Hanna's smile is brighter than the sun, her personality blooms bright, and the depth of her soul is deeply rooted in the traditions of her heritage.  She is a natural at Yavneh, a flowering expression of what a Jewish education can give a child.

"It was incredibly important to my parents that Sophie and I have a Jewish education through high school," said Hanna, the daughter of Denise and Mark, who moved to Dallas, from San Antonio, specifically so she and her sister could attend Yavneh.  Previously, the girls attended the Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy and Akiba Academy. "I feel that all of my teachers have not only been accessible, but they are eager to help me and my classmates excel. I always look forward to school because it is the perfect blend of hard work and rewarding relationships."  

"Teaching Hannah has been a true gift. She has an artist's soul and a creative mind, two very important features for every mathematician," said math teacher, Nicole Friedman.  "Hanna pushes herself to think out of the box and she is driven to succeed, despite all obstacles. She always greets me with a smile on her face and her warm personality." 

Hanna has taken the love and respect she has for the education she's received, and she pays it forward to children at the Weitzman Religious School at Congregation Shearith Israel, where she is a tutor in the Kesher program, supporting children with special needs.   "I realize I have a tremendous privilege to have a Jewish education infused into my daily schedule and I realize it's valuable," she says.  "For children with special needs we are able to integrate their learning, to meet their needs, and it's an incredible honor to me to work with them."

  Hanna, a former member of Yavneh's Lady Bulldogs Volleyball team, attends Congregation Shaare Tefilla.  She is involved in Bnei Akiva Dallas, National Council of Synagogue Youth, and the Dallas chapter of Yachad/National Council for Jewish Disabilities.  She's volunteered at Presbyterian Hospital, participated in the Gloria Sheilds All-American Publication Workshop (where she won Best News Conference Story), and worked as a counselor at Camp Stone.

"I try to be creative everyday," said Hanna, an actress in the Theatre Department productions, a Reporter and Copy Editor of the Bulldog Print, and the Visual Arts Editor of the '13 YAD Journal, this year, Editor-in-Chief of the YAD.

"I love getting to review lots of poetry and photography but I get to see so much beyond the 'expected,'" said Hanna.  "There are so many surprises by students you wouldn't know were talented, and I'm excited to be able to give that deserved recognition.  I appreciate Dr. Cloward for the emphasis on the arts as it enriches our school and the students."

Accepted to Austin College, Hendrix College, Southwestern University, Stern College at Yeshiva University, as well as to the Bar Ilan Israel Experience and Midreshet Harova in Israel. Hanna is only awaiting word from the UT Liberal Arts Honors Program before making a decision for next year, her future goals on a career in alternative medicine or education.

Looking forward to going on the March of the Living  Tour this April, Hanna looks at the trip as a responsibility, in addition to an incredible experience.  "My Grandpa Joe, who is 89, is a survivor and I feel like this trip is for me to become a witness to what happened, so I can return and educate my own children, and other people, with a credibility that  goes beyond stories I've heard all of my life," said Hanna.  "I feel very connected and I'm really looking forward to the physical connection to a place that had such impact on my family and so many others."

"Hanna is a free spirit in every sense of the word. She loves to sing and dance, she is passionate about Judaism and her relationship with Hashem, and she is very in tune with her own spirituality," said Associate Principal/Judaic Programming, Naomi Schrager.  "Hanna thinks deeply about almost everything and carefully weighs the advantages and disadvantages or every decision she makes. Thankfully, her incredibly mature disposition does not keep her from having fun! She has transformed in so many ways during her high school time, but the one consistent thing has always been her smile.

Hanna, you are a natural at Yavneh and you have planted seeds of tradition, soul, creativity, and constant care in all of us. 

Yavneh's Students Against Terrorism (SAT) is gearing up for its 12^th Annual Points for Peace Basketball Tournament, slated for Sunday, March 9, from 9am to 4pm at the JCC.  The community is invited to participate in athlete categories include children in grades one through high school and adults, also including a Special Edition teams for those living with special needs.

 "Yavneh's students who participate in SAT don't just talk about Israel and the situation there, but we make it our responsibility to do something in order to help those in need as victims of terrorism," said Itai Guttman '14, co-President of SAT, with Dania Tanur '14, who recalls his first P4P tournament, winning the 7/8 grade division championship.         "We are all one big family, and whenever one person is hurt or needs our help, we step up and try to provide for them in order for them to be happy."

"Yavneh is so much about chesed, acts of charity, and creating a familial atmosphere wherever its students and faculty are present and SAT promotes that message with its ability to unify individuals from around the community and city to speak up, raise awareness and fight for a meaningful cause," said Dania.  "I love that people from all ages can not only participate in the tournament and event, but can also actively engage in their world and acknowledge who and what they are helping and why it is important." 

"The dedication of the Roberta Project for Survivors of Terror, considers all of the damages that are infringed upon survivors of terrorism." The 2014 P4P tournament will benefit ATZUM's Roberta Project for Survivors of Terror. "ATZUM promotes agents of change and advocacy, and we found that to be a unique and shared factor with SAT, a message and courage to actively make the change that is most important," said Dania. 

