High school science teacher, Mr. Wilford Miranda, shared deep insights on the lessons he learned in the past year since the attacks of October 7.
“When I first heard about the attacks, I was confused. How was the Iron Dome overwhelmed?” he said. “I felt helpless because there was not much action I could take to help my students.” Along with the feelings of fear and anger he felt when he first heard of the attacks on Israel, Mr. Miranda also grew concerned over the fact that Hamas could attempt an attack on the United States. What got him through this initial state of shock and fear was the immense support that students had for Israel and for one another here at Scheck Hillel.
This October 7, Scheck Hillel hosted an event in which high school students were invited to listen to the wise words of three IDF soldiers and the sister-in-law of two hostages held in Gaza as they come to terms with this anniversary. “Knowledge is power, and if we continue spreading awareness and attention to our cause, I know we can find ways to move forward,” said Mr. Miranda. For him, the most impactful moment of the event was hearing the IDF soldiers express their gratitude to students who have written them holiday letters. These letters have helped the soldiers go through their day to day lives on the battlefield over the course of this war.
Even now, one year after the events of Oct. 7, Mr. Miranda continues to struggle with the lasting impact the attacks have had on both him and others around him. Mr. Miranda recalled the difficulty of guiding students through the aftermath of the attacks. “I still remember discouraging students from engaging with the psychological terror content that Hamas was parading on social media and instead focusing on bringing awareness to our political leaders for action,” he shared.
Since the attacks, Mr. Miranda has discovered a renewed appreciation for life and the Scheck Hillel community. He uses his influence as the head of the Gilinski Ambassador program to show support for the State of Israel. “Along with the Gilinski Ambassadors, we have brainstormed ways to nurture resilience and unity, such as the Israel Art Wall right outside the science classroom.”
Over the last year, what were once feelings of grief and anger slowly developed into a sense of hope and determination for Mr. Miranda. It is through the support of the Scheck Hillel community that his grief has been healed slowly. By guiding his students through the aftermath of Oct. 7 and establishing projects to show solidarity with the State of Israel through his Gilinski Ambassadors, Mr. Miranda and the Gilinski Ambassadors strive to serve as inspirations to many Scheck Hillel students dealing with the aftermath of Oct. 7.
