From the Head of School
Shabbat Shalom

The transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Haatzmaut teaches our students about the fragility of life, the emotion of loss, and the thrill of independence, all within a 24-hour period. As such, it encapsulates what it means to be a Jew throughout history.

Our week of commemoration and celebration began on Tuesday, when we hosted Israeli guests from our partner region in Israel (thanks to the Federation!), and continued through Thursday, with students and teachers working together to bring special meaning to the week and to cement our bonds with the Land, State and People of Israel.

Together with our Akiba partners, we hosted a meaningful community-wide ceremony on Wednesday evening bridging the two days, and dedicated Thursday morning to celebrating Israeli history and culture (read: food), highlighted by singing and dancing with our great friend and Yavneh grandparent Eli Davidsohn. You should have seen and heard the joyful exuberance throughout the school!

Meanwhile, nearly 8,000 miles away, our Yavneh seniors have been relishing their week in Israel. and we look forward to welcoming them home from the March of the Living on Sunday!

Shabbat Shalom, and Am Yisrael Chai!


Dr. David A. Portnoy, Head of School

The Talmud in Tractate Shabbat tells several legendary tales of Hiller the Elder. Perhaps the most  famous tale tells of a would-be convert who approaches Shammai, a contemporary of Hilllel. The man offers to convert, but he insists on one condition; that Shammai teach him the entire Torah, while he (the convert) would remain standing on one foot. Shammai who did not suffer fools pushed the man away and refused the man's offer. However, Hillel who is described as a man of legendary patience acquiesced to the man's condition and agreed to teach the man the entire Torah while he stood on one foot. Hillel then explained to him that the essence of the Torah  is, "All that you would not want done to yourself, do not do to your friend. The rest is just commentary; go and learn it."
 
The Maharsha, R. Shmuel Edilitz,  in his commentary on Talmud wonders why Hillel quoted this precept in a negative form rather than the positive. Hillel should have quoted the verse from this week's Torah portion that reads "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This beautiful verse encapsulates far more than just not harming another, rather,  it beautifully expresses in a positive fashion how we must create a space in our hearts to love the world around us. Why did Hillel ignore this beautiful and profound verse when teaching this new student, instead choosing an almost childlike and simplistic warning?

Mark Your Calendars!
 
 
May 

5-15
Seniors return from March of the Living
5-17
Parent Coffee
5-19
New Student Welcome
5-22
Graduation - 3:00 p.m. Schultz Family Gym
5-24
Athletic Banquet - 6:00 p.m. Pollman Hall
5-26
Lag BaOmer - Regular School Schedule
5-30
Memorial Day - No School
5-31 to 6-3

 
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.


Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtzmaut
 
 







Yavneh Senior Featured in National Article

Click here to read the article "March of the Living: Learning How to Live" by Jacob Kamaras in EJewish Philanthropy.  In it, he discusses the impact of the March and, at the end, how Benji Zoller '16 helped him make a personal connection to the experience.

SENIOR
Daniel Toobian

Parent: Abe and Razieh Toobian

Prior School: Akiba Academy
 
Favorite Class: Anything with Mrs. Linzey
 
Favorite Co-Curricular:Music Ensemble

Yavneh is....a place where everlasting relationships are formed.
heart_mocha_coffee.jpg
CoffeeNext Parent Coffee: May 17th
 
In the spirit of building community at Yavneh, we are pleased to announce opportunities for Yavneh Parents to get together for coffee and conversation. Please join us on May 17th at 8:15 am at the Yiddishe Kup on campus. This is open to all parents and is a great way to get to know other parents at the school! Check the Etone for upcoming dates and locations. For more information, contact Elina Minkoff at elinaglenn@yahoo.com or Terri Greenspan at  tetg@aol.com.

Teacher Appreciation
 
Thank you to the Yavneh PTO for the teacher appreciation gifts and the wonderful luncheon that was provided for the faculty and staff!  We appreciate everything the PTO has done for the faculty, students, and school this year!
banquetYavneh Bulldog Athletic Banquet 2016
 
 
 
Tuesday, May 24 at 6:00 p.m. in Pollman Hall
Yavneh Student-Athletes and Faculty - no Charge
$10 - adults
$8 - students
 
Please RSVP to LuAnn at lpitlik@yavnehdallas.org.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jancye Steinbrecher at janyce19@icloud.com, or Ann Ochstein at masj91@aol.com 
 
Bulldog Bytes

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



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


College Cues 
College Information Sessions

Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, Stanford Presents
Exploring College Options
Wednesday, May 25, 7:00 P.M.
Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria, 14901 Dallas Pwky
or
Thursday, May 26, 7:00 P.M.
Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd.

 

AP Information
Please take a few minutes to read the following so that you and your child are familiar with the 2016 AP schedule.  Juniors and some seniors will take the regularly-scheduled test and those seniors who will have been on the March of the Living will follow the late-testing schedule.  There are no make-up tests so students who are not present the day the test is scheduled will not have the opportunity to make up a test.

Students signed up for these tests in class at the beginning of March. Your account should show a charge for each test ordered.

The list of students taking each test is posted on the counselor bulletin board outside room 907.  In addition, information about the day of testing and important information in the testing room can be found on the same bulletin board. Click here to see this information

Any student who has accommodations approved by College Board should bring a lunch to the classroom as he/she will not be able to attend the regularly-scheduled lunch.  Those students will be able to eat during the breaks provided by College Board.

The most important thing to remember is check the time each test starts.  That time means that each student should be in the testing room at that time ready to begin.  Instructions are long and arduous and take time to complete before each test.  Those who are late will not be allowed to enter the room.
Students are welcome to bring a snack for the short breaks.  Snacks will stay on the cart until break. 


Late-testing AP Schedule
There are many different start times to the late-testing AP schedule this year. This is partly due to the fact that some of our students are taking more than one exam each day.  In addition, on Friday, May 20, seniors will need to practice for graduation at 4:00 p.m.  Please look closely at the late-testing AP schedule for those who will be going on the March of the Living.  Late testing begins on Wednesday, May 18 and ends on Friday, May 20.  Those students testing on Thursday morning (Calculus AB/BC) and Friday morning (Literature and Composition) will start at 7:00 a.m.  This will allow those who need to take two tests each of these days to have a brief break between the two tests.

Additional Information
Any student who has accommodations approved by College Board should bring a lunch to the classroom as he/she will not be able to attend the regularly-scheduled lunch.  Those students will be able to eat during the breaks provided by College Board.


Please send all news and updates for Yavneh Academy's Etone to: info@yavnehdallas.org

Yavneh Academy of Dallas | 12324 Merit Drive | Dallas, TX 75251
214.295.3500 | www.yavnehdallas.org
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