During the reading of Parshat Zachor, sirens sounded throughout the country, and we received confirmation that Israel, together with the United States, had begun strikes against Iran. In that moment, the bridge between Jewish memory and Jewish responsibility felt immediate and tangible.

Hanukkah symbolizes bringing light into the world, to honor our outstanding teachers — the individuals who dedicate themselves year-round to illuminating the lives of our children and spreading light throughout.

This past week Tamar Benovitz, our Yoshevet Rosh and member of the executive committee, served as AMIT’s representative to the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.

Today is October 7, marking one year since the horrific attack on Israel. The day is filled with sadness and mourning for the lives lost and atrocities suffered by so many individuals and communities.

As of Saturday night, 9:00PM, when we found out that our northern schools in Tzfat, Chatzor, Haifa, and Acco would be closed (six schools in total), the AMIT team quickly mobilized to put together an AMITTV program.

Today, there is no Jew in the world who did not shed a tear.

Our day began with heavy hearts as we heard the devastating news about the six hostages who, after having survived 331 days in captivity, were murdered by Hamas.

Yesterday, AMIT held an opening school year principal conference in Sderot.

On Wednesday we began the fourth of five sessions of the 24/7 summer camp, servicing the students of Sderot.

“Blessed are You, our Lord, who sets captives free.”

Today, a very special event took place in Sderot. AMIT’s community of co-ed and secular schools held a unique “Hackathon” for educational staff.

An unprecedented attack, Iran unleashed 185 drones and 146 ballistic and cruise missiles, triggering sirens across Israel.

In advance of the holiday, we’d like to share some news of good cheer with you.

It has now been ten days since our students and educational teams returned to Sderot and AMIT schools.

PBS Features AMIT Sderot School Reopening

After five long months the excitement is real: we have begun welcoming our students back home in Sderot!

We are happily welcoming back many reservists and their spouses throughout the Reshet, including principals, educators, and headquarters professionals.

Despite these challenging times, we continue to work hard to remain positive and contribute to the war efforts in meaningful ways.

A Special Message to the AMIT Community from President Herzog

Working with partners, AMIT has created four learning centers for evacuees around the country. These locations include Eilat, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.

As I’m sure you have all heard, there was a multipronged car-ramming and stabbing terror attack earlier today in Ra’anana.

How We Spent Your Money: AMIT’s “Heal the Children” Campaign

Yesterday the AMIT Administration spent a meaningful day in the Gaza Envelope.

This week, nine members of AMIT’s Executive Committee traveled to ten locations across Israel to hear directly from AMIT faculty and students post October 7.

Yesterday marked the one-month anniversary since the massacre on October 7. Amir Kalangel, AMIT’s Director of Gogya, and his platoon sang Ha’Tikvah at Kibbutz Beeri, where so much tragedy took place just 30 days ago. Please see a short video of the tribute.

Dr. Amnon Eldar, Director General, Andy Goldsmith, Executive Vice President, and AMIT professional/lay leaders are traveling across Israel this week to show support the Sderot community and its children – in both spirit and in action.

The video was taken on the day of Nurit’s daughter’s bat mitzvah, which took place in a Jerusalem hotel lobby.

During this very unsettling time, AMIT knows that building resilience and arming our children with skills and coping mechanisms is of key importance.

This weekend, AMIT’s Director General, Amnon Eldar and his executive team traveled around Israel to visit with Sderot evacuees, hear their stories, and activate plans to address the ever-changing needs of Israel and its children.

We are so grateful to everyone who has responded generously to our Sderot emergency campaign. To date, we have raised $820,922.

We are enthusiastic to report that four AMIT schools resumed partial in-person learning. We applaud these principals, who are moving heaven and earth to create some sense of normalcy for their students.

With so much uncertainty as we start the week, AMIT remains steadfast in its mission to help heal those around us.

Over the week as tension on the Northern border increased our troops in the south prepared to enter Gaza. The only comfort we can take for ourselves is hearing of the heroic stories emerging from the depths of hell.

The emotions that many of us are feeling today seem mutually exclusive. On the one hand, we are devastated, shaken to the core, and still trying to make sense of it all. We are simply heartbroken.

We have now learned that a second front has opened on Israel’s Northern border. Residents there have been instructed to enter bomb shelters or not leave their homes.

Hear from AMIT Israel’s crisis management team regarding the course of action and plan forming for the coming days and weeks.