Congratulations to the cast; Tom Erlich, Ethan Fisher, Denise Folz, Joey Goldman, Daniel Granat, Valerie Lopez, Eliana Schuller-Podbilewicz, Serina Romick, Mira Roosth, Michael Schramm, Gavin Shrell, Sam Weyser, and crew; Ari Geller, Scott Lacritz, Carolyn Smith, Erin Smith, Benji Zoller and to director Michael Federico.  To Yavneh's art aficionado Monica Ribald, and her team, the set design laid a magnificent backdrop, literally, to the show.

In a nod to the tenth anniversary of Yavneh's Theatre program, "Antigone" was a revival of sorts, as the show was the first play produced by our students.   The 2004 cast, which performed in toga and Greek tradition, included Rachael Abrams, Emily Ackerman, Edward Cohen, Leora Cohen, Sarah Epstein, David Fine, Gabbi Lewin, Charlie Saginaw, Maya Sallmander, Dustin Stanley, Tova Stolovitsky, Dylah Werbner, Justin Wohlstadter, and Rachel Zbolon.

"'Antigone' is a great piece, but a difficult one and it was exciting to be a part of a show that really takes work on the part of the actor," said Logan who portrayed "Ismene," sister to the title character. "It's a serious show, but we really enjoyed putting it together."

Dolev Homes for Youth ~

"The highest form of chesed is helping others help themselves," said former Dallas resident and Dolev Homes Director of Development, Mimi Tsadok.  "At our school, more than 120 young ladies are boarded in homes where they experience and share in a family - something most of them have not seen as example before."

"Our girls study by day, and when they are with their 'parents' they are asked at a dinner table maybe, 'how was your day, what did you learn, how are your friends," said Ms. Tsadok, who recently spoke to Naomi Schragers' Advanced Tanach and Jewish History classes.  "It's hard to imagine but that hasn't happened for most of our girls.  They come from problematic backgrounds but that can change through caring and community, and that is what we do."

The students, who take home economic courses, are able to earn money by baking bread and selling it back to the school for its cafeteria (most often 50 loaves a day), as well as other catering opportunities.  While some students are able to move on after high school, the program does allow for students to stay for up to three years, volunteering through the program.

"Our Advanced Tanach class typically focuses on the lives of our forefathers and mothers as presented in Tanach," said Mrs. Schrager, Yavneh's Associate Principal/Judaic Curriculum.  "We have incredible Biblical role models who embody the value of chesed, and this was an opportunity to hear from someone who currently devotes her life to chesed and the chance to see a modern day example of 'kol yisrael areivim zeh azeh' that 'all Jews are responsible for one another.'"

Mrs. Schrager's students showed immediate concern and interest to find a way to support the Dolev Homes project, from Dallas.  "Because Ulpanat Dolev serves high school girls, our girls were able to relate," said Mrs. Schrager.  "They are girls just like them, but who have not been given all of the advantages our girls have."

"In my Jewish History class we have been focusing on Zionism and creating meaningful connections to Israel," said Mrs. Schrager.  "We discussed that while we often focus on the 'big events' of our national narrative, our history is made of much more than wars and politics. Learning about the different faces of Israeli society, certainly including the less fortunate side, is just as crucial to our understanding and commitment to Israel as learning about her conflicts and policies." 

Click here to learn more about Dolev Homes for Youth at Risk.