The Current Situation
Last week, we gathered with 100 supporters to discuss the resilience of our educators and leadership on the ground. While we initially reported no direct casualties among our immediate school family, the situation has tragically shifted. A lower school student was critically injured in a recent bombing. Following two surgeries, he remains in the hospital ICU.
The ORT community is holding this child and his single mother in our prayers. Beyond the physical injuries, the psychological toll on our community is immense. With many students already grieving fathers and teachers lost in combat, the atmosphere of fear is a constant hurdle to learning.
Watch a recording of the full discussion from last week:
See examples of how our team is addressing these challenges:
Our Immediate Response
We are committed to maintaining a “routine of normalcy” for our students, which is essential for their long-term growth and mental health.
- Emergency Financial Aid: Funds are being mobilized to cover medical expenses for the injured student’s family.
- Emotional Fortitude: We are increasing specialized support to help classmates and staff navigate the trauma of this direct impact.
How You Can Help Today
While our long-term recovery goals are significant, immediate funding goes directly toward tangible relief on the ground. You can sponsor these urgent needs directly:
- $54 funds a critical one-on-one trauma counseling session for a student navigating combat-related grief
- $180 provides warm fleece jackets and blankets for six children using the shelters
- $360 equips a cohort of eight first graders with new backpacks and essential school supplies
- $1,800 provides annual First Aid and emergency response training for an entire school staff
- $5,400 fully funds Jewish education and Hebrew learning curriculum for an entire classroom for the year.
Any Gift to our Emergency Reserve helps us immediately step in to cover major medical bills for families in crisis, like our critically injured lower school student. Ensuring the continuity of education and mental health services tells our students that there is a world – and a future – waiting for them beyond the current violence.