What I’m thinking about today
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember Holocaust survivor Grzegorz Pawlowski. My husband will tell you that I cannot talk about this story without crying.
A Gift From Iran
If you read the news, it is pretty clear that Iran is no friend of Israel. Given the chance, they would destroy Israel in a heartbeat. The only things they give Israel voluntarily, are stealth computer viruses, proxy terrorists, and regional mayhem. So, it’s hard to imagine Iran sending anything good our way. And yet, this year, Avraham Lavi made the extraordinary journey from his tyrannical homeland to the safety of Ashdod where he was welcomed with open arms.
Is Start Up Nation Leaving Kids Behind?
As President of AMIT, I make an effort to understand the broader trends impacting Israeli society and their specific effect on children. Over the past year and a half, we saw firsthand the economic and educational dislocation caused by COVID-19. We coordinated support with Israel’s Welfare Ministry and even responded with our own emergency campaign,…
At AMIT, Education is More Than a Classroom
The excitement that normally accompanies schools opening for a new year is tempered again for 2021 by the emergence of the COVID-19 Delta variant. While a few short months ago we expected schools to open in an “almost” regular fashion, each day now brings new cases and new challenges to overcome.
Getting Back to Israel
Three weeks ago, barely five days after the rockets stopped falling, I received permission to enter Israel. Every trip to Israel is emotional but this one was even more so. It is hard to be the president of AMIT and not see our students and teachers in person because that is what makes this position a labor of love. After 14 months I was ready.
Am Yisrael Chai!
It’s hard sitting here in the U.S. watching these events. But, as supporters to AMIT, you are not simple bystanders. By your words and deeds, you continue to show our Israeli AMIT family that you are with them and no matter where we live, we are one people. Am Yisrael Chai!
Lighting the Torch: A Hero Among Us
One of the great ceremonies of Israeli society is the torch lighting that closes Yom Hazikaron and opens Yom Ha’aztmaut. Twelve people are selected for their contributions to Israeli life-some are famous, but more are not. Yet it’s clear that these people are the unsung heroes of Israeli society. This year, I am extraordinarily proud to report that Tzippi Harpenes, principal of AMIT’s Elaine Silver Technological HS in Beersheva, was chosen to light a torch.
Telling the Story: V’higadeta L’bincha
This past year has been tough all around, but last Passover felt the darkest. It was the first time many of us experienced the Seder with little family or friends. To help fend off the loneliness, AMIT students put together the AMIT Haggadah, a book of Divrei Torah – interpretations of the various passages of the Haggadah. And, because we liked the Haggadah so much, we’ve decided to make it an annual project.
Beam Me Up Scotty
Last week, we learned just how “out of this world” AMIT is. The Rimon Foundation SpaceLab is a two-year hands-on research program open to 8th and 9th grade students in the U.S. and Israel. The overall goal is to learn about science through the prism of space studies. The participants compete to develop and submit an experiment to the International Space Station. And, this year, with over 120 schools taking part, (7 AMIT schools), AMIT Yeshiva Tzfat took first place. This means that Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe will conduct their experiment in space.
How Do We Make All Our Kids Amanda Gorman?
Yesterday’s presidential inauguration was an ordinary event in the course of American history. But it became remarkable against the backdrop of the violence experienced at the Capitol and the continuing toll from COVID. And for me, one aspect that made it even more remarkable was listening to Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet laureate ever to create and recite a poem at an inauguration. One could not help but be struck by her confidence, passion, professionalism, creativity. So the question, is, how do we instill those types of skills in all of our students?