Back to school: From national blindness to national purpose
Some 2.6 million Israeli children have returned to school in Israel. For the first time since Oct. 7, 2023, the academic year will begin without a major war defining every aspect of Israeli life. Yet this is hardly an uncomplicated normal. Family members are still serving in the reserves; families continue to absorb the consequences of years of war; and Israel remains surrounded by enemies whose intentions have not changed.The obvious task facing the education system is considerable: repairing lost academic ground; addressing trauma; and restoring stability to children whose formative years have contained experiences that previous generations would have considered extraordinary.There is also another task—less immediate but ultimately more consequential. Israel must decide what its children need to know to understand the country they inhabit and the reality in which it exists.One temptation after national catastrophe is to locate failure entirely within the institutions that failed operationally. Intelligence misread…
As 2.6 million Israeli children return to school for the first time since October 7, 2023, the education system faces the immediate tasks of academic recovery, trauma support, and restoring stability. However, the article argues for a more profound, long-term goal: fostering deep Jewish literacy and historical understanding to prevent future national "blindness." The author contends that the "conceptzia" that collapsed on October 7 was rooted in societal assumptions, not just intelligence failures, stemming from a lack of fluency in Jewish history and texts. This deficiency, the article suggests, hinders the ability to comprehend enemies whose actions are shaped by faith and collective memory. The recent Ministry of Education reform, introducing one weekly Tanach lesson, is seen as an insufficient step. The article emphasizes that Jewish literacy is crucial for national competence and identity, citing the resilience of hostages in Gaza who drew strength from their Jewish heritage. The author concludes that by kindling a deeper sense of identity and purpose in children, Israel can move beyond mere defense to fulfill its ancient purpose.
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