Names, Not Numbers is an elective that offers the seniors of MTA the opportunity to make their own a documentary of a personal interview with a living Holocaust survivor. The program started at MTA a few years ago with only a few students and has now grown to attract over 30 students. 

This past week, the seniors started interviewing their survivors, a process which will continue in the coming weeks. The next step will be for the students to start editing their films, having the option to use software like Final Cut Pro which is what real movie makers in Hollywood use. 

The course concludes in May with a big dinner in which the full documentary is shown in front of the students, the survivors, and their families. This elective is a once in a life time opportunity. 

As a senior who is taking the course, I can truly say that it has changed my life and the way I look at everything. 

This past Thursday, the entire YUHSB community was privileged to attend yet another school-wide Hatzioni event, this one featuring Ambassador Danny Ayalon as the guest speaker. Ayalon was Israel's Ambassador to the United States from 2002 until 2006. He then served as a member of the Knesset and was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until early last year. Currently, Ayalon is a visiting professor at YU, teaching a college course on Israeli Foreign Policy.

In his speech, the Ambassador spoke about the historical bond of the Jewish people to the land of Israel and our moral right to have a homeland there. He addressed the strong need for U.S. support for Israel, and for student advocacy on behalf of the Jewish State. Ambassador Ayalon concluded by taking several questions from the audience, to which he gave very-fitting answers, based on his experiences as a public figure in the Israeli Government.

It was a true privilege to have Ambassador Ayalon speak to us, and it's a big honor to have him on our campus as a YU faculty member for this semester. Thank you to all who attended and participated in this enjoyable experience. We look forward to hosting more Hatzioni events in the months ahead.

The topic of the speech, "Haman- the first anti-Semite," delved into anti-Semitism from how it began, how it mutated, and most importantly, how to fight it. However, perhaps most amazing about the speech was not the topic, but the person who gave it and the manner in which he did. 

Rabbi Sacks blended Torah and history seamlessly, beautifully demonstrating his mastery in both disciplines. Not only is Rabbi Sacks a role model for us all, but he also teaches each MTA student to not only to learn based on, but to live by, the motto of the institution - Torah U'mada.