AMIT graduates who serve either in the IDF or Sherut Leumi (National Service). As is evident, it is not only AMIT students who exemplify the value of serving their country. Many AMIT educators were officers during their military service and continue to serve with distinction in the reserves.
Chetbon was honored at a recent awards ceremony, which was originally scheduled for Yom Ha’atzmaot but had to be rescheduled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The award is usually given to a soldier in regular service, as opposed to the reserves, but Chetbon’s commanders were so impressed with the quality of his leadership and dedication that they gave it to him.
Citing the professionalism that he brings to his military role, Chetbon’s commanders noted that he demands top-level performance from himself, his soldiers, his peers and even his superiors. They also praised his ability to create a high level of cohesion in his unit among soldiers from a wide range of backgrounds. They stressed in the award citation how impressed they were that he combines his top-level military service with his successful leadership of AMIT Elizraz, which has a large number of students from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Indeed, the same dedication to excellence and willingness to lead by example that makes Chetbon such a successful IDF commander are what allow him to lead his students to achieve success and to create a well-integrated social environment in the Yeshiva.
In the coming school year, Chetbon will be applying his considerable talents as principal of the AMIT Yeshiva High School for Boys in Bruchin, a rapidly growing school located in the Shomron.
