The school in Sa’ad

Over the past few weeks, the situation in our area has escalated and peace is nowhere to be found. The security situation has become rough and we are under constant attack: from the violent demonstrations that cause much stress and anxiety in both children and adults, to the terror kites and the fires they cause. It seems that at any given moment, a dark blanket of smoke can be seen, felt, and smelled hanging above our heads.

At school, we feel a growing unrest in many of the students. Even the teachers are showing signs of weariness and stress due to the constant need to be alert, resilient, understanding, responsive, and responsible when facing the difficulties they encounter in class. They do not have the luxury of staying home with their own children or resting after a difficult night as they have to set an example for the students and parents in showing the importance of maintaining a routine, which includes coming to school.

Over the past two weeks we have had several sleepless nights, with repeated alarms and explosions that could be heard in every house throughout the night. In light—or rather, darkness—of this situation, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people reaching out to the resilience centers, as we, at the schools, try to do our part. Great strength of body and spirit is needed at this time. Your constant moral and physical support is a major component in our strength. The resources that you have made possible for us help our children get the therapy they need.

Our friendship with you, via Ria, is a pillar of light that keeps us afloat. Yad L’Ami has been a source of comfort and a true friend since 2014, during the Protective Edge military operation. We are hopeful and full of faith that things will improve. In order to do our part in making the world a better place, the students at the junior high school are organizing a fair, the proceeds of which will go to an organization that helps handicapped children (pictures will be sent next Monday, after the fair).

In addition, I am attaching a YouTube clip of an event we held in our wheat field the day before Shavuot (Pentecost), in which we decided to fly “kites of peace” with our children. A terror kite landed 50 meters from that same field the following day.

In hope and prayer for better days ahead, days of tranquility and peace.

Idit