When War Shut the Schools, Chabad’s Network Stepped Up

When the Israel–Iran war shut down schools nationwide, Chabad’s main education network sprang into action, ensuring children kept learning, connecting, and finding strength through Torah.

No one expected Israel to strike Iran this past week. The entire country, and even the world, was caught off guard. From the moment the operation, dubbed “Am KeLavi”, was announced, basic services across Israel were suspended, including the entire education system.

Safety was paramount, and in-person learning simply wasn’t an option. But leaving children without an educational framework wasn’t an option either. A rapid, decisive response was urgently needed, and Chabad’s education network was ready. Thanks to two years of strategic emergency planning and experience navigating ongoing security threats, the Oholei Yosef Yitzchak network swiftly launched a wide range of educational and emotional support programs designed specifically for times of crisis.

By Friday morning, just hours after the war began, Chabad preschools in the Oholei Yosef Yitzchak network had access to a dedicated online portal created specifically for the crisis. The site featured dozens of high-quality, thoughtfully curated programs to help children welcome Shabbos, all adapted to their local language, culture, and community.

At the same time, parents received customized digital support packets, including guidance for emotionally connecting with their children, tools for explaining the complex reality in age-appropriate ways, and expert tips from the network’s counselors, educators, and staff across the country.

Special sessions were held in the Shalhavot Chabad schools to ensure young children continued learning about Yiddishkeit, even without attending school in person. The scenes were moving: on one screen, children from across Israel — from diverse backgrounds — recited Shema Yisrael together with deep devotion and inspiring unity.

Even before Shabbat began, the network launched a large-scale campaign for students in Chabad schools, chedarim, and educational centers: “Adding Light in Honor of Shabbos.” This initiative encouraged children to focus on performing mitzvos rather than worrying about the news. Thousands participated, reported their mitzvos after Shabbat, and entered raffles. Parents nationwide marveled at the campaign’s impact — their children were lifted above fear and distraction, embracing their role and personal responsibility for victory.

The network’s efforts extended beyond the children. Each time a siren sounded, parents received an immediate message containing a customized “Emergency Pack” — including words of encouragement, selected chapters of Tehillim, suggested mitzvos, and specially recorded stories for children to listen to while in shelters.

The Technology and Digital Division opened the “Menorah” virtual learning centers for free public access, offering remote schooling and full access to Oholei Yosef Yitzchak’s educational resources: curricula, lesson plans, textbooks, and digital content. These resources are available to students and educational shluchim nationwide.

Additionally, Chabad school staff sent parents emotionally supportive slideshows and materials to help children process their experiences and cope with the intense emotions many are facing.
From the earliest hours of the conflict, Oholei Yosef Yitzchak’s central staff held professional strategy meetings to develop immediate responses. The Shalhavot Chabad division convened emergency sessions with principals of girls’ schools, elementary schools, and chedarim to coordinate action plans tailored to students’ needs.

Meanwhile, the network continues to host special Zoom farbrengens for teaching staff — designed to uplift, empower, and honor the vital role of educational shluchim, while sharing ideas for ongoing student support.

“We await the conclusion of this war with miraculous victories, when life will return to normal,” said Rabbi Eliyahu Kritzevsky, CEO of Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchok “Until then, we are fully prepared to bring learning, Yiddishkeit, and the warmth of school to children wherever they are, at home, abroad, or even in a shelter.”