Israeli elementary school students headed back to school on Friday, and middle and high school students returned to studies this morning. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the opportunity to highlight the biblical heritage of the Jewish people in this land.
On what he called “a very happy day for you and I am certain for your parents as well,” and a “happy day for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu addressed first-graders on the first day of school at Almog Primary School in Ma’ale Adumim.
“I ask you that as you look around you and see your friends, every one of you is special and everyone is equal. Look at each other, be friends and be good to each other,” he said in Hebrew. “Learn well and listen to your teachers and be good boys and girls to each other.”
Netanyahu told a boy named Yonatan that thousands of years ago, there also a little boy named Yonatan, who spoke and prayed to God in Hebrew, and that in another 3,000 years, another boy named Yonatan would do the same in Israel.
“You, Yonatan, and you children are the continuation of these children in the same place,” he said. “This is our land. This is our language and this is our past. It is also our future. We want you to study Hebrew and the story of our people and of this land.” But also study many new things – from the past and the future. Do you know what? In another 3,000 years, there will be another Yonatan here.”
With reporting by JNS.
Israel Goes Back to School, Sort Of…
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One response to ““This is our land”: Netanyahu hails Jewish continuity as he marks start of school year”
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It is great to see the country’s leader concerned about giving the children a future and hope rather than exploiting them.