The events of October 7 and their aftermath marked a turning point in how the role of Hebrew language educators in the Diaspora is understood. Before then, their responsibilities were largely defined in linguistic terms: teaching Hebrew and fostering communicative competence within the cultural framework of its native speakers. Yet the events of that Simhat Torah reverberated far beyond Israel, affecting Jewish communities worldwide and significantly expanding the perceived scope of Hebrew teachers’ professional responsibilities.

A study we conducted among Hebrew educators found that, following the attack and the ensuing war, many teachers were surprised to find themselves on the “front line” of intensive explanatory and interpretive work, not only with students but sometimes with the broader school community. By virtue of teaching a language deeply intertwined with Israeli society and experience, they were almost automatically perceived as authorities not only on linguistic matters but also on Israel’s socio-political realities.