"I can't wait to spend every day auditioning for roles and to start my professional acting career," said Daniel.  "I want to craft my skills so that I can become a great comedic actor.  The glass is always half-full and I want to be the one to make people realize that, even in the toughest moments."  

Attending Yavneh allowed Daniel, a former AkibaKid and student at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, to find his place.  "I knew that I needed to attend Yavneh so that I could have a great education, and to have a more religious connection, but I enjoy going here because, for the first time in my life, I felt that I belonged.  Everyone here plays an important role in making THE Yavneh family."

"It isn't only the students that I can count on. I have never felt so close to an adult before I came to Yavneh.  A lot of my teachers sincerely think about their students outside of the classroom,  devoting their time to helping their students grow," said Daniel, noting  teachers have bought him books, printed articles, and had guests come to Yavneh to discuss his passion for acting.

"Daniel is a hard working student, even when it doesn't come easy.  I admire his academic approach to learning about the art of acting and especially comedy," said English teacher, Bonnie Atkins.  "To learn more about the industry, he began writing movie reviews, using what he learned in AP English to further his own career goals! Daniel is bravely carving out a niche for himself and educating himself in a very independent way."

A member of Congregation Ohr HaTorah, and associated with Congregation Shaare Tefilla and NCSY, Daniel works part time at Zinga Yogurt.  On Campus, he has been a member of Yavneh's Kidz Korner, Spirit Club, and the Yearbook Crew.  He is a movie critic for The Bulldog Print and he has acted in "Epic Adventures in A Rinky Dink Art Museum," "The Secret Garden," and "The Importance of Being Earnest."  In this year's production of "Antigone," celebrating the 10^th anniversary of Yavneh's Theatre program, Daniel will portray one of three narrators.

"I saw Shrek and I could mimic the voice of the donkey," said Daniel who co-hosts "That Nerd Show," an online radio program.  "People laughed, with me - not at me, and I realized I wanted to spend my life laughing, and making others do the same."

"Daniel is becoming one of our great Yavneh success stories," said Associate Principal, Dr. Tim Cloward.  "He has made tremendous progress and we are all interested to see where he will end up.   Daniel has infected much of the student body with his passion for theater, and his talent and desire for acting and writing promise to take him in exciting directions."

Daniel's ability to make people forget their troubles is a talent, and a gift, and it is his to open and share with the world.  Lucky for the Yavneh Family, we got to giggle thru him first!