An Important Message From Dean Nachman Shai

Dear friends and supporters,

Last Shabbat we woke up to the sound of air-raid sirens. Israel has entered a new - yet also familiar war. On one hand, it is a continuation of October 7; on the other, it marks a new phase: open fire between Israel and Iran. The most significant new development is the cooperation between Israel and the United States, which carries enormous military power and also the hope that a joint effort, perhaps also with the support of others, could lead to a new reality that may bring the Middle East into a new era of diplomatic agreements and greater stability.

These days the guiding phrase in Israel is "emergency routine"-maintaining as much normal life as possible even under emergency conditions. We support and assist one another, knowing that in moments like these we are one people and one community. I would like to share a brief glimpse of this bittersweet Purim week on our campus, which has been physically closed since Sunday following the instructions of the Israeli Home Front Command.

The Year-in-Israel program shifted immediately to Zoom learning on Sunday and Monday. During the two days of the Purim holiday, we added special online activities and encouraged students to participate in Zoom Megillah readings. Rabbi Greenwald has been speaking individually with each student and yesterday delivered mishloach manot to them personally. On Thursday we resumed our regular Zoom schedule with a beautiful student-led tefilah, followed by Hebrew classes online. Unfortunately, our planned spirituality retreat in Ein Gedi this Shabbat had to be cancelled.

The Israeli Rabbinical Program was on semester break this week, yet beginning Sunday we created regular twice-daily gatherings for study and prayer, allowing students and faculty to come together and maintain our communal network. We are currently supporting one student whose home was struck in a missile attack and who has been evacuated. The program is preparing for a period of remote learning that will begin as we start the second semester next week.

The Department of Education continues to maintain personal contact with participants and operate remote learning as needed. This week Prof. Michal Muszkat-Barkan held a Zoom meeting with the Rikma M.A. students (on semester break) to check in on everyone. Together they studied sources from the Book of Esther and shared educational materials from the National Library's collection. The Teachers' Lounge program has been concluding its academic year while also building its alumni community and planning future activities. The Teacher-Classroom-State program continues to support teachers' school-based interventions and maintain close personal contact with participants. Nest week the department plans to hold a Zoom gathering titled "Education in an Age of Uncertainty" open for all its students and alumni.

Our leadership team is in constant contact with all employees to ensure their safety and provide help where needed. Unfortunately, some staff members do not have safe rooms in their homes, and others-particularly those living in East Jerusalem-do not have access to nearby shelters.

We hope that the harsh reality of ongoing war will come to an end. Once again, we are asked to bear a personal and national price in the hope of building a better future. We thank our friends overseas for the expressions of support and solidarity and look forward to the moment when we can meet again and continue building a better future together.

In prayers for peace in our region.

Shabbat Shalom,
Nachman