A Week of Fire and Grief in Israel

This year, Israel’s Memorial Day and Independence Day were marked not by unity and celebration, but by fire—both literal and symbolic.

As Amal students and educators prepared for ceremonies to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers, wildfires broke out in the Jerusalem hills, spreading rapidly and forcing a national emergency response. Firefighters across the country were placed on high alert, and all official Independence Day festivities were canceled to ensure emergency services remained available. Amal’s traditional evening programs—where grief transitions into hope—were among those called off.

Meanwhile, the public atmosphere grew increasingly heavy. On Independence Day itself, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the war in Gaza would escalate again soon, with the stated goal of defeating Hamas entirely. While the return of the hostages remains a stated objective, the overriding emphasis on military victory left many families of the hostages—and the broader public—deeply concerned.

 That same day, two more Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza. A long-range missile from Yemen’s Houthi rebels reached central Israel, damaging infrastructure near Ben Gurion Airport and prompting several international airlines to suspend flights to the country.

And as if to underscore the depth of the internal challenges facing Israeli society, the school day across the country began with a two-hour strike. Educators protested new salary cuts—part of broader wartime austerity measures—that disproportionately harm teachers already struggling on modest incomes.

In the face of ongoing disruptions—war,strikes, and a nationwide shortage of teachers—Amal remains committed to providing every student with the care and attention they deserve. To support our dedicated educators and help students bridge growing learning gaps, we are accelerating the development of our Pedagogical AI (PAI) program. This innovative tool is designed to enhance personalized learning and offer much-needed reinforcement, especially when teachers are stretched thin. With your partnership, we can help safeguard the future of education in Israel—even in the most difficult times.