An informational website for parents with a Ukrainian version has appeared in Israel. It explains how to act if a child is bullied at school, whom to complain to about the administration’s inaction, how to get help with Hebrew, and where to turn for special education issues. Parents are offered not only advice but also ready-made texts of appeals in Hebrew.
Author: R.Verter
October 20, 2026
For families from Ukraine, this is a practical thing. Understanding the Israeli school system can be difficult even for someone fluent in Hebrew. And when a parent knows the language worse than the child, an ordinary conversation with the principal can turn into correspondence, the meaning of which has to be checked through a translator.
The site is available in Ukrainian at parents.svoimgolosom.co.il/uk/.
Whom to write to if there is a problem at school
The parent section contains instructions for several typical situations: bullying in class, insults on the internet, a child’s reluctance to go to school, difficulties with transferring to another educational institution, and the need for psychological help.
The bullying section suggests starting with documenting specific cases: recording dates, saving messages, and writing down complaints.
Next, it is important to understand whom to address the appeal to. The homeroom teacher in Israel is the first interlocutor, but not the last instance.
In many schools, there is a yoetzet (יועצת) — a pedagogical consultant who deals with social and emotional difficulties of students. If the situation is not resolved, parents can contact the principal, the municipal education department, and the Ministry of Education of Israel.
Here, samples of letters in Hebrew are useful. You can describe what happened in a language understandable to the parent and then use the structure of an official appeal.
In cases of serious threats or violence, one letter to the school is not enough.
It is worth remembering the number 105. This is Israel’s 24-hour helpline for children and teenagers in cases of threats, bullying, and other violations on the internet. For immediate police assistance, the number 100 is used.
Hebrew in school: what rights does the child have
Another important topic is language adaptation. A Ukrainian student may understand the subject but not keep up with the teacher’s explanations in Hebrew. Parents do not always know if additional language support is provided for them.
In Israel, there are special Hebrew as a second language classes for students — new immigrants. The Ministry of Education provides eligible students with at least six hours of study per week.
However, conditions depend on the child’s status and program rules. This norm does not mean that every Ukrainian child in Israel is automatically entitled to the same hours.
It is necessary to check the specific situation of the student and the actual schedule at school. If there are no classes, parents should request clarification from the administration and, if necessary, from the Ministry of Education.
The Ukrainian instruction helps understand what questions to ask.
Why parents need a map of the Israeli system
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The site also contains contacts of organizations supporting families and materials about the education system.
In Israel, responsibilities are divided: the school is responsible for the educational process, local authorities solve part of the organizational issues, and the Ministry of Education establishes state rules and considers appeals within its powers.
For a new immigrant, the word “iriya” (עירייה) means municipality, that is, city administration. It is through the city education department that issues of enrollment and distribution of children in schools, as well as transfer to another educational institution, are often resolved.
Another useful official tool is the “Parent Portal” of the Ministry of Education, where after identification, you can receive information about children and send appeals.
Who is behind the site
The resource is associated with the Israeli organization “Merkazim” — Centers for Social Justice.
The organization has been operating since 2016, engages in local community initiatives, and also conducts the “In Your Voice” campaign aimed at involving new immigrants in elections. The parental project also advocates for more open information about school safety.
Here, a caveat is needed: this is a public resource, not an official website of the Ministry of Education. Therefore, sample statements are convenient as a starting point, but existing rights and procedures are better clarified in government services.
Why this is important specifically for Ukrainian families
Among those who arrived from Ukraine are new immigrants who received Israeli citizenship and people with temporary protection who left the country due to the Russian invasion. Their legal status and access to certain government programs may vary.
NANews previously reported on how the Knesset discussed the situation of Ukrainian refugees, children, and families. The Knesset is the parliament of Israel, which also oversees the work of government agencies.
But school problems arise every day. If a child is bullied, if they do not understand the lessons, or parents do not know how to arrange a meeting with the principal, they need accessible instructions.
Now such an informational resource is available in Ukrainian. Moreover, it can be used not only by families who arrived after 2022 but also by other Ukrainian-speaking parents in Israel.
Ukrainian version of the parent site: https://parents.svoimgolosom.co.il/uk/