Supporting Children in Shelters as Rocket Fire Continues Across Israel

Across Israel, Dror Israel educators and teen leaders are supporting children and families in shelters, evacuee hotels, and communities as rocket attacks continue.

Rocket fire continues across Israel, and families across the center and north remain in or close to bomb shelters. Just this morning, an Iranian ballistic missile struck the northern Arab village of Zarzir, causing significant damage and injuries. Our Educators Kibbutz on nearby Kibbutz Eshbal is currently assessing needs and coordinating assistance with local partners.

Youth movement counselors have re-connected with their participants.

Despite the ongoing security situation, some informal educational programming resumed this week under strict Home Front Command safety restrictions.

Since Thursday, counselors from HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL), Dror Israel’s associated youth movement, have made sure to meet every participant in person to check in with them. Youth movement branches across the country resumed activities in small groups and in protected spaces, adapting programming to local safety guidelines.

In addition to our adapted, ongoing programming in schools, youth movement branches, and community frameworks serving tens of thousands of participants, across the country, our coordinated emergency programming has already reached more than 7,500 children and teens in 28 municipalities.

"Thanks to them, I feel a sense of purpose"

Emergency childcare frameworks for the children of essential workers continue to operate in nine locations, ensuring doctors, nurses, and other critical staff can continue their work while schools remain closed.

For many educators and teen leaders running these childcare centers, this work is deeply personal.

Noam, a NOAL counselors, shared:“Katya and Noy come to the activities every day. We spend hours together in the shelter—drawing, dancing, playing. I feel that they truly love me. They don’t know how much, thanks to them, I feel a sense of purpose and how much it helps me get through this difficult period.”

At the same time, our educators are operating programming directly in bomb shelters in partnership with municipalities including Rishon LeZion, Ashdod, Carmiel, and Akko. Activities are also underway in hotels hosting displaced families, in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva, where shrapnel and rockets have damaged homes.

Dror Israel is also supporting other educators. This week, more than 200 principals and education directors from across Israel joined a professional webinar led by Dror Israel to better understand the evolving situation with Iran and gain tools for supporting students experiencing stress and anxiety.

Activity kits and trained educators create a bit of normalcy during long hours in bomb shelters.

In addition, activity kits created by Dror Israel’s educational department are being distributed to public bomb shelters nationwide in coordination with municipalities. The kits transform long hours of waiting into opportunities for connection, offering games, group activities, and tools that help neighbors support one another and build community resilience even in protected spaces.

Across Israel, educators and teen leaders continue showing up wherever children need them most: in shelters, community centers, schools, and hotels hosting displaced families.

Even in these uncertain times, connection, community, and education continue.