Surprising Transition: Moving Eight Children to Torah Education

The Israeli family from Rishon LeZion has always been unique in the town. "We are parents to eight children," shares Moriah Israeli, the mother. "We have seven sons and a daughter, which makes us a very well-known family. Many families in the neighborhood know our kids, and we have many friends here. In general, we are very connected to our place of residence and the atmosphere."

This very fact raised eyebrows among many neighbors and acquaintances when they found out that all eight of the Israeli children were transitioning to Torah education. "It was truly surprising," Moriah recounts. "Up until this year, all of our children attended regular kindergartens and public schools. It happened naturally because our oldest son started there, and everyone followed him. This year, our second son moved up to seventh grade, and I started feeling uncomfortable that he was almost not exposed to religious concepts at school. I decided to transfer him to a religious school, and then I realized this was an opportunity to transfer all the other children as well."

"Seeking Content, Not Emptiness"

What mainly bothered you about the public education?

"I can't say the children had a bad experience at school. The staff was fine, and the teachers invested a lot of time and thought into them. But something inside was missing. I can't even explain it, but there was a great emptiness. Especially regarding Bible studies, where I felt they simply didn't expose the children to the most basic Jewish topics, and even when they did, it was taught in such a shallow and inaccurate way. I myself come from a religious education background, so I know how much can be learned and developed in these subjects. I don't expect a public school to expose the children to the Bible like it was for me, but it still bothered me that they wouldn't absorb something of Judaism."

In the next stage, Moriah discussed it with her husband. "At first, he was a bit apprehensive," she admits, "He comes from a secular background and identifies as such. It was frightening for him to think of his children walking around with *pe'ot* and *tzitzit*, but I was so impressed by the school and told him about it. It's true that the teachers are Haredi and there's a rabbi, but their capacity for acceptance is amazing. They don't impose anything on you and accept everyone without judgment or criticism. From their perspective, whatever you take from them is fine, and if you decide not to take anything—that's okay too. This impressed him too, and thus he gave his approval."

And what about the children? How did they react when you told them you were thinking of transferring them to a Torah school?

"Most of them accepted it quite naturally. They understood what I explained to them, and after I took them to see the school, they were really excited to start the year. My son who moved to fifth grade found it a bit difficult; at first, he wanted to stay at his old school with the friends he loves and the familiar faces. I sat with him to talk and explained: 'Trust me; I only want your good, and you will eventually thank me.' Now when I come to pick them up from school, he is always the last to arrive, lingering with all his new friends and not wanting to leave...

"The most emotional moment for me was on the eve of the holiday of Sukkot when I arrived to pick up the children, and they waited for me with tremendous excitement holding a set of four species they received as a gift from the school. They were so happy, and I didn't know if I was more moved by the prestigious gift or by the joy of the children, who were simply thrilled to observe the mitzvah."

Looking Forward

The Israeli children began attending the Shuvu school on September 1st, but as Moriah notes, it's only in these days after the holidays that they are starting their true routine. "I am very happy that they start a routine filled with meaning and content," she states.

At the same time, she herself has to start adjusting to the changes and deal with the cost, which turns out to be not easy at all. "The logistics are a bit complex for us," she admits, "because the school is a drive away, so it's not possible to walk there, and every day I need to drive the children. Moreover, I can't rely on them to pick up the younger ones from kindergarten, and everything falls on me.

"Socially, the children also have to adapt to the fact that not all their friends live nearby, and at school, they aren't considered the family 'everyone knows.' But these things don't deter me, not even for a moment. The children are so happy, and I've already had the opportunity to thank the principal several times personally. I feel I have made the deal of my life, and I am sure I will continue to feel this way in the future. Because when you see the figures running the school, you understand that it just can't be any different."