To have Abby Coben back in the halls of Yavneh - even though the halls are new to her, is a great sight.  Her laugh, her spirit, and her enthusiasm - connecting her to the students and reconnecting her to the faculty; most of whom were on staff during her student days - is wonderful.

"I decided to attend Yavneh because I wanted to continue my Jewish education in an environment that incorporates a love for Israel with a serious focus on thought-based learning," said Ethan who will participate in the Israel Experience at Bar Ilan University before attending university. "It is still amazing to me that so much can fit into a one-day schedule and I believe the reason that Yavneh's students are so successful is due to the time management is learned, key to the structure of anyone's life." 

"I enjoy every moment of my time at Yavneh because unlike many other schools Yavneh is a family," said Ethan. "Everyone knows everyone and that is rare in a school. The students and faculty are very close and welcoming and I know that if I have a problem with anything I can turn to a teacher or fellow student and they will always help."

"Looking back on our time together, as a teacher and student, I may say I am one of the few teachers that were fortunate to teach the same group of students from Kindergarten to High School and Ethan is part of my Hebrew class for the last 10 years," said Hebrew teacher, Dorit Bracha.  "His love for Hebrew and his appetite for knowledge on Judaism, Israel, and its culture are quite admiring."

"I will certainly miss Ethan's smile, a smile that can defuse any strenuous circumstances," said Dorit.  "His ability to use humor to absorb more information, resolve problems, enhances his interrelations skills. His in depth knowledge and deep multifaceted thinking is a gift for every Hebrew class he attended. Always inquisitive and expresses an impressive desire to learn more about Israel, Judaism, etc. I am confident that his days as a pillar of community will come in time."

Those pillar days will have had their foundation at Yavneh as Ethan leaves behind a legacy of service as Treasurer, Vice-President, and President of Students Against Terrorism and as Secretary, Vice President, and President of Uniting Students of Dallas. "I am proud of the awareness raised due to the efforts of Students Against Terrorism and Uniting Students of Dallas," said Ethan. "Mr. O'Quinn is truly a blessing and when you need his help, he is always there. I have learned how to run finances and how to balance school and extracurricular programs. Through programs like USD, Yavneh has helped put itself on the map, informing people about the school and its excellent educational opportunities."

In addition to these key leadership roles, Ethan has served as a Student Ambassador, as reporter and Layout Editor of The Bulldog Print newspaper, as a Student Council Representative for three years, and he's been a Bulldog Basketball team member for four years.

The Dallas native and son of Dan and Stephanie, and brother of Alex and Jordan '12, Ethan served as President, Moreh (Membership/Brotherhood chair), and Mazkir (secretary) of BBYO's Morton Lewis AZA and he's spent 11 years through the Young Judea camp program; at CYJ, Tel Yehuda in New York, and Machon summer tour to Israel.  This summer, he'll return to Wimberley as a counselor.

"Ethan has a quiet, but powerful, no nonsense demeanor that is always respectful and polite. In the classroom, he is a hard worker always working extra hours to get the job done or to understand the necessary material," said Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum.  "Some students were meant to follow and others were meant to lead.  There is no question that Ethan Prescott, was born to be a leader.

 "When my Grandfather founded Akiba Academy, he had a dream and vision for the city of Dallas and the Jewish children in it.  Deciding to attend Yavneh was, for me, an easy choice," said Miles, speaking of his Grandfather, Marcus Rosenberg z"l. "I think for anyone to see firsthand the production of ones hard work is very fulfilling and I am sure, while always wanting to strive to make it even better, he would be more then pleased at the result of his efforts."

"Although I didn't know too many people who went to Yavneh, I chose to meet new people and spread my horizons," said Bess who came to Yavneh from G.B. Dealey Montessori.  "I enjoy attending Yavneh because I learn something mind-blowingly cool and new everyday. There is never a dull moment."

"Kids will be successful if they desire such success and Yavneh provides a safe haven for such kids," said Bess.  "Yavneh nurtures and tends to the budding minds of my fellow generation and the staff is patient and caring -you can tell they really care about us.  At Yavneh no child is left behind."

Looking forward to attending Texas State University in the fall, Bess plans to become an elementary school science teacher, one to make sure no children from the next generation are left behind, as well.  "I just want to make learning magical for children because to learn is to awaken the adventurous side in yourself," she said.  "I went to a Montessori school all my life before Yavneh and the Montessori program ingrains in children a love for learning. Each teacher I've learned from has given me something entirely different."

