Ever the go-getter, Tamar is a leader among the leaders of the Class of 2013, planning get-togethers, helping to coordinate Yavneh's new "families," of students in all four grades, pegging "big" and "little" siblings between seniors and new students.

Always at the head of the cheering line, Tamar, a recipient of Yavneh's 2012 Ruach Award and a constant in the Spirit Club, enjoys bringing the school's students together. "The best part of Yavneh is that you walk around in the hallway and everyone smiles at you," she said. "It's really the greatest feeling is to walk into the student lounge and everyone says 'hey,' and you feel at home.

"To wake up early in the morning to go to services and see so many girls sitting there and praying together  gives you the feelings of family, of togetherness. Whether it's seeing people who have graduated, who come back to visit, or meeting prospective students, there is always a warm feeling and you never feel alone.   

It's easy to be spirited about such a great place and I really do  

thank G-d for that."   

"Tamar is one of those students who are just easy to teach.   

She wants to learn and understand the material and she always  

tries to find the relevance in whatever we are learning," said Associate Principal/Judaic Programming, Naomi Schrager. "Her excitement  is contagious and she is incredibly spirited. Tamar is considerate  and respectful of others and is genuinely concerned about and for  

her friends.

Tamar moved with her family to Dallas, from Israel, in time to spend her eighth grade year at Akiba. The choice to attend Yavneh to continue her Jewish education, came because of the school's reputation, shared through campmates (Molly and Sophie '10 Geller, Mina Pulitzer '12 and Emily '12 and Sarah Rohan '10) she'd known at Camp Moshava in Pennsylvania. "There are a lot of kids from Dallas who go to Moshava and I went there, from Israel, for seven years," she said. "Everything we heard was the truth. Students do well in every class, even with the long day because of the teachers who always support us and they push us to do better. 

"I love teaching the parsha of the week to my students," said Tamar.  "I have to study it in a new way, a way that can be explained, not just for myself.  Because I want to work with children, this is a really good introduction --- and it's a lot of fun!"

They work hard to make every class enjoyable and we are glad to come back each day."

The daughter of Kineret and Shai, Tamar is the sister of Devora '10, Hadas '16, Elior, Jeoyada, and Eliyahu. Affiliated with Congregation Shaare Tefilla, Tamar extends her desire to work with kids there on Shabbat, where she can often be found with the youngest in the congregation.

Involved in many community and Yavneh programs during her high school years, Tamar has been a member of BBYO's Kravitz chapter, of Yavneh's Students Against Terrorism, Students4Students, the Spirit Club, and on the Lady Bulldog Basketball and Bulldog Tennis teams. Following her passion for children, Tamar has spent summers working at Akiba's Camp Mazal and helping her mother at home with her younger siblings.

Starting the college application process, Tamar is considering a future specializing in children's needs, perhaps in the field of speech therapy. "I absolutely love kids, something that has come I'm sure from my Mom's teaching me that family is first. Whatever I do, I'm pretty sure it will be something to do with helping kids."

"Tamar really is a second mother to so many," said Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum, Associate Principal/Judaic Curriculum, noting that as the second of six in her own home family, she's had much practice. "She is a rare find. I cannot count how many times she has come into my office to ask how she can help a particular student who may going through a rough time.

"Whether Tamar is volunteering to teach new students or making sure that we are prepared for our next holiday, Tamar is one of the main reasons that Yavneh is such a special school," said Rabbi Tannenbaum.

It is her caring and thoughtfulness that makes her an irreplaceable resource within our school."

Always a kid at heart, Tamar indeed has a spirit that overflows the paint cans with which she decorates every occasion.