Leil Shishi: Celebrating the Shevatim with Achdus and Creativity

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.