Guide to Final Days Before School Starts in Israel

It happens in even the best families: As September 1 approaches, the traditional start date for Israel's school year, set for reasons that remain somewhat unclear, at least one parent begins preparing for the occasion as though heading into battle.

Drawing on the biblical strategy attributed to Jacob, Israeli parents employ a three-pronged approach: gifts (small presents for teachers, both new and returning, to ensure a smooth first week), prayer (purchasing a small prayer book for the school bag, even for first-graders who will receive a larger one during the opening week that will steadily lose pages throughout the year), and struggle (transforming the living room into a battlefield while searching for borrowed books from early summer and debating which parent will handle school drop-off on the first day).

The situation becomes particularly acute for families whose teachers have unexpectedly announced a surprise quiz on the very first day of school, a decision that adds urgency to what is already a stressful transition.

Parents and their children (Shutterstock )

One More Day

This year presents a unique situation: the first day of school falls midweek rather than at the week's start, leaving the average family with two final days for last-minute preparations and purchasing missing supplies from lists typically sent by educational institutions at the beginning of summer break.

For children, these represent the last opportunity before the Sukkot holiday break to watch movies and attend performances, meet friends at basketball and soccer courts in the morning (or at ice cream shops for those who prefer to avoid sports), and generally enjoy two more days of chosen idleness, which tends to irritate busy parents with its unbearable background noise.

This explains why most parents during the first half of this week, leading up to the anticipated Tuesday, mumble something indistinct under their breath. Only those standing very close can hear them saying: "Just one more day... one more day... don't get upset... one more day and they're back at school, thank G-d!"

The reason adults become irritated by children's idleness during summer's final days and yearn for the return to school is that as people age, they forget the magical period of their own childhood, particularly their lack of enthusiasm for studies, teachers, and school in general. Conversely, family psychologists explain the phenomenon of photographing children on their first day of school or posing with them under the traditional balloon arch at the school entrance as a "second childhood" experience for parents who didn't particularly enjoy their own first day of school, and through their young children receive a corrective experience.

Summer vacation can look different. (Shutterstock )

What to Do at Zero Hour

Older students returning to higher grades are familiar with the term "zero hour", a day when classes begin one hour earlier than the time listed on the schedule sent to mobile phones about a week before the school year starts. Some use zero hour to properly prepare for exams, others stay busy with updates on their phones, and the vast majority barely manage to stay awake, practicing seated sleep with one eye half-open so teachers won't suspect.

Borrowing the "zero hour" concept for the day before returning to school, there are several approaches to spending it:

The practical approach: Follow the principle of "the end of action is first in thought" and prepare all necessary school supplies.

The combined approach: Pack the bag with what's needed for the first day, then spend the rest of the day with friends or parents.

The social approach (recommended): Remember this is the last day of vacation and do something enjoyable together as a family. Preparing the bag and school clothes can be postponed until an hour before bedtime, maximizing every remaining moment of freedom.

Child with their mother before heading back to school (Shutterstock )

The Send-Off Conversation

There's one thing advisable not to postpone until the first day of the school year: a parent-child conversation about the new year ahead. Psychologists and educational counselors consistently emphasize that preparing for transitions in children's lives requires open conversation in a pleasant atmosphere for everyone, ensuring the transition is safe and thoughtful. Whether going on an outing, engaging in an activity, or even having dinner at a restaurant, it's appropriate and desirable to use the waiting time before ordering to wish all the children a successful school year.