Yavneh students were privileged to hear from Rabbi Yaakov Bieler of Kemp Mill Synagogue in  Silver Spring, Maryland following services Friday morning.  In his address to the entire school, Rabbi Bieler posed the question, "Why do we go to school?"  In his discussion with the students, Rabbi Bieler considered the many connections between Judaism and ethics, and encouraged the students to think of their educations as guides to moral living.  Rabbi Bieler was introduced by sophomore Rachel Rapps, who was a member of the Kemp Mill Synagogue before moving to Dallas this year.  Rabbi Bieler will be speaking at Congregation Shaare Tefilla throughout Shabbat.

Pictured with Rachel Rapps '17

On Wednesday morning, while our sophomores and juniors were taking the PSATs, and seniors were hard at work on their college applications, our freshmen spent half a day in two learning-intensive, interactive sessions in the library with professionals from Jewish Family Services (JFS) and The Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  First, JFS counselor and therapist Janet Henson spoke with the ninth graders about the "myths and facts" about marijuana and other addiction issues.  Armed with scientific research and clinical experience, Ms. Henson worked patiently to explain a variety of important substance abuse issues. In their second session, ADL Executive Director Roberta Clark (pictured) similarly engaged the students in a myths vs. facts discussion of Anti-Semitism, both historically and in terms of current events and our students' personal experiences.  The freshmen were wonderfully engaged and respectful throughout the morning, and left with a deeper understanding of important issues that affect their world and society at large. In the words of several freshmen, they "learned a lot," the presenters "were very good," and "it was better than we thought it would be."  High praise, indeed.