As Jewish communities around the world continue to navigate the deep emotional and educational effects of October 7, Rabbi Scot A. Berman of UnitEd, a joint initiative of Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism is preparing to share new insights on how Jewish day schools have been transformed by the events of the past year. He will present these perspectives at The Jerusalem Post’s upcoming Washington Conference, where he is expected to discuss the shifting relationship between American Jewry and Israel.
A veteran educator who served for decades as a head of school before making aliyah five years ago, Rabbi Berman brings both administrative expertise and close familiarity with Jewish communities abroad. He explains that while Jewish schools have always maintained a strong connection to Israel, October 7 created a level of personal involvement that educators have never experienced on such a global scale.
In past conflicts, principals typically provided careful updates during assemblies or prayer services, aiming to inform students without overwhelming them or reinforcing the idea that Israel is defined solely by crisis. Educators constantly balance transparency with emotional protection. But today, the lines between Israel and the Diaspora are more intertwined than ever.
Many students in Jewish day schools have siblings, parents, or extended family members living in Israel. Others have older siblings or alumni who have made aliyah. The presence of shlichim and shinshinim – young Israeli emissaries integrated into school life – means students often form close bonds with Israelis who, this year, are now serving on the front lines. “When the war broke out, it was much more personal than ever before,” Rabbi Berman noted. “Students know people who are fighting. Their teachers know people who are fighting. Families are directly affected. It becomes much more visceral.”
These connections, he says, have changed not only what schools teach but also how they support students emotionally and how they frame conversations about Israel, identity, and community belonging. At the Washington Conference, Rabbi Berman is expected to explore how curricula, student services, and school culture have all adapted to this new reality.
“I am looking forward to sharing about the Project Aleph Bet initiative of the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism to increase the number of children attending Jewish day schools," Rabbi Berman said ahead of the gathering. “Project Aleph Bet is a wonderful example of a successful partnership between the State of Israel and US partners to address how we can best impact strengthening Jewish identity, the flipside of antimerism." Rabbi Berman’s session promises to offer a compelling, timely look at how global Jewish education is evolving, and what these changes reveal about the deepening ties between Israel and the Diaspora in a post-October 7 world.
Written in collaboration with the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs.