Faced with Shared Tragedy, Amal Chooses Shared Society

The three-year mark of October 7 stands as a stark reminder of an unprecedented national catastrophe whose human toll remains incomprehensible. Over 1,200 individuals were murdered on the day and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza. Since then till today more than 2300 people were killed, hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes, and thousands of soldiers and civilians suffered severe physical and psychological injuries.

Tragically, this devastation extended across all segments of Israeli society, including the Arab and Bedouin communities, where dozens of citizens, including Bedouin residents of the Negev, were murdered and abducted while working and living in the south. Yet unlike traditional memorial days, for many families that day has not become the past, demanding a national inquiry committee that would investigate the events that led to the massacre. October 7th is fraught with acute societal tension, as the tragedy exposed deep structural vulnerabilities exacerbated by political polarization and toxic populism. In an era where superficial and extreme rhetoric undermines civil cohesion, addressing the root causes of societal division has become Israel’s most critical challenge.

The profound impact of this national tragedy touches every corner of the Amal Educational Network, which mourns 47 alumni killed on October 7 and during the ensuing war. Among Amal’s graduates were Almog Meir Jan and Matan Zangauker, both abducted to Gaza and subsequently returned home. Across its schools, Amal actively participated in advocacy for the hostages, established memorial walls, and led community initiatives.

However, Amal’s most powerful response to this crisis is its proactive commitment to shared society. Through identity-inquiry programs designed to counter extremism and foster cross-cultural tolerance, as well as joint leadership forums uniting educators, principals, and coordinators from across Jewish, Arab, Druze, and Bedouin communities, Amal actively builds the common ground necessary to heal societal fractures.

Sustaining this mission requires remarkable institutional courage, particularly during times of deep national pain and political strain. Amal boldly champions a genuine shared society, grounded in the conviction that Jews of all religious and ideological streams must learn to respect one another, and that Jews and Arabs can, and must, live together in equality and peace. Strategic philanthropic support enables Amal to scale these critical civic initiatives across its 50 diverse schools, partnering with visionaries in the philanthropic community who share the belief that courage in education is the ultimate safeguard of Israel’s democratic and pluralistic future.