In a show of solidarity and support, AMIT President Audrey Trachtman came to Israel at the first possible moment. She came to see, to meet, and to speak to AMIT students and staff around the country. In a packed schedule of less than a week, Trachtman also made sure to visit with people and cities that were most affected by the recent rockets from Gaza.
On Wednesday, May 26th, Trachtman, along with AMIT Director General, Dr. Amnon Eldar, visited Ashkelon, a city hard-hit by rocket fire from Gaza.
They specifically came to give strength and support to students at AMIT Fred Kahane Technological School in Ashkelon. Trachtman met with students and teachers and also educational staff of the city, who told her about the achievements in the school over the past year which remained open throughout the Corona year because the school works with at-risk teens. They also spoke about the challenges of teaching online when rockets were falling on Ashkelon and bagrut exams were postponed.
At the end of her visit in Ashkelon, she spoke about the amazing resilience the students of AMIT Ashkelon have shown and the care and devotion of the staff.
At AMIT, giving proper recognition to the principals and staff is very important. This year’s annual Principals’ Shabbat was even more meaningful after such a challenging year. Trachtman was able to spend Shabbat with the principals in Neve Ilan and give strength and be strengthened by the principals.
“At AMIT we salute our principals who led with devotion the amazing educational achievements in an impossible year, along with the other outstanding administrators and staff” exclaimed Dr. Amnon Eldar to the principals at the start of the Shabbat.
Also participating in the Shabbat were Rabbis of the AMIT Network’s spiritual council, Rabbi Eliyahu Blumenzweig, Rabbi Ram HaKohen, Rabbi Professor Yehuda Brandes, Rabbi Dr. Chezi Cohen, and more. The theme of the Shabbat was “the Secret of the Story” and the principals were joined by story tellers and actors who focused on the AMIT story, the educational story, the national story and the personal story.
On Sunday, May 30th, Trachtman, along with Dr. Eldar, and principal of AMIT Kennedy High school in Acco, Etti Tzabari, visited Elad Barzilai in the hospital. Elad, a teacher at AMIT Acco, became a symbol of the riots when he went out to the streets to make sure his students were not involved. On his way back he was lynched and almost killed. Though he has regained consciousness, he still has a long road ahead. In a short conversation, Trachtman said to Elad, “Thousands of AMIT Women in the United Stated are praying for your recovery. You and your fellow teachers are shining examples of care for your students and responsibility for their
wellbeing even after school hours.” She also spoke with Elad’s wife Yael, offering support.
After the hospital visit, Trachtman had a series of meetings with students, teachers and the head of the education department of the city of Acco, Orit Assayag, who told her about the unique achievements in the school this past year, especially through Corona and the rockets that interrupted the math bagrut exam.
At the end of an emotional day, the first of AMIT’s new podcast series, “Things I didn’t know when I was 16” was recorded with Trachtman as the first guest. Interviewed by students Hadar and Noa in English, Trachtman gave insight into her life growing up and what has brought her to where she is now.
At the end of her meeting at AMIT Kennedy Acco, Trachtman delivered the message that the women of AMIT around the world want to strengthen and support the citizens of Acco who are at the forefront of many challenges. “The students at AMIT Kennedy Acco have achieved amazing results in educational excellence and this shows us the strength and the investment of the parents, teachers and principals who are worthy of great appreciation.”
Etti Tzabari, principal at AMIT Acco, pointed out that Trachtman’s visit strengthened the students and staff. “Especially during this challenging time, it’s good to know and even better to feel that we are hugged and loved by tens of thousands of Jews from around the world who care about our educational achievements and the success of the children in Acco.
