It might look a little like a video from ‘Krav Maga‘, but this is deadly serious: the Efrat Municipal Council in Gush Etzion is sending its local kindergarten and nursery school teachers and assistants for training in self-defense in case of terrorist attacks. For real.
One of the fastest growing communities in Israel, Efrat lawmakers decided it was better to prepare teachers to confront any possible scenario as reasonably as possible. The most vulnerable of all were those with the youngest charges, those in kindergarten and nursery grades.
The wave of terror that has swept Israel in recent months prompted the Council to make sure the teachers know how to defend themselves and their young charges in case a terrorist penetrates the school’s security fence and gets past the schools’ guards and patrols.
Teachers are to be equipped with pepper spray and taught how to use it effectively as well.
The decision comes in the wake of the horrific terror attack a few months ago that left a synagogue swimming in the blood of four English-speaking rabbis, three dual citizens from the U.S. and one dual citizen from the UK. A Druze police officer also gave his life to redirect the slaughter away from the rest of the congregants during the bloodbath in the Har Nof synagogue that day.
In addition, there have been numerous other terrorist stabbings in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Gush Etzion, making it clear the third Intifada is well underway.
“We should not have to wait for something to happen,” said Nava Assis, coordinator for the local effort. “Instead, we must be proactive. It’s better to think one step ahead and create a sense of personal security.”