Israeli Education System Resumes Routine After Long Vacation Break

After more than two consecutive weeks of vacation, the Israeli education system is preparing to resume its routine, with parents eagerly awaiting Sunday and the return of uninterrupted studies until the upcoming Hanukkah break. However, this will not apply to all students.

Return to Classrooms and Union Agreements

While kindergartens, elementary schools, and middle schools will reopen on Sunday (Isru Chag Sukkot), high school students (grades 10–12) will remain at home for an extra day, returning to classrooms only on Monday. This discrepancy stems from differences in collective agreements signed with the Israel Teachers Union and the Secondary School Teachers Association.

The bridge created in recent years between Yom Kippur and Sukkot requires compensation in study days. Consequently, the bridge applies across all age groups, and teachers work on three days previously designated as holidays—Fast of Esther, Isru Chag Passover, and Isru Chag Shavuot. For high school teachers, Isru Chag Sukkot and Lag BaOmer remain days off.

"In my view, this extra day is a waste. How much can you stretch a vacation? The economy is returning to activity, parents are working, younger siblings are in school, and high schoolers are still sleeping," said Guy, a high school teacher in the Gush Dan region.

Upcoming Labor Negotiations

For kindergarten and school teachers in lower grades, Isru Chag Sukkot and Lag BaOmer are working days, for which they received two selectable vacation days during the school year. Some parents expressed surprise over the high school schedule. The Secondary School Teachers Association agreement was signed at the beginning of the previous academic year, whereas the Teachers Union agreement dates back to 2022 and is nearing expiration, meaning the state will soon negotiate a new labor framework.