Simchat Torah is usually one of the happiest days of the year at Westchester Torah Academy.  Students rejoice together with Am Yisrael, singing and dancing, celebrating Torat Hashem. This year, everyone was instead devastated by the surprise war in Israel. Am Yisrael is under attack, and here at home, everyone is searching for some way to explain to their children what this tragedy is all about. On Monday morning, Head of School Deganit Ronen and Rav Beit Sefer Rabbi Avi Hoffman spoke to the students—split by grade level to ensure the most complete and age-appropriate information. The students, from eighth grade all the way down to first grade had important and insightful questions, and the school leaders helped them to understand the situation without causing undue fear.

The WTA community shares in this struggle and in understanding and coping with it. Today, and every day until this terrible war is over, students and faculty will be davening for an end to the hostilities, reciting Tehillim together as well as adding in personal tefillot for peace. Also available is a digital children’s book that has been created to help explain the situation to younger children (WestchesterTA.org/war-in-israel). As always, כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה and, in the end, עם ישראל חי.