Moriah middle school runs on a clearly delineated schedule with few surprises, but Thursday’s announced schedule included a special presentation by the Honorable Shirly Pinto, former Knesset member of Israel and current ambassador of Hasbara for the Foreign Ministry for the Iron Swords War. Rabbi Alter had prepared the students for Ms. Pinto’s presentation so they expected to be brought to the beit knesset early Thursday morning to hear her speak. Ms. Pinto was running late, and as the students sat impatient awaiting her arrival, whispers of “Could this be Color War break out?” started to circulate around the room. But there was a surprise far greater than Color War on the horizon, and as Moriah’s beloved shaliach, Rav Adiel Mhazri, entered the room after his two-month stint in the IDF. The room erupted in cheers, tears, shouts of greeting and sighs of relief. Rav Adiel and Morah Yonit were hugged and kissed, and pulled into circles of joyous dancing as the students expressed their happiness and love in heartfelt renditions of “Al Hanissim” and a celebration of Am Yisrael.
Finally, Rav Adiel was allowed to leave the room to spend some time with his family, and Ms. Pinto was introduced to the students. Ms. Pinto is deaf and has the distinction of being the first deaf Knesset member. She was accompanied by an interpreter who sat alongside her and spoke for her as she signed her presentation. Ms. Pinto described the obstacles she faced as a young person due to her disability, and the path she took that allowed her to overcome these obstacles and achieve her current position. She explained that both her parents were deaf, as well as her husband and children, and that she was determined to open doors for her children that had been shut closed to her as a child. Ms. Pinto was in Israel when the war broke out and she described the dawning of awareness as reports of October 7 trickled in. The students were able to ask her questions, and expressed their concern about the inability of deaf people to hear warning sirens that signaled incoming rockets. She taught students how to sign their applause and “Am Yisrael Chai.” Ms. Pinto left everyone with a deep appreciation of a person’s ability to break down all barriers with the right mix of skill and determination. She left the students in awe.
