Jerusalem, Israel - May 11, 2023 - Reports of hundreds of rockets and missiles being fired at Israel from Gaza filled news reports for hours on May 10, 2023.

Families in Sderot had their homes hit and others in southern Israel had to evacuate for the first time after years under threat and attack.

An hour before it was time to leave Yerushalayim it was confirmed, plans were a go for the AMIT groundbreaking ceremony in Kfar Batya.

Social media was showing Israelis either running for cover or hiding in shelters. However, one would never know Israel was under threat as the roads were filled with evening traffic heading past the Ben Gurion airport northward. 

Arriving by van to Kfar Batya, as the sun was about to set for the groundbreaking ceremony and photo op with AMIT leaders, the scene was impressive. After years in the stages of organizing the plans to build the new educational campus, the smiles of those closely involved were well deserved. 

AMIT is a nonprofit educational organization serving 40,000 students in 32 cities with 96 schools throughout Israel. The consolidation of resources and expansion to the new campus took over a decade to arrive at the groundbreaking stage, and the threat of a missile attack did not keep away those involved over for over a decade. 

AMIT Past President Debbie Isaac served as Chair of the Land Committee and led the complex legal and real estate project.  Ranana Mayor Chaim Broyde participated in the program, and stated, "I extend my sincere congratulations to AMIT for their remarkable dedication and investment of decades in educating the children of Israel and contributing to their future."  Broyde also mentioned how a rocket had been shot from Gaza to not far away from where we were, confirming what I thought was hearing the boom of the iron dome in action soon after we arrived.

But after so much work for so long, the party went on, with some accommodation so that shelters would be nearby if necessary and they were not. 

A festive dinner was served from food trucks of burgers, fries, shwarma, and more. For dessert, Sephardi fried treats included freshly made mufleta, for those of us who missed Moroccan Mimuna after Pesach this year. 

The musical program also included a torch-lighting ceremony. Among those honored to light a flame were AMIT Director General,  Dr. Amnon Eldar, along with his parents. AMIT Principal in Beer Sheva Nurit Davidi, who was an AMIT student when her family immigrated from Morocco. Current AMIT President Audrey Axelrod Trachtman and Chair of Israel Amutah Tamar Benovitz were called together to light a flame, and US donors Evan and Layla Green.

Yaakov Hagoel, the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, was one of many invited guests who participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.

As a long-time volunteer at AMIT in Israel, I was so glad to have decided to participate and not cancel plans to attend the special ceremony. My mind went back to the height of the "stabbing intifada" when an AMIT luncheon was planned in Yerushalayim. Over 100 women showed up, no threat was going to keep the dedicated volunteers from supporting "their" children in Israel.