WorldQuest  ~  

  photos Lisa Cope & Dia Epstein 

Yavneh's WorldQuest team, in its fourth year, reached the top 10 in the 2014 World Affairs Council of Dallas/FortWorth Academic WorldQuest Competition. 

With three teams on board, Yavneh has made itself present to the sponsoring organization, and we expect continued success.

  First team students, who came in 10^th place, of 86 competing teams, from 39 schools, are Jordan  

Cope '14, Alan Presberger '17, Jason Epstein '14, and Mitchell Levinson '16.  With a previous best of 22^nd place, last year, the group is thrilled with their increasing success.

Second Team members who finished 43^rd are Amitai Abouzaglo '16,  

Austin Jacoby '15, Scott Lacritz '15, and Aaron Minsky '17 and our Third Team; Tommy Erlich '15, Ron Heart '16, Jacob Lambert '16, Zach Lampert '17, came in 61^st place.

"We are incredibly proud of the success our World Quest squad experienced this year.  They were competing against many schools that had faculty and classes dedicated to preparation for the competition.  Our squad did it all themselves and more than held their own," said Assistant Principal, and World Quest sponsor, Dr. Tim Cloward.  "To have a "Top Ten" team and two mid-level finishers is quite an accomplishment.  These kids are obviously disciplined and smart."

The Academic WorldQuest Competition tests students on subjects including Cybersecurity, U.S. Energy Policy, Global Economic Realignment, Middle East, Global Environmental Issues, U.S. Education, UN Millennium Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty & Hunger, Global Health, Geography, and Current Events.

"It's an incredible leap from twenty-second place, to tenth, for your team and definitely something to be proud of," said Jennifer Bowden, Executive Director, International Education Program of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/FortWorth.  "For Mitchell and Alan, who will be able to compete for another two and three years, as well as the members of Yavneh's second and third teams, the reach to the top is not at all out of the question.  It's tough, and very competitive, but definitely possible."

"Dr. Cloward has been a big part of our success and helped push us forward, and the school has gotten behind our Junior World Affair Council of Yavneh," said Jordan Cope, who founded the Yavneh team during his Freshman year.  "We've grown so much over these four years, and I'm very proud.  I'm proud to have exposed students to foreign affairs and subjects they might not otherwise have come to study.  We are all global citizens and we need to know how to respond to our surrounding environment and to be proactive in our society."

"Jordan has worked extraordinarily hard to build this program, and this year is the fruition of his work," said Dr. Cloward, also appreciative of parents Lisa and James Cope, Dia  Epstein, Gary Levinson, and Susan Rapoport all of whom make the travel and planning for the club possible.  "Yavneh owes him a debt of gratitude."

"This was a great opportunity for our students to compete and share their passion for current events and their concern for the world around themselves," said Yavneh's Head of School, Dr. David Portnoy.

C-Teen; Yavneh Represents in NYC ~

photos Chabad of Plano, Bentzi Sasson & Meyer Denn  

Yavneh found itself well represented too at the 2014 CTeen Shabbaton in New York.  Reut Banai '16, Raquel Henkin '17, Liat Levkovich '17,  Risa Mond '16, and Clara Wohlstadter '15 joined more than 1000 teens, from around the world, to celebrate Shabbat, to make new friends, and to come together for a spiritual and meaningful weekend.

"The CTeen Shabbaton was amazingly intense and spiritual," said Liat who recalls a highlight of Havdalah in Times Square with a concert by recording artist, Alex Clare.  "I went with friends, but we became so much closer and we met kids from all around the world.  Sharing in Shabbat, and in just being Jewish teens together, was something I will never forget."

"Yavneh's students represented well and because they have a strong background in everyday Jewish life, as well as extensive Torah and Halachic study, they were good models for their peers" said Chabad of Plano's Rabbi Yehuda Horowitz who, with his wife Esther and Mushka Dubrawsky, chaperoned the trip.  "From the fun of being in the City, seeing so many Judaica stores and kosher restaurants, to Shabbat with more than 1000 kids, it was really terrific.  The expression of Jewish pride that was everywhere we went is something I think will stay with the kids, and for sure enhance their own personal connections."

Excited to reconnect with old friends, was Rabbi Chayim Boruch Alevsky who taught many of our students while they were at Akiba, and his wife Sarah who previously worked at Chabad of Plano.  The group rendezvoused in Times Square.   "It was so great seeing our former campers and students, all grown up and so visibly connected to their Judaism," said the Alevskys, who now live and work on the Upper West Side of Manhattan - always excited to rekindle Plano and Dallas-area memories.  "It was truly inspiring to take part in the  Havdalah service, and see how the tourists and visitors in the area was observing what was happening in the heart of NYC: an explosion of Jewish pride!"

