Mayor Gabi Naaman, who has been in office for 26 years, coordinated a complex operation to bring back 80 per cent of the population despite the ongoing threat. During the crisis, operational centres were set up in Jerusalem, Haifa, Eilat, and other cities to maintain contact with the displaced.
On Sunday, the atmosphere at the school was charged with emotion as the students reunited after months of separation, while the teachers worked to re-establish a school routine.
Students celebrate their return to the classroomGianluca Cecere
Nitza Schwartz, an English teacher, recalls the day the war broke out: "I was in Brooklyn with my family. It was Shabbat, and we didn’t have phones, so we didn’t know what was happening. As soon as we learned about the war, we did everything to return. We slept at the airport, took flights through London and Ireland, and finally made it back to Israel. It was terrifying: not that we weren’t used to wars, but this one was different."
Schwartz emphasises how difficult it was to maintain educational continuity: "Each student experienced this differently. Some changed many schools, others studied in precarious conditions. Our job now is to rebuild a stable environment for them."
Many students spent months in temporary housing, moving from one city to another. Leah Reuben recalled: "We never knew how long we’d stay in one place. We had to keep adapting to new schools and new situations."
Kamisa, another student added: "Changing so many times made it hard to study and keep friendships."
Leah especially remembers the time spent in hotels for displaced people: "It was like living in a bubble, surrounded by people who didn’t know if they’d ever return home. The uncertainty was constant."
The education system took a severe blow. In the first months of evacuation, there was no stable school structure. "It wasn’t even school, it was more of a learning centre. We were constantly moving," says Shahaf.
Only later did some manage to settle in schools in Haifa and Kiryat Chaim, but the constant change of environment made it difficult to concentrate and feel a sense of belonging. Not everyone returned. Some students chose to stay in the schools of the cities where they had been evacuated to avoid further disruptions.
"My younger sister changed schools more times than I did, and in the end, she decided to stay at the school where she had settled in best," explained Shahaf.
Shlomi still bears the scars of the conflict. Many buildings show the damage from the attacks, and the rebuilding process is still underway. Some families returned to check the state of their homes, while others are unsure if they can stay.
Students going back to their school (Photo Gianluca Cecere)Gianluca Cecere
"We don’t know if we’ll return to Shlomi. My sister doesn’t want to, my parents are undecided. I’d like to because I love Shlomi: it’s a small place, a united community. But it’s also scary. From the window, we can see Hezbollah. We don’t know what will happen," said Shahaf.
During the ceasefire, some residents had the chance to visit their homes. Shahaf remembers: "There were times we could return to check the house, other times it was impossible. At the start of the war, soldiers patrolled the streets, and we couldn’t get in. When we finally returned, we found shrapnel damage and issues with the water and electricity pipes."
Shlomi’s mayor, Gabi Naaman, confirms the challenges of reconstruction: "We’re working to ensure that all families can return safely. There are still many challenges, but we’re determined to bring Shlomi back to normal." However, even as the Shlomi community prepares to rebuild, the mayor remembered the hostages. "We have 59 hostages still in Hamas’s hands, and we cannot talk about a return without thinking of them. The real day we can be happy will be when these hostages come home safe and sound," he added.
Students sit and chat, reconnecting after months apart (Photo Gianluca Cecere)Gianluca Cecere
Despite the difficulties, the young people of Shlomi are looking ahead. Many see military service as an opportunity to contribute to their country. Shahaf, like many of his peers, has decided to enlist in a combat unit: "I want to do something meaningful. After this war, many young people have felt the need to contribute actively." Other students share the same sentiment. "I never thought I’d join a combat unit, but after everything we’ve been through, I feel it’s the right thing to do."
In the hallways of ORT School, students laughed and talked with each other, trying to rebuild the bonds broken by the war. Returning home is not just a logistical issue but an emotional and psychological process that will take time. Shlomi is coming back to life, one step at a time.
