Shalom Kita Alef!

שָׁלוֹם כִּתָּה אָלֶף!

September 1st was the first day of school. Almost 1.5 million students in Israel concluded their two-month summer vacation, loaded their backpacks and headed to elementary, middle, and high school. 135,000 students experienced their first day of school, wearing little badges with the words: שָׁלוֹם כִּתָּה א’ (shalom kita alef, Hello first grade). My family enjoyed the last evening of the summer vacation at the beach, playing in the warm Mediterranean water, feeling the sand under our feet, and eating Hummus and Israeli salad while watching the sunset of the vacation and awaiting the rise of a new beginning at school.

My children continued at the same schools with the same head-teachers and same classes – only a year older. This, I must say, made the transition from vacation to school easier and calmer. My daughter, who only last year took her first steps into elementary school, looked at the first graders with much compassion, feeling how big she is now in reference to them. She told me that now she knows every corner at school and was very happy to meet her old teacher and friends. My son, who began 4th grade, came to school very motivated – I wish it lasts! And my eldest, who is now at the highest grade of middle school, feels how important this year is in preparation for high school.

The Israeli Education System

I would like to take this opportunity to familiarize you with the Israeli education system and some related Hebrew words.
An Israeli child begins formal education at the age of five. From this time until 12th grade, children are entitled to study within the system due to Free Compulsory Education Law (חֹק חִנּוּךְ חוֹבָה, xok xinukh xova).

Here are the names of the school sections:

Every grade is named by its numerology value (גִּימַטְרִיָּה, gimatriya) . For example, the value of the letter א (alef) is one, and therefore first grade is called “kita alef” (כִּתָּה א‘); the value of the letter ט (tet) is nine, and therefore ninth grade is called “kita tet” (כִּתָּה ט‘).

And here are some important words related to school:

As our new Hebrew online semester began at the same time, I feel the excitement coming from both my children and my Hebrew students from all over the world. As a teacher, I enjoy these new beginnings tremendously. Let us all have a wonderful year!