Purim at Yavneh Boys is always a time of joy, excitement, and learning, and this year’s Leil Shishi event was no exception. The evening was filled with engaging activities designed to challenge the boys' knowledge of the Megillah and Purim traditions while ensuring plenty of fun and friendly competition.
One of the highlights of the evening was the storyboard challenge, where each boy received fourteen pictures depicting scenes from the Purim story and had to race to arrange them in the correct chronological order. The fastest and most accurate participant was rewarded with a token. In Purim Pictionary, boys had to sketch and guess Purim-related words and concepts, with the winner of each round earning a token for their efforts. Another station focused on Purim Halacha and Minhagim, where participants learned a paragraph of information before answering ten multiple-choice questions to test their retention and understanding. The final challenge tested their familiarity with the text of the Megillah through a "מי אמר למי" game, where they had to identify who said specific quotes and to whom.
After an evening of intense competition - and pizza & chips - Benjamin Wacks emerged as the overall winner, securing the grand prize. We’re sure he’ll put his Amazon voucher to good use! Well done to all the boys who participated and contributed to the lively Purim atmosphere, making it a truly memorable Leil Shishi.

Our last Leil Shishi was a beautiful celebration of Tu Bishvat, focusing not just on the fruits of the land but on personal growth through giving. Rabbi Schwalbe opened the evening by explaining how Tu Bishvat marks the start of the terumos u’maasros cycle, reminding us that just as trees give selflessly, we too should strive to grow by giving to others. With this message in mind, the boys engaged in hands-on chessed activities, thanks to the support of Sophie Woolfstein and GIFT, who provided materials and ensured the packages would reach those in need.
One of the most meaningful activities of the night was sandwich-making for a local homeless shelter. The boys worked as a team, carefully preparing cheese and tomato sandwiches while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and respect. More than just an act of kindness, this initiative was a true kiddush Hashem, demonstrating that our responsibility to help extends beyond our own community. The message of Avraham Avinu’s legendary hospitality came to life as the boys reflected on the power of welcoming and feeding those in need, regardless of their background.
Other stations included assembling snack packs and holiday packs for children, ensuring that families struggling financially could still provide treats and activities for their children. Boys also wrote heartfelt letters to the elderly at Heathlands, bringing warmth and comfort to those who may feel forgotten. Through these acts, they not only provided for others but also internalized the lesson that chessed is about seeing and responding to the needs of those around us.
The evening was a tremendous success, leaving the boys inspired by the impact they could have with just a small effort. Tu Bishvat is a reminder that growth takes time, but every act of giving plants seeds that will bear fruit for years to come.

Students from Years 7-10YB enjoyed a productive and enjoyable activity day, packed with engaging team-building exercises and thought-provoking learning experiences.  

The day began with Shacharis followed by breakfast. Afterward, the boys watched an introduction video explaining the exciting team-building activities ahead. They then headed outdoors, where they worked in groups to complete challenges designed to foster teamwork, planning, and communication. Each activity required strategic thinking and collaboration, with teams being scored in these key areas.  

Following a full morning of activities, the boys enjoyed a well-deserved lunch break before regrouping in the Beis Hamedrash for the afternoon session. This session featured a fascinating and interactive learning experience led by the Manchester Kollel L’Dayonus. Students were presented with a case study and then split into groups, each assigned a different role: defendants, prosecutors, or Dayonim (judges). Each group studied the halachic aspects of their arguments together with a Kollel Member before presenting their cases.  

The event concluded with a Beis Din presentation, held in a specially arranged courtroom setting, complete with a gavel. Boys took on their roles, presenting their cases before an audience, while Kollel members observed and scored their performances based on presentation, argumentation, and halachic accuracy. The winning teams will be announced bez'H next week.  

Thank you to everyone involved in organising this wonderful activity day and ensuring the boys had a fulfilling, educational, and fun-filled experience. ​

This week’s Leil Shishi at Yavneh was an evening of engaging Torah learning, centred around Kerias Yam Suf and Shiras HaYam. Each Rabbi presented a different perspective from international educators, sharing insights that deepened our understanding of this pivotal moment in Jewish history.
 
Rather than a traditional Shiur, the night featured a multimedia approach - each Rabbi played a unique video of a Dvar Torah on the Parsha, guiding the boys through the ideas and explaining their relevance. This was followed by an interactive online quiz, testing the students on what they had learned.
 
​Congratulations to our quiz winners, Joel Shalom and Tzvi Weil, who demonstrated keen insight and attentiveness throughout the evening.
 
Of course, no Leil Shishi is complete without a warm and hearty conclusion. The night ended with delicious kugel and chulent, bringing both learning and camaraderie together in true Yavneh spirit.
We look forward to another inspiring Leil Shishi next week!