In addition to the Points for Peace tournament, Yavneh's Students Against Terrorism has directed SAT Movie Nights, promoted Strong4Israel bracelets, Roses for Israel, all of which have raised over $650,000 to support programs including Camp Koby, which provides a nurturing camp program, the Keren Malka Foundation which provides long-term no-cost loans of expensive medical equipment, to ATZUM, which distributes funds directly to families whose lives have been irreparably shattered, to One Family Fund's Adopt-A-Family, Sderot AfterShock and Lifeline to the North projects, to the NATAL Israel Trauma Center, and to ZAKA - Rescue & Recovery, a volunteer organization that serves in search, rescue, and recovery operations following terror attacks, bombings, or natural disasters.

Dania and Itai off-the-court tournament planning team includes Hadas Cohen '15, Jason Epstein '14, Adam Karnett '14, Talia Klein '14, Sam Kleinman '14, Steve Levine '16, Risa Mond '16, Grant Prengler '15, Erin Wernick '15, and Benji Zoller '16.

"Our student leaders are taught, and they teach us - by their example - about giving back to the community and the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam,repairing the world," said Dr. David Portnoy, Head of School.  "In Israel, thousands of people our kids will never know have been impacted by the goodness that comes from a community connecting on basketball courts in Dallas.  It really is something magnificent." 

"It means a lot to me to be a part of SAT which really goes "out of the box," helping people we don't even know," said Itai.  "What we do know is they need our help."  

Click here to register for the event, and for more information on how to make a donation to Students Against Terrorism, visit studentsagainstterrorism.org

"The Rabbi Klein internship intersects perfectly with the education students at Yavneh receive, both intent on expressing the importance of making our world a better place, and their responsibility to care for their community," said Mrs. Schwitzer.  "The internship focuses on advocacy, philanthropy, community engagement, direct service, and social entrepreneurship - all missions that will serve our students well throughout their lifetimes."

Students who are currently in their Sophomore or Junior year at a local high school, or who will be 16 years old by September 1, 2014, may apply for the internship.

"Yavneh students have always added energy and enthusiasm to our program. They have always been bright rays of light that shined brightly, reflecting their strength and leadership, at the agencies they served," said Mrs. Schwitzer, speaking of Yavneh participants including Rachel Chanon '13, Lane Engelberg '13, Jason Epstein '14, Rachel Goodman '13, Adam Karnett '14, Elan Kogutt '11, Scott Lacritz '15, Kayley Romick '13, Emily Rosenfeld '12, and Erin Wernick '15 who served internships at sites including the Dallas Arboretum, Bea's Kids, Community Homes for Adults, Inc, and at the summer program at Torah Day School of Dallas.  "The students have always been wonderful ambassadors for JFS and we are thankful for their service and dedication. We are excited and look forward to welcoming the 2014 interns this summer."

The spirit of great giving also scored high Monday night as Students4Students raised more than $1500 in an effort to add a classroom to the Sera Warka school that the Yavneh student organization built in Gondar, Ethiopia.

"I'm so impressed by the amount of help that students, who aren't even members of S4S, gave to this project," said S4S President, Lauren Siegel.  "It was really great for so many Bulldog fans to support us in this really important effort and I was glad to see the community of parents and guests to the campus also want to help."

Kol Hakavod to Yavneh's Varsity Bulldog Basketball team who won their first TAPPS District Division Championship.  Coaches David Zimmerman, Dr. Max Ribald, Zack Pollack, and Bryant Nash and managers Ethan Fisher and Jonathan Kravitz led our players;

Jason Epstein, Lee Gelsky, Itai Guttman, Ori Guttman, Adam Karnett, Sam Kleinman, Steve Levine, Jonathan Ochstein, Grant Prengler, David Rudomin, Adam Schor, Zak Schultz, Adam Steinbrecher, David Steinbrecher, and Noah Weiss, on to victory!    

Be sure to join us on Tuesday, February 18 at 7:30pm, in the Schultz Family Gym, when the Bulldogs playoff against the Irving Highlands Trailblazers.

Shabbos Sharing ~

Yavneh students spent Shabbat with the Shaare Tefilla community last weekend, coming together in a Shabbaton filled with friendship, ruach, and deep meaning. "Sometimes it feels like Yavneh students are Energizer bunnies - they just keep going and going," said Naomi Schrager, Associate Principal/Judaic Programming.  "That is one of the reasons that our Shabbatons are so crucial, really an opportunity for our community to just be together without any pressure, deadlines, or grades.

 

More than have of the student body celebrated Friday night dinner at the homes of their Jewish Thought & Law teachers, and to Amitai '16, Shanee '14, Gianina and Shimon Abouzaglo and family for hosting the tenth grade class.  Shabbos lunch was enjoyed at the homes of Naomi & Rabbi Jeff Schrager and Meir '15, Cheryl & Norman Epstein.  Many thanks too to the family of Clara '15, Marilynn and David Wohlstadter for hosting Saturday night's Oneg Shabbat, filled with food, schmoozing, and song.

 

"While our other, more formal Shabbatons on-campus weekend and at Mount Lebanon are 'bigger,' the informal atmosphere of eating in teachers' homes and being in the larger community for Shabbat is beautiful," said Mrs. Schrager.  "Our faculty always considers it a gift to be able to spend Shabbat with our students through their Divrei Torah, their singing and their good nature. They always enhance Shabbat.