More than 34,000 AMIT students across Israel kicked off the new school year this week, with some coming back to discover modernized classrooms, new teachers and principals, and some even starting fresh at an entirely new school.
In Beersheva, a new junior college opened its doors at AMIT Elaine Silver Technological High School and welcomed its first class. This is the first religious co-ed junior college program training young women and men to serve as engineers and computer technicians in the army.
At AMIT Wasserman Torah, Arts and Sciences Junior High School for Girls in Ma’aleh Adumim, that city’s mayor, Benny Kashriel, showed up to welcome the students, staff and new principal, Ruchama Vogel, and wished them a fruitful school year. Kashriel also spoke with the 12th-grade students about their plans for next year and whether they plan to contribute to the country in meaningful ways either in the army or national service.
Kashriel capped off his visit with a tour of the school’s newly renovated floor that was redone in the spirit of AMIT’s Gogya philosophy: colorful modular furniture, glass walls, and open spaces that encourage student-led learning.
In Modi’in, AMIT’s high school for girls also welcomed a new principal, Liat Vagshel, officially changed its name to Midreshet AMIT Modi’in, and moved to brand-new building. The city’s mayor, Haim Bibas, attended the festive welcome ceremony along with Dr. Amnon Eldar, AMIT’s director general, and other dignitaries.
Elsewhere in the network, students at dozens of schools across Israel started the new year by releasing blue and white balloons into the sky and calling for the return of Israeli citizen Abera Mengistu and the bodies of fallen soldiers Hadar Goldin, z”l (an AMIT alumnus), and Oron Shaul, all of whom are being held captive in Gaza.
The students prayed and sang together, all in an effort to increase awareness about this issue.
“It is moving to see how AMIT communities across Israel remember that for some families the Gaza war has not ended,” said Nurit Davidi, who heads the social education initiatives at AMIT. “Over the summer vacation, AMIT communities also helped support Israelis in the south who experienced quite a difficult summer in terms of security. They sent care packages, cards, cakes, and encouragement, proving that there is nothing greater than mutual responsibility.”
