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AMIT MARKS ABSENCE OF GILAD SHALIT
New York City, September 4, 2008...... School began for tens of thousands of children throughout Israel on Monday, September 1st. In each of the 700 classrooms of the elementary, junior and senior high schools of the AMIT Network, one chair was left empty to mark the absence of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held in captivity for more than two years.
"The joy of the opening of the new school year is not complete without the return of this young soldier to Israel and his family," commented Dr. Amnon Eldar, director general of the AMIT Network.
The AMIT schools dedicated the first class of the year to the subject of Jewish law and the redemption of prisoners. The students also recited Psalms on behalf of Cpl. Shalit, who was 22 years old on August 28th.
AMIT enables Israel's youth to realize their potential and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, religious values and Zionist ideals.
AMIT educates and cares for Israel's youth, including the most vulnerable. Some 70 per cent of AMIT students cope with educational, psychological, economic and/or social risk factors. AMIT approaches each child as an individual, maximizing his or her potential, and enabling our students to become vital, productive members of Israeli society. The AMIT schools promote religious tolerance, service to the state and the recognition that every child is blessed with unique talents and abilities. Founded in 1925, AMIT operates more than 70 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs, constituting Israel’s only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education incorporating academic and technological studies.
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Media Contact:
Barbara Goldberg
Director of Communications
212-477-4728
barbarag@amitchildren.org
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