From the Head of School

Shabbat Shalom

We are so proud to have had a terrific delegation of Yavneh students and families represent us at AIPAC's National Policy Conference in Washington, DC this week, where they heard from all the major presidential candidates and other terrific speakers. With the elevation of Dallas' own Lillian Pinkus to the AIPAC Presidency, we are even prouder of our city's leadership in national Jewish organizational life!

Purim at Yavneh (Purim@Yavneh) is one of the truly great times of the year. We capped off an enthusiastic Spirit Week led by our Yavneh seniors with a series of student-led classes on topics ranging from "Ten Tips for High School Success" to "Rap Music and Jews," with students and student-teachers enjoying themselves while learning a lot. Special thanks to all of you who joined us on Wednesday night for Megillah reading, a delicious dinner (thanks to our wonderful volunteers!), dancing and the hilarious Senior Spiel. Purim@Yavneh really rocked!

Perhaps most touching was our students' visit Thursday morning, following prayers, to The Reserve at North Dallas, a retirement community right next door where they sang, danced and visited with the residents. After a brief stop at the Akiba Purim Carnival (with petting zoo!), we followed with a family-style lunch in the Beit Midrash and a creative faculty-student video. In the words of our Yavneh students and faculty, it was the ... Best! Purim! Ever!

Indeed, it has been a terrific week on Merit Drive, with special thanks to Rabbi T and his staff, who have made so many great programmatic innovations this year. In the words of one senior class leader, there has never been so much dancing at Yavneh, and our ruach (Jewish spirit) is growing each week!

Shabbat Shalom, and Go Bulldogs!

Dr. P

The Great Hassidic leader, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz was a disciple of the renowned seer of Lublin, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz. However, he broke rank from his teacher and started his own Hassidic sect. His main disciple was Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshichsaa, the spiritual ancestor of the Ger Hassidic dynasty. Rabbi Rabinowicz had a very unique nickname; he was not known as Rabbi or Rebbe as traditional Rabbinic luminaries were known as, rather he was referred to simply as the Yid HaKadosh, the Holy Jew. Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter, the Gerrer Rebbe, explains the etymology of this nickname based on an observation from this week's Torah portion.

In Leviticus 14:13, the verse describes the offering of the Kohanim, the priests, "This is the offering of Aharon and his sons which they shall offer to G-D in the day when he is anointed, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour a perpetual meal offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening." Rashi, in his commentary, appears to be bothered by the phrase Mincha Tamid, a perpetual offering. This phrase is seemingly a falsehood because in actuality this offering is not a perpetual offering, rather a Kohen Hedyot, an ordinary Priest would only bring this sacrifice once in his life, on the day of his inauguration. So how can the verse claim that it is a perpetual offering, if in fact it is only a once-in a -lifetime offering? Rashi offers a very insightful interpretation of the verse, he explains that while it is true that the Kohen Hedyot only offered this offering once, for the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, this offering is in fact a perpetual offering, as he brought this sacrifice each and every day of his service.

While Rashis's words are certainly true and appear to satisfactorily explain this troubling verse, it does make us wonder why the two types of Kohanim, priests, should have such a vastly different sacrifice schedule. If the Kohen Gadol offers the sacrifice on a daily basis why should the ordinary Kohen offer it less frequently?

Yavneh Academy Receives

Top Ranking

For the second year in a row, we are proud to be ranked in the top 10 DFW Private High Schools with an A+ rating!! Click here to see entire list, including Yavneh's 25th place ranking state wide.

Mark Your Calendars!

March

3-25		Shushan Purim - No School
3-28		Spring Arts Night at Half Price Books
3-29		Special Speaker: Rabbi Ken Spiro - 4 p.m.

April

4-10		High T honoring Rabbi Tannenbaum Sr.
4-17		Points for Peace Tournament - JCC
4-18 & 4-19		Judaic Finals
4-21 to 4-29		Pesach Break - No School

Click here to see more dates

Lunch Calendar

Remember, to hear more about the Parsha of the week, parents can join Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky in the Atrium Boardroom every Thursday morning from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

Purim @ Yavneh

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Yavneh at AIPAC

pictured: Ben '12, Dalya '14 and Adina '16 Romaner

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Bulldog Bytes

Click here to read BulldogBytes, a blog by Principal Rabbi Maury Grebenau.

SENIOR

Mitchell Levinson

Parents: Janice Berman and Gary Levinson

Synagogue: Shearith Israel

Lower School: Lakehill Preparatory School

Favorite Class: World History

Favorite Co-Curricular: Writing for The Bulldog Print

Yavneh is...a bag full of 'first-time' memories, a train packed with goals and a river bubbling with opportunity.

PTO Volunteers

Thank you to this week's PTO volunteers who helped fill gift bags for the students on Monday: Joan Weyser, Dafna Rubinstein, Elina Minkoff, Mitchell Fonberg, Tracy Bell, Karen Zucker, Julie Shrell, Janyce Steinbrecher, Debbie Rozemberg, Monica Tanur and Deborah Achar. Thank you as well to all the parents who helped at the event Wednesday night!

Please Support Yavneh Academy

If you've not yet made your gift to Yavneh's Annual Fund, you will hear from us soon!

If you prefer to not be called, please click here to donate online today!

Spring Arts Night

On Monday, March 28, from 7 to 8 p.m., students from Yavneh's Creative Writing class, as well as the Music Ensemble, will present an evening of poetry and music, open to the community. The event will be held in the community room at Half Price Books at 5803 Northwest Highway. Parents, students, and friends are invited to share this special evening, showcasing the creativity of our young writers and musicians.

College Cues

NACAC'S NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR

Thursday, April 7

5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Arlington Convention Center

The National College Fair is coming to Dallas Thursday, April 7, 2016 at Arlington Convention Center. NACAC 's fair will have over 300 colleges and universities from throughout the United States and around the world.

Students and parents can meet one-on-one with representatives from a variety of colleges and universities, learn about admissions and/or attend information sessions while there. You must register ahead of time and print out information for the representatives to scan. Log into www.gotomyncf.com prior to attending the fair. Complete the on-line registration and bring it to the fair. Colleges will then scan your barcode to access your information, allowing more one-on-one conversation at the fair. This is a must for sophomores and juniors but everyone is invited to attend. While the fair is free, parking is $5.00 at the convention center.

JFS Klein Internship Program

Deadline Extended to March 30

Since 2009, Jewish Family Service has provided teens from the Dallas Metroplex the opportunity to intern at one of the area's many nonprofit organizations. This program was designed as a lasting tribute to Rabbi Gerald J. Klein of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, in celebration of his passion and commitment to issues of social justice for over 50 years. The program has helped to educate teens about nonprofit agencies and their missions through hands on learning and invaluable training and experiences.

If you are interested in applying, please click here for more information.

City of Dallas Environmental Education Initiative Internship Opportunity

College Acceptances

Community Events