When the school bell rang again after October 7, many children returned not to the classrooms they left, but to new ones — in temporary buildings, different cities, or with unfamiliar teachers. The posters were the same, but the air felt different. The walls that once held laughter now carried memories of fear.
Teachers did their best to welcome their students with smiles, but behind every smile was an unspoken question: How do we make them feel safe again?
Mental Health First Aid Israel calls this challenge the restoration of trust — helping children and educators believe once more that school is a place of safety, belonging, and hope.
MHFA facilitators emphasize that before academics can resume, safety must be rebuilt — not through promises, but through presence.
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