Last night in an unprecedented attack, Iran unleashed 185 drones and 146 ballistic and cruise missiles, triggering sirens across Israel at 1:47AM. With G-d’s protection and the incredible work of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), damage was kept to a minimum. One child in the Negev was seriously injured.
With G-d’s protection and the incredible work of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), damage was kept to a minimum. One child in the Negev was seriously injured.
With Pesach about to begin, one cannot help but make the comparison to the clouds of glory (ענני הכבוד) that protected the people of Israel upon their exodus from Egypt.
The State of Israel and the world witnessed nothing short of a miracle last night, and the true heroes are the members of the IAF who are responsible for Israel’s air-defense system. “Clear Skies Over Israel,” is their motto, and their dedication and professionalism were on full display to the world last night.
AMIT’s Tiferet Gur Arye Junior College in Rehovot partners with the IAF, training technicians to serve Iron Dome and other air-defense systems, as well as electrical engineers who service and maintain the airplanes, helicopters, and drones for combat. Today, scores of its alumni are valued members of the IAF. We are also immensely proud of many of our other graduates who serve in the IAF as pilots, simulator instructors, electronic warfare specialists, and many other crucial roles. We salute all as they defend the people of Israel.
Early this morning we took the following steps:
- The return of AMITTV. Even though schools in Israel are officially on Pesach vacation starting today and there are no formal educational frameworks throughout the country, AMIT feels it is important for us to provide an anchor and source of resilience and meaning for our community. We have put together a schedule for the remainder of the week beginning tomorrow, including: a conversation with a clinical psychologist about fear and freedom, followed by a comedy show with Israeli celebrity Rudy Sa’ada, and concluding with a musical gathering filled with words of inspiration by Rav Shalom Malul (Yeshivat AMIT Yagel Ashdod) and Israeli singer/composer, Yoni Ganut.
- We circulated instructions and guidance materials for having meaningful conversations with children during crises to our entire parent body. Our goal is to give them the tools they need to effectively communicate with their children, which includes talking points to help alleviate fears and concerns they might be experiencing, as well as how to connect in the most constructive way.
- We reminded our parent body about our hotline number which is available five days a week and is staffed by professional psychologists ready to help consult with parents about their children. If intervention is necessary, every child will receive what they need as quickly as possible.
- Tatzam mentors have been instructed to check in with their mentees and follow up in the event of a necessary intervention.
- AMIT’s Maot Chitim campaign will help hundreds of families make ends meet for the holiday. Gift cards are being distributed to carefully vetted families in the most respectful way to ensure every AMIT family has a Passover holiday free from food insecurity.
Much of this vital work is made possible because of the extra funding donors like you provided during our emergency campaign, giving our network the wherewithal to go above and beyond for our students during this crisis. With you, our Maot Chitim campaign is successfully providing vital assistance to those families who need our help to have all they need for the holiday. We thank all those who have contributed to make our work successful.
We live in a time that simply does not make sense. But have no doubt, these are also miraculous days. And while no one can say when this war will end, we can say with absolute certainty that we will do everything in our power to help AMIT’s 40,000 children and thousands of staff persevere to better days.
