From the Head of School

Shabbat Shalom

What a thrill it was to welcome our Senior Class back from their March of the Living trip this week! While it's been less than a month since they finished their academic work, many of them looked older and more mature than before they left. Our deepest gratitude goes to Pam Fine, Rabbi Tannenbaum, Scott Herstein, Stephanie Cohen, Emily Rohan '12 and Max Glauben for their tireless efforts on behalf of this extraordinary class.

Speaking of The Great Class of 2016, they have contributed terrifically to the culture and reputation of Yavneh in their four years here: academically, athletically, artistically, and in Tikkun Olam (community service). With their exceptional college and Israel acceptances, this class boasts 4 Schultz Scholars, 2 Star Scholars, and numerous National Merit and AP Scholars. On the court and playing field, this class has led Yavneh to the playoffs in basketball, volleyball and - for the first time this year - soccer. They have published award-winning newspapers, a first-class yearbook, and a sophisticated Literary Arts magazine. And they have contributed to the Dallas Jewish and greater community, to many critical Israeli programs, and to schools and other programs internationally, while tutoring city elementary students right here in North Dallas.

In short, this is a group we will miss tremendously when they graduate. They have been a source of great nachat (pride) for Yavneh and for all who know them. May they go from strength to strength always!

Shabbat Shalom and Go Bulldogs!

Dr. David A. Portnoy, Head of School

As opposed to other faiths, Judaism places a special emphasis on communal prayer. Prayer performed individually is considered inferior and substandard to prayer services held with a quorum of ten men. This underscores the Talmudic principle that G-D's presence is more palpably felt in the presence of community. The source for this Talmudic dictum is actually derived from a verse in this week's Torah portion. The Talmud in Tractate Brachot 21b says that for any matter holiness, a minimum of ten are required. How is this derived? Rabbinai, the brother of R. Chiyya bar Abba, explained that we draw an analogy between the two occurrences of the word "Toch, amongst." It says in our Parsha, "V"Nikdashti B'toch Bnei Yisrael, I will be sanctified amongst the Jewish people." And it says "Hebadlu Lachem Mitoch HaEdah, separate yourselves from among this congregation." Just as ten men were separated from among the congregation, so too, for all matters of holiness there must be a minimum of ten.

There are two things that are surprising about this analogy. Firstly, the common word that forms the basis for the analogy is the word Toch, amongst. This word usually connotes something internal or inside, yet here it is the source for something very external and superficial- the presence of a quorum for prayer or other holy ceremonies. Why would this word be specifically the common word that is the source for a concept that is so incongruous with its own meaning?

Mark Your Calendars!

May

5-22		Graduation - 3:00 p.m. Schultz Family Gym
5-23		Boys Soccer Meeting 5:15 p.m. Student Lounge
5-24		Athletic Banquet - 6:00 p.m. Pollman Hall
5-25		Lag BaOmer Student Event
5-26		Lag BaOmer - School starts at 9:40 a.m. Cross Country/Running Club Meeting 5:15 p.m. Student Lounge Girls Volleyball Meeting 6:00 p.m. Student Lounge
5-30		Memorial Day - No School
5-31 to 6-3		Spring Finals

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.

Welcome Back from March of the Living &

Mazel Tov to the Class of 2016

Geometry Field Trip Downtown

The 9th and 10th Grade Geometry students explored Dallas on Wednesday, May 18th. They toured the downtown Arts District with a docent from the Dallas Center for Architecture, connecting geometry, architecture and city planning. They then visited the Nasher Sculpture Center, again connecting geometry to nature and the arts. After a picnic lunch, they headed to Jewish Family Service for a chesed project, unpacking and sorting the many post-Passover donations for the organization's food bank

SENIOR

Jacob Lampert

Parents: Melissa and Larry (z"l) Lampert

Prior School: Akiba Academy

Synagogue: Tiferet Israel

Favorite Class: Jewish Fundamentals and AP Statistics

Favorite Co-Curricular: Soccer

Yavneh is....a place where I can think, relax, and have fun, to be able to do that is something special

Parents: Kim Zoller and Sissy & David Zoller

Prior School: Akiba Academy

Synagogue: Shaare Tefilla

Favorite Class: Advanced Philosophy and English

Favorite Co-Curricular: Bnei Akiva and Journalism

Benji Zoller

Israel Advocacy Update

Pursuing More Negotiations

By Heidi Kravitz '17

Supporting the French initiative to broker peace treaties for the Israeli-Arab conflicts, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi delivered an impromptu speech, from Cairo on Tuesday, urging further negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Sisi called upon Israel and the Palestinian Authority to seize a "realistic" and "great" opportunity to reach a peaceful resolution to their decades-old conflict.

Mazel Tov & Alumni News

Mazel Tov to David Fine '08 on his engagement to Ruthie Fruchter!

Mazel Tov to Brittney Herson '09 on her graduation from SMU Law School!

Yavneh 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