Rebuilding Through Education: Amal’s Response to the Israel-Iran War

This morning, after 12 agonizing days of war between Israel and Iran, a ceasefire was declared, brokered by the United States. While the guns may have fallen silent, the damage to Israel and to our Amal community is deep and far-reaching.

Since the war began, 30 Israelis have been killed by missile strikes, most of them in the country’s center. Over 3,250 people were hospitalized with injuries, more than 200 of them remain in hospitals today, including 10 in critical condition. The number of casualties per day reached 300 – the highest since October 2023.

The ballistic missile attacks caused massive destruction across urban areas. More than 11,000 people were displaced from their homes, and over 40 buildings were deemed uninhabitable. Public infrastructure was also hit hard: Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva sustained direct damage; three research buildings at the Weizmann Institute were hit; and an Iranian missile struck Israel’s national oil refinery in Haifa, raising serious environmental concerns.

The estimated cost of the war — which includes military action, civil defense, and rehabilitation — is already 20 billion NIS, expected to reach 40 billion NIS. These staggering figures were never accounted for in Israel’s 2025 national budget, leaving thousands without timely help.

The official data now shows that 208 schools across Israel were also damaged. Amal’s schools and students were not spared. In Be’er Sheva, 30 students from Amal’s Ramot High School lost their homes and were evacuated to hotels. In Tel Aviv, the Max Payne School, located near the Azrieli Center, suffered extensive blast damage, estimated at ₪300,000. In Hadera and across northern Israel, school buildings and infrastructure were also affected.

And while war raged in the skies, 50 of Amal’s dedicated teachers and staff were called into reserve duty, defending our homeland. Throughout this national crisis, Amal’s 50 schools across Israel — serving Jewish, Arab, Druze, and Bedouin students in both the periphery and central regions — opened their doors to provide shelter to vulnerable communities, many of whom live in towns without access to fortified spaces or public bomb shelters. Amal stood, as always, with and for the people of Israel.

Yet amid the destruction, there was also pride: Holtz School, which trains aircraft technicians, received special commendation from the Commander of the Israeli Air Force for its role in preparing professionals critical to Israel’s defense efforts. Now, as we return to routine after two weeks of remote learning, Amal is focused on action:

We are launching a renewed Emergency Relief Fund to respond immediately to physical damages in our schools, help displaced students and families, and provide trauma support for students and educators. This fund will enable us to send a gesture of gratitude to our 50 staff members returning from reserve duty, honoring their service with a personal gift, restore damages in schools and attend to immediate relief to needs that emerge from our school principals.

We cannot do this alone. We invite our partners and friends around the world to stand with us. Your support will help us rebuild what was damaged — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — and ensure that Amal continues its mission to strengthen Israeli society through education. Please consider contributing generously to our Amal Emergency Fund. With your help, we will rise — and so will the next generation of Israeli citizens and leaders.

Together, we will rebuild.