Yeshivat Noam has a strong commitment to our brothers and sisters in Israel. Israeli and American flags hang proudly in every classroom, decorations and artwork connected to Israeli culture and landmarks abound throughout the school and we close each and every program with the singing of Hatikvah. Simply put, Israel is part of our identity.

With the situation in Israel being even more present in our minds and in our hearts, we have further emphasized the need to offer support in any way that we can. As a school, we have selected United Hatzalah of Israel, to be the recipient of our tzedakah campaign, and are encouraging both parents and students to participate. United Hatzalah is the largest independent, non-profit, fully volunteer emergency medical service organization in Israel and provides fast, free of charge emergency medical first response throughout the country. With tzedakah boxes in each classroom and over thirty boxes in total throughout both of our buildings, it is our hope that students will donate daily to this campaign. We have also underscored the importance of having special kavanah for Israel in our daily tefillot.

Additionally, our shlichot Tzeirot, Reut and Moriyah, have further deepened our students’ special connection to Eretz Yisrael during our weekly oneg Shabbat. All elementary students have had an opportunity to reflect and write about Israel, and our fifth graders wrote letters to chayalim in Tzahal.

Over these last few weeks, every student participated in at least one program or act of connectedness with our Home, Israel.

By Rabbi Uzi Beer, Assistant Principal, Elementary School Judaic Studies