Most Israeli residents have unfortunately gotten used to the new reality, which includes nightly sirens, ever-changing schedules, travel cancellations, and a great deal of overall uncertainty. We are all getting through these times in our own ways. For me, the first siren of this new war with Iran brought back very unpleasant memories of the last time we went through this ordeal. The idea of being trapped, unable to leave the country even if we want to, creates a sense of internal panic that I had hoped I would never feel again. When that first siren blared during Parshat Zachor, those same feelings of confinement and anger started to surface. This time, however, new feelings of hope and thankfulness have so far managed to keep those other emotions in check. My family definitely deserves a lot of the credit for my improved “matzav ruach,” but this time around, I also must give a great deal of thanks to my students and colleagues for the support and optimism that they each provide during these times of despair.

This past January, two amazing organizations, Ohr Torah Stone and the Tzemach David Foundation, launched a new program for Orthodox US high school students called Nelech. The idea of the program is to provide a cohort of 25 tenth-grade students with an opportunity to live as fully immersed Israeli students and to show them Israel, not from the perspective of tourists, but as residents. The students are based in two schools in Gush Etzion, and I have the privilege of serving as the director of academics for this special group. Getting to know and work with each of the students has been one of the highlights of my professional career. They each add different talents and personalities to the group dynamics, and it has been truly special getting to know each student both as part of the group and on an individual level.

When the war began, we immediately had to make a decision about how to manage 25 American students during the latest barrage of missile attacks. The students were sent to their emergency contacts and family members, and we were unsure of the next steps. While we were glad that the students were safe, the reality was that we were not together. This is when I realized the internal strength and the bonds that the students shared with each other and even with the staff. Throughout the week that we were all spread out in different locations across the entire country, the WhatsApp messages and phone calls never stopped. Between daily check-ins and some Zoom-based lessons, to just the “how is it going?” conversations, I quickly realized that if my students were able to manage through this difficult situation, then I also needed to maintain my own level of optimism.

A former colleague of mine from the US called me a few days ago to check in and to see how we were doing. He asked me about the Nelech students and then asked how many had requested to go back home to the US. When I answered that none had requested a return ticket home, he was left speechless. We would not blame our students or their parents for wanting to leave during these challenging times, but the commitment and closeness that our students feel to both Israel itself and to the entire Nelech community gives us all strength and an incredible example to follow.

My students ask me every day when I think schools will reopen and when I think the war will be over. I try to be honest with them in that we do not really know, but that with God’s help and our amazing IDF, we will again emerge stronger than before. Last night, one of my students sent me a WhatsApp asking if she could have an extension on an assignment that one of the teachers had given before the war started. I answered her that of course she could have more time, but then I asked her why she was even worried about this assignment right now. With so much else going on, I was surprised that this was her focus. She wrote that she feels a responsibility as a member of the program to continue as normally as possible. She said that she knew I would probably grant her an extension but that she took her role as a student seriously. We chatted a bit further about how she was holding up and her family, and I think we both appreciated the strength that we could give each other. This is the Nelech experience, and really the main reason why I am personally able to get through this latest round of missiles, sleepless nights, and closed skies. I am honored to be able to draw strength from my students who day after day set such amazing examples.

We do not know what the future holds, but my amazing students and colleagues remind me every day that we do indeed have a future, as a nation, as a group, and as a family. It is this optimism that enables us all to move forward and to be proud to live in Israel.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)