Today, 2 Rosh Chodesh Elul, or September 1st as the Israeli public school system registers the day, is the first day of the news school year. The nation’s public schools are opening and police and MDA are operating in accordance with the realization that many children will be making their way to school, not all paying attention as they should at crosswalks and intersections. Motorists are requested to be especially alert at crosswalks in proximity to schools.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service provider is ready for the day, and will be standing by with a larger-than-usual staff.

MDA was also given the responsibility to provide first aid to some 1.5 million students in 4,000 schools nationwide, replacing school nurses, eliminated due to budget cuts.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)