This week, Israeli children returned to the classrooms, and for many, it’s a return to more than just lessons and homework; it’s a return to a world they have been learning to navigate under extraordinary circumstances. First graders are taking their very first steps into formal education. These children were born during the COVID-19 pandemic, years marked by lockdowns, masks, and quarantine. For them, playdates were often online, birthday parties were cautious affairs, and playgrounds were often empty.
For older children, the past several years have been anything but ordinary. Zoom lessons replaced physical classrooms, teachers appeared on screens, and friendships were maintained through video calls rather than recess games. To add, they have been living with the reality of war since October 7, 2023. Sirens and emergency alerts became routine interruptions in their learning, and parents’ absences due to reserve duty are frequent reminders of the tensions surrounding them. The shadow of war, ongoing security threats, and fears of broader regional conflict have formed the backdrop to a childhood that, for most of the world, might seem unimaginable.
Yet, amid this reality, Israeli children have shown incredible resilience. "I leave for duty knowing my children face sirens, drills, and uncertainty every day, but when I see them step into their classrooms, learning and laughing despite everything, I am overwhelmed by their courage and resilience”, said one father who is on reserve duty.
Even the youngest children carry the weight of experiences most adults find hard to comprehend. Bomb shelters, air raid drills, and emergency protocols are part of daily life, yet laughter, curiosity, and joy persist in playgrounds and classrooms. Teachers across the country are not just teaching math or reading; they are providing safe spaces for children to process emotions, to feel secure, and to reclaim a sense of normalcy in a world that has repeatedly been anything but normal.
Communities are stepping up to support these children in tangible ways. Guidance counselors, social workers, and school programs are prioritizing emotional well-being alongside academics. From quiet conversations in classroom corners to group activities that build trust and camaraderie, children are learning not only lessons from books but lessons in courage, resilience, and hope.
Israeli children are proof that resilience can grow in the most unlikely circumstances. Every smile, every shared story, and every lesson learned is a quiet act of courage, a reminder that life continues, even in the shadow of conflict.
In a country where children have had to grow up faster than most, the return to school is both a milestone and a statement: life continues, learning persists, and hope endures. Israeli children are facing the future with courage, showing the world that even amidst crisis, the human spirit can flourish.