The summer of 2020 will go down in history for being the most turbulent one yet!  Between COVID-19 and the seemingly endless protests in both the United States and in Israel – there has been plenty on everyone’s mind. Now, with summer over and a new chapter beginning, many children will finally be returning to school. This is a welcome relief for parents and children alike, who for months have been cooped up at home as summer camps and activities have been severely limited. But sadly, the return to school is not a relief for everyone. For some, it’s a brand new chapter of worries to deal with. 

Israel’s economy is extremely unstable and there are still hundreds of thousands without jobs. For them, sending their kids to school is a sudden financial burden that they cannot handle. The cost of books, new backpacks and notebooks is overwhelming for them. That’s why Meir Panim’s Branches have taken it upon themselves to ensure every child goes back to school with everything they need.

For instance, the Or Akiva Branch has gone to incredible lengths for the local students. Or Akiva has not been immune to the effects of COVID-19, but their residents still went above and beyond to care for the less fortunate. Thanks to their generosity, Meir Panim was able to distribute school bags full of supplies to all the children entering the first grade. 

Or Akiva wasn’t the only city making sure the less fortunate students were taken care of. In Tiberias, the local Branch spent the day distributing day planners and notebooks to all the students in need to ensure that they would have a successful semester – despite all the hardships. Thanks to these efforts, many parents were saved from the anxiety of sending their children to school empty-handed – and can instead focus on regaining their footing in the wake of the pandemic. 

Good Luck to all the new students!