Karen Tal Calls for Courage and Support in Rebuilding Israeli Society Through Education

At a time when Israel is still at war, the leaders of the state gathered at the annual Ynet Conference hosted at Expo Tel Aviv to discuss how to rebuild Israeli society the day after the war ends. The President of the State of Israel opened the conference followed by ministers and leaders in all spheres of public life who made the news in the past year. One of the key panels addressed the urgent challenge of national rehabilitation. On stage were Ido Sharir, Executive Director of Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital, Liat Shochat, Mayor of Or Yehuda, Yaron Ohayon from KKL and Karen Tal, Managing Director of the Amal Educational Network.

“October 7th shook the very foundations of our lives—adults and children alike,” said Tal. “For many students, the concept of ‘home’ was shattered. It no longer felt safe, whether they live in the North, the South, or the center of the country.” Karen Tal described Amal’s approach to educational rehabilitation as both emotional and practical. “We listened to our students. We asked: ‘What are you feeling? What can you do?’ We supported both their emotional needs and their desire to act, to help, to live. From volunteering in agriculture to space technology competitions, our students are proving that even amid trauma, Israeli resilience and creativity remain strong.”

Tal emphasized that Amal network represents the full spectrum of Israeli society – Jewish religious and secular, Druze, Arab, and Bedouin schools – making it a unique space to rebuild a shared society and strengthen personal and collective identities. She criticized the political leadership for its failure to model civic responsibility: “We ask our students to take the civics matriculation exam, while our leaders give them no example to follow. That is unacceptable. Politicians are supposed to be public servants, not incite division. They must do better.”

All speakers on the panel voiced a shared frustration: the lack of governmental support. “There is no state-backed rehabilitation plan,” said Tal. “We call on the government: give us the tools, give us the budgets, and we’ll prove ourselves. And if we don’t—supervise us, evaluate us, and hold us accountable. But we need the opportunity now. What’s needed is not only funding, but public courage at the highest levels.”

Tal concluded by redefining school leadership in times of crisis: “At Amal, we see school principals as social and community leaders. In war, they became anchors for students and parents. Some faced unimaginable loss—47 of our students and graduates have fallen. Our staff, hundreds of whom are in army reserves, still show up every day for their students. These are our fighters on the home front, and they too deserve recognition, encouragement, and support.”

From emotional first aid to cutting-edge innovation, Tal made it clear: “Rehabilitation starts with education. And rebuilding Israel starts in our schools.”