A lifetime camper at Echo Hill Ranch, "that little green valley deep in the southland," Bess has spent the last two summers at a member of the camp's staff.  "Echo Hill is a noncompetitive ranch camp for boys and girls that uses the summer for pure play. No winners, no losers, just a fantastic summer filled with smiles which has become a wonderland home away from home for me.

"I've created lasting friendships at Yavneh.  Everyone comes from the same place - the same heritage and that is the common ground that holds us together," said Bess.  "But in a school with such little diversity, you can still find differences subtly hidden."

A Dallas native, the daughter of Beckie and Andy, and sister to Nathaniel, Bess is a member of Congregation Shearith Israel.  A constant in Yavneh's Theatre Department, Bess has performed in "A Dybbuk," "The Miracle Worker," and "Alice in Wonderland."

"Bess is an artistic and creative soul, and these traits become quite apparent in the classroom," said Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum.  "Her comments, questions, and writing assignments are all soaked with such feeling and emotion. She also uses these traits to form deep and lasting relationships with her both her peers and her teachers." 

"Bess constantly seeks new ways to find spirituality and religious growth through her art and creativity," said Rabbi Tannenbaum.  "I am sure that Bess will continue to use these unique talents and abilities to be come a great person and a role model for others."

A member of Yavneh's Helping Everyone Live Peacefully, for which she served as chair of the Save Darfur campaign, Bess works part-time at school as an office assistant, and she's also involved with Yavneh's Hashinui/The Change Environmental organization, pushing the campus' recycling efforts.

"We only have one planet, which we call home, and we can not just turn our heads and let mankind do it's deed," said Bess.  "We must raise awareness in our community and think globally, act locally.  I think it is awesome that Yavneh supports student run organizations, giving the student body a sense of empowerment that no classroom can teach."

To see Bess on campus, or anywhere else for that matter, is to see a smile, laughter, and a skip in her step.  It's no wonder that her response to "the best of Yavneh," is "the plethora of white butterflies you can find around campus." 

For you Bess, we hope, and expect, that plethora to surround you, your whole life through.

Aaron Liener '09

   (with David Kravitz '09

        and Asriel Agronin '09)

When a student considers how to spend a year in Israel, there a variety of factors that come into play. Religious observance, type of program, and how the student will benefit are a few good examples. But one that rarely comes up is how the student will give back to Israel. In that sense, my year in Israel has been abnormal. After a very successful Points for Peace last year, ATZUM, the beneficiary of last year's tournament, asked me to help them implement the tournament in Jerusalem. At first I was riddled with doubts: Could this tournament be transplanted from Dallas to Israel? Would ATZUM and I be able to find enough donors to back the event? Would there be enough volunteers to establish such an event? The answer to all of those questions was YES!

Starting in September, I was put in contact with Nalani Daniel, the tournament coordinator, and we started laying the framework for the tournament. We spent long hours finding a site, securing donations, and advertising the first annual Hoops for Hope, among the many other tasks that go along with running a basketball tournament.

Our long hours of work proved fruitful as the Hoops for Hope tournament had 120 players (30 teams), 40 volunteers, and raised $10,000 (38,000NIS). The tournament, which took place on March 9 at Malkha Stadium, proved to be a very successful project, as students from different yeshivas, seminaries, and gap-year programs came out to play and volunteer from all over Israel, from places as far away as Zichron Yaakov, a city near Haifa that is two hours away!

I'd like to give special thanks the alumni from Yavneh who played or volunteered in the tournament: Asriel Agronin, Molly Geller, David Kravitz, and William Zalstein. I'd also like to thank Rabbi Levi Lauer, head of the ATZUM foundation, who gave me the resources to help be a part of such an amazing project and Nalani, who did the work of the entire SAT board almost entirely by herself! She really is an amazing individual and I am lucky to have worked with her.

Finally, I'd like to thank the Jewish community in Dallas. Your continued support of Points for Peace and SAT have allowed individuals such as me to bring my experiences to Israel and help raise funds for victims of terror in the country where they reside! I can't think of a better community to have grown up in!

While my Israel experience isn't over yet, I certainly have enjoyed my time there! I will be in Dallas until April 8th, please feel free to contact me with any questions about my time in Israel! Best wishes for a chag kasher v'sameach!