Leil Shishi: Ten Plagues
This week's Leil Shishi was a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the deeper aspects of the Eser Makkos (Ten Plagues). Rabbi Shmuel Schwarz introduced the evening by challenging the boys to consider the significance of the well-known acronym דצ"ך עד"ש באח"ב and to reflect on the contemporary relevance of the Ten Plagues.

The programme, designed by Rabbi Cohen, was structured to maximize participation and active learning. The boys rotated through three interactive sessions, each providing a unique perspective on the Eser Makkos:
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• The Maharal’s Perspective: One group delved into the Maharal’s idea that each of the Ten Plagues parallels one of the Asarah Maamaros (Ten Statements) with which Hashem created the world. To reinforce this concept, the boys were given different coloured papers and tasked with matching each plague to its corresponding statement of creation.
• Midah Keneged Midah: Another group explored the concept of Midah Keneged Midah (measure for measure), examining how each plague served as a precise response to the actions of the Egyptians. Participants engaged in an interactive activity, pasting various labels onto corresponding sheets to highlight these connections.
• Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Three Stages: The third group studied Rav Hirsch’s approach, which categorizes the Ten Plagues into three distinct stages of affliction that Bnei Yisrael endured. The evening was a tremendous success, with enthusiastic participation from the boys.

Gali Wagon (8YB) shared his thoughts: "I thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s Leil Shishi. Rabbi Rickman’s session was really interactive, Rabbi Schwalbe’s was really deep and interesting, and Rabbi Simmond’s was a bit of both!"

We concluded the event with delicious pizza and chips, much to the delight of the boys. Many thanks to Rabbi A. Schwartz for arranging, ensuring a fantastic end to the evening. The night truly left the boys plague-d with curiosity and thirst for Torah! Hopefully, no one found the discussions too blood-boiling, and while Pharaoh may have bugged out, our boys certainly didn’t! It was a hail of a learning experience, and we look forward to many more froggin’ good times at future Leil Shishi sessions.

Last night, our school hosted a remarkable Leil Shishi event, celebrating the lives and teachings of prominent Sephardi Rabbanim. The evening began with an inspiring video address by Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community of the United Kingdom, who spoke passionately about the importance of learning from these towering figures and the profound influence they have had on Jewish life and thought.
After the address, participants divided into smaller groups to explore the lives and legacies of these Chachamim in greater depth. The sessions featured both guest speakers and our own students as presenters, weaving together fascinating stories, images, and teachings to bring each Rav to life.
Oz Lalouche of 11YB spoke about the Ben Ish Chai, sharing key moments from his life and some of his halachot on Netilat Yadayim. Bobby Wagon and Joey Elias, both from 13YB, presented a compelling account of Rav Ovadia Yosef’s extraordinary contributions and the transformative impact he had on the Sephardi world. Rabbi Simmonds offered an insightful session on Rav Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel, shedding light on his groundbreaking leadership and vision. Mord Maman reflected on the wisdom and legacy of Rav Hayim David Halevi, while Dr Yehuda Marshall delved into the life and teachings of Dayan Saadia Amor. R' Yochanan Pereira gave a heartfelt presentation on his Rebbi, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, bringing a personal perspective to the evening.
The event concluded with an inspiring message from R' Rickman, who highlighted the words on our Parochet, "יחד שבטי ישראל" (United are the Tribes of Israel). He spoke about the importance of recognizing and celebrating the unique contributions of each segment of Klal Yisrael, reminding everyone of the power of unity and mutual respect.
We are deeply grateful to all the presenters, organizers, and participants who made this evening so meaningful. The lessons and inspiration drawn from these Sephardi Rabbanim will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on our school community.

This week’s Leil Shishi at Yavneh Boys was a truly memorable evening, combining Torah learning, meaningful reflection, and inspiring creativity. Rabbi Cohen began the night with an impactful Dvar Torah, tying the theme of Achdus to the calendar and the parsha. He noted that Asarah B'Teves marks the anniversary of the brothers selling Yosef - a moment of division in our history. In contrast, this week’s Parsha highlights the final reconciliation and unity of the brothers. True Achdus comes not from uniformity but from appreciating the unique qualities of each individual, a message particularly relevant to our students.
Following this introduction, the boys explored the significance of each Shevet. Using their Chumashim, they researched the origins of the Shevatim's names and the Berachos given to them by both Yaakov Avinu and Moshe Rabbeinu. This was followed by delving into Midrashic descriptions of each Shevet’s stone and flag, revealing the distinct identity of each tribe.
The evening concluded with a hands-on creative project inspired by Marc Chagall’s famous stained-glass windows in the Hadassah Hospital, which depict the Shevatim. The boys designed their own beautiful "windows" representing the twelve tribes, bringing together the textual and visual elements they had studied.
The results were stunning. These colourful creations now adorn the windows of Yavneh, transforming our school with vibrant reminders of the unique contributions of each Shevet and the overarching importance of Achdus.