The schools that came back to life after 3 years of war - and the new families: "A symbol of revival"

About 2.6 million kindergarten and school children started the 5787 school year this morning, Tuesday, after the summer vacation and in the hope of a quieter and more stable year. About 180,000 of them entered school gates for the first time and started first grade, while 143,000 12th-grade students began their final year in the education system. Ministry of Education data shows that 27,757 educational institutions are operating this year - 21,800 kindergartens and 5,957 schools. 418,385 students, about 16% of all students, are eligible for special education services - an increase of 9% compared to last year.

The Ministry of Education announced that the first week will be dedicated, among other things, to strengthening the sense of belonging and social ties, identifying emotional needs, and strengthening personal and group resilience. For many families, this morning is first and foremost one of the most exciting moments in the children's growing-up process. Daniel Levin, mother of Yael who started first grade this morning at the Rabin school in Nesher, said:

"We have been preparing for several days for the big and exciting day when our beautiful girl starts first grade. We are happy for her and very excited. We wish her and all the children of Israel a good and successful year, a continuous and quiet year."

Parents of a student at the "Neurim" school in Kiryat Bialik also described the excitement: "Starting first grade is a moment that is hard to describe in words. Just yesterday we accompanied them to kindergarten, and this morning they are already entering the school gates with a backpack on their back, great excitement in their eyes and a lot of dreams in their hearts."

Revival in the North

After almost three years of war, evacuation, and hits on the home front, for thousands of children and families, the opening of the school year is also another milestone on the way back to the life they knew. In the North and the Gaza envelope, frameworks that had remained closed since October 2023 have reopened. In Metula, the morning was especially exciting. After three years in which it did not operate, the "HaNadiv" elementary school reopened. 36 students entered its gates, and 18 more children started the year in the colony's kindergarten.

Head of the Northern District of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Orna Simhon, stated: "After three complex years, the reopening of the 'HaNadiv' school in Metula is much more than a return to the classroom, it is a symbol of revival, growth, and belief in the future." Metula Council Head David Azulai defined the opening of the institutions as "a real holiday," adding that children from the surrounding settlements also chose to come to study in the colony: "This is the real victory. We will continue to build and develop Metula anew."

Education as a Tool for Growth

The opening in Metula is part of a wider move in the "Tnufa" region. The investment in education in the region stands this year at 456 million shekels - an increase of about 70% compared to last year. The money is directed to strengthening teaching manpower, transition grants to the North, and operating centers of excellence. The head of the Tnufa LaTzafon administration, Aviad Friedman, explained that the concept is that "new families will come to places where the education system is excellent" — and therefore the rehabilitation of the education system is perceived not only as a response to returning residents, but also as a tool for demographic growth.

Returning Home to Holit

In the South, an especially symbolic moment was also recorded this morning. Almost three years after the October 7 massacre and the prolonged evacuation, the school year opened for the first time since then in Kibbutz Holit. The kibbutz lost 20 of its residents and workers in the war, and its members lived for nearly three years outside their home. This month, the gradual return began, and four new families joined. The early childhood system opened inside Holit for the first time in decades, with 13 children attending.

Community manager Yoav Bukai said: "The opening of the education system here in the kibbutz is much more than opening a school year, it is a symbol of the renewal of Holit and our determination to return home, to grow, and to build the future here anew."

A New Start for Omri

For six-year-old Omri Hecht, the road to first grade also passes through the events of the war. Last June, an Iranian missile hit his building. The family was forced to find a temporary place of residence, and Omri had to move away from his friends. "We had to find an apartment in another neighborhood and Omri was forced to move away from all the friends he knew," his mother Roni said. Now that they are back, Omri is excited: "I have a new room that I really like. Everything is new for me now - the house, the school, and I hope I will also have new friends."

Prayer for Haimnot

Amidst the joy, there were those who chose to remember those who have not yet returned home. At the "Campus Sia" school in Migdal HaEmek, hundreds of students and staff gathered for an event for Haimnot Kasau, who has been missing since February 2024. At the request of her family, the students released red balloons and carried a joint prayer for her finding and her safe return home.