"Little did I know that this Shabbaton would it be one of the most inspiring weekends," said Risa.  "I got to hear Alex Clare tell his story and why and how he became religious. It truly showed me that with faith and work, you can do what you want. Looking at 1,000 Jewish teens gathered together gave me a rush and it was such a cool feeling to see all spectators looking at us - looking at how far us Jews have come."

AIPAC - Yavneh's Teens at Policy Conference 

photos courtesy Hadas Cohen, Dalya Romaner & Kayley Romick. 

The AIPAC Policy Conference 2014 hosted close to 14,000 who agree with AIPAC's mission to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of Israel and the United States.  Yavneh students  

Hadas Cohen '15, Gary Levine '14, Aaron Minsky '17, Grant Prengler '15, Dalya Romaner  '14, Gaby Schultz '16, and Adam Steinbrecher '14, made themselves known throughout the conference, learning, growing, making connections, and understanding how they - the voices of hope for Israel and the United States of tomorrow, are truly the voices of today.

"As high school students, we are beginning to consider where we stand politically. Personally, I now know how important it is to vote for government leaders who support Israel and believe in the Israel -U.S relationship," said Dalya.  "AIPAC educates members about Israel and Israel's importance to America so we can shape our political opinions and help support Israel. At Yavneh, we do the same thing with Jewish education; we learn about Judaism so we can make an educated decision on how we want to live our lives in the Jewish community.  Combining AIPAC and Yavneh, we have Jewish knowledge and knowledge of Israel so we can grow up living an all-around Jewish and Zionistic life."

"At a time with so much of the world's attention focused on Israel, our students had the incredible experience of learning and advocating alongside so many national and

Yavneh Alumni Elan Kogutt '10, Mika Stein '13,  Daley Epstein '10, and current students - Adam Steinbrecher '14, Grant Prengler '15, and Hadas Cohen '15.

international leaders in Washington, DC," said Head of School, Dr. David Portnoy.  "It was a thrilling and unforgettable experience."

"I am a supporter of AIPAC because it exists solely to preserve the Israel-American relationship.  Israel benefits in many ways by being an American ally and the converse is also true, America benefits in many ways from maintaining a friendly relationship with the only democracy in the Middle East," said Gary.  "A Jewish state is critical for the continuity of the Jewish people and provides a place, haven, and familiar piece of land for all Jews, all around the world."

"Each year AIPAC becomes more important as the situation between Israel and the surrounding countries become increasingly tense," said Gary.  "As Yavneh students, we are ambassadors for a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school and ambassadors for the Jewish People.  It is no secret that there are millions of people around the world that are clearly misinformed regarding Israel (purpose for existence, values, etc.) and we must educate ourselves by attending these conferences or simply by getting involved to be strong advocates and activists for the state of Israel."

Among the leaders our students were greatly affected by were Secretary of State John Kerry, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz ), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Emory University professor, Kenneth Stein, and software industrialist - Jose Varde, and sessions they participated in include topics of Entrepreneurial Oasis: Israel as an Innovation Hotbed, Emerging Threats: U.S.-Israel Cyber Security Cooperation, Financing Evil: Understanding Terror Networks and Their Funding, Foreign Aid: The Vital Role of U.S. Assistance, and Lobby Workshops.

"AIPAC is an organization for young and old.  It is for anyone who wants to help Israel and America and not feel caught between the two," said Aaron.  "Yavneh students should feel an obligation to help their home country, whether they classify that as Israel or America -  is up to them. Because Yavneh students and alumni have attended the Conference, I feel Yavneh should continue this great, unintentional tradition and I hope that in the future Yavneh will send a delegation of students and faculty to the Conference."

Kayley Romick '13 & I  sraeli Musician, David Broza

"The Conference was one of the most invigorating experiences of my life as a Jewish-American teenager.  I have learned that it is important to be an advocate for Israel, but never in my education had I been taught how to be an advocate," said Adam.  "I learned about the most pressing issues in the Middle East attending many sessions, and it was incredible to hear in-depth explanations from the experts themselves."

"Fellow AIPAC Conference-goers and I were able to showcase all of what we learned during lobbying sessions on Capitol Hill - my opportunity with State Senator, Ted Cruz, Congressman Bill Flores, and the staffs of Louie Gohmert and Pete Sessions, said Adam who lobbied issues imperative to the safety of Israel.  "The spectacular bipartisan support Israel receives is only attainable because of the work done by AIPAC and its supportive members.  The encounters with powerful politicians, and other passionate activists has fortified my knowledge of foreign affairs, coupled with my unshakable faith developed here at Yavneh." 

"It's because we sanctify life that Israel will win!," words from Prime Minister Netanyahu, resonated with many - indeed, indeed, with the support of  all present, including members of the Yavneh Family, and those supporting from afar, so true, Israel will win.