Wise Words from Davis 8th Grader in Honor of Simchat Torah

The Davis Academy's 2018 Simchat Torah celebration was immeasurably enriched by a Dvar Torah written and shared by 8th grader Reese Baker. As you read her speech (included below) take a moment to consider the strong feeling of connection that Reese describes. Connection to the Torah, but also connection to her own story, to the generations that have come before and are yet to come, to Jews around the world, and the the values that Jewish tradition teaches. It's wonderful to see a young adult having such a strong sense of self and connection to the broader stories of the Jewish people. 

Chag Sameach!

My name is Reese Baker and I am an 8th grader here at Davis. About a week ago, Rabbi Micah asked me to give this Dvar’ Torah and to describe how the Torah impacts my life. After much thought, I concluded that it is not what the Torah says that impacts me personally but what it symbolizes. I started to think about the amazing tradition here at Davis of unwrapping the entire Torah around our community, which will take place in a few minutes. I thought about each grade that the Torah surrounds and the connection that they all have with it. A couple of memories quickly came to mind of the many ways that I connected to the Torah through my nineyears here at Davis.

First, I thought of kindergarten, in Mrs. Weiser's class, making small Torahs and decorating them with my friends for this holiday. As I continued through the years, the 2nd grade siddur ceremony definitely stood out. Learning the hebrew prayers right out of my own personalized siddur gave me a connection to the Torah at a young age. I next thought of the 5th grade Torah service, where my class nervously learned and read from the Torah in front of our parents and other classmates. Then, onto 6th grade, when my friends and I got very excited to finally hold the Torah for this celebration, as we had watched the older kids do year after year. In 7th grade and 8th grade, each and every student in our class learned their very own Torah portion for our Bnai’Mitzvot. We learned what they meant and found a deeper meaning within the words.

And now, here we are. It is very strange for me to think that this is my last year as a student celebrating Simchat Torah with my Davis community. The process that I just described to you was a shared experience with all of my classmates that all of you will also get to go through in the coming years. It is not only an experience that we, as Davis students encounter, but it is also one that we share with other boys and girls around the world. The Torah provides a connection between us and them. It is a connection to our heritage, to our family and to all of the Jewish people around the world. As we constantly say here at Davis, L’dor Va’dor, from generation to generation. The Torah connects these generations and will always continue to do so. As the Torah is unrolled, that is what I will be thinking of. I will be thinking of the journey that I experienced, from kindergarten all the way to 8th grade, and the way that the Torah has connected me to my classmates and different Jewish communities. The connection that Davis has given us from the Torah has provided us with a connection that we will always have with each other, no matter where we go in life.

And to the 8th Grade, I can not wait to experience the ultimate Davis Torah connection with you on our trip to Israel later this year.

Thank you.

Welcoming Guests to Our Sukkah

Today, our 6th Grade Jewish Life Leadership and Moreh Sim Pearl welcomed Independence Works, a group of adults with developmental disabilities that organizes under the auspices of Jewish Family and Career Services. We are fortunate that this has become an annual tradition because it gives our students an opportunity to live our values in a meaningful and memorable way. Here are some pictures from this year's visit...

25th Anniversary Day of Menschlichkeit

On February 5, 2018, The Davis Academy held a day of menschlichkeit in honor of our 25th anniversary. Why February 5th? Because February 5th= 2/5!

Below are some captioned pictures that convey some of the many different activities and experiences that made this day an authentic celebration of our school values: wisdom, community, righteousness, spirit, and respect.

Making new curtains for our school Ark.

Making new curtains for our school Ark.

Spending time learning about therapeutic dogs.

Spending time learning about therapeutic dogs.

Making new curtains for our school Ark.

Planting a daffodil garden in memory of children who perished in the Holocaust.

Making cards for Jewish Family and Career Services.

Special visitors and guest teachers.

Planting a daffodil garden in memory of children who perished in the Holocaust.

Loading lunches and other supplies for the Zaban Couples Shelter.

Special guests and experts informing our kids about disease and disabilities.

Sandy Springs PD came for lunch, recess, and a special presentation.

Bringing world heritage sites to life for Maker Monday.

Lunch with Sandy Springs PD.

A special panel of community rabbis. 

Presenting car seats to Sandy Springs PD.

Making lunches for Zaban Couples Shelter.

Sandy Springs Fire Department came for lunch.

Getting organized for Camp Jenny. 

Decorating special windows. 

Words of Torah for Grandparents and Special Friends Day

This morning and afternoon, Amalia Haviv, our Davis Academy Student Government president, shared these beautiful words of Torah in honor of our annual Grandparents and Special Friends day. Not only are these remarks incredibly thoughtful, resonant, and inspiring, but they were delivered with tremendous poise and pride. Amalia is a shining example of the values we teach at The Davis Academy as well as the kind of leader that we help to grow here. Mazal tov to her for this Dvar Torah.





Good morning(afternoon) and welcome! I am Amalia Haviv, student government president. Today it is my honor to share a Dvar Torah, or short speech based on this week’s parsha or Torah portion. This week's parsha comes from the book of Genesis. It is called Vayera and tells a well known story of Abraham and Sarah. In Vayera, Abraham sees three men walking towards his tent. He welcomes them into his tent and Sarah starts to prepare a meal. These three men turn out to be angels and bless Sarah with a child. Abraham and Sarah went out of their way to make people they didn’t know feel comfortable and welcomed. One main idea from this parsha is hospitality. Being apart of a community means having many responsibilities, one of which is welcoming guests. We see Sarah and Abraham welcome the three men just like the Davis community today is welcoming all of you. In 2009, the Davis community welcomed me with opened arms to Mrs. Israel’s kindergarten class. And for the next eight years I would make lifelong friends and meet teachers that would help me become the person I am today. This was all done in the warmth and security of our kehila. We have carried that tradition for thousands of generations, l’dor v’dor. Today is about celebrating our grandparents and special friends who have continued the act of passing our traditions and values from generation to generation. I am grateful for all who have come before me, even if they are not in my family. I am grateful for everyone who has supported the Davis Academy so that I am able to go to our wonderful school today. Recently, I was given the opportunity to sing with the Davis Decibelles, our middle school show choir, in front of a large group of Atlanta area Holocaust survivors. This is another way that I was able to show gratitude to my Jewish ancestors and to all of our righteous ancestors who came before us. I am even grateful to Abraham and Sarah for laying the foundation of these cherished Jewish values that guide us still. All of them and all of you have passed down traditions that we still see in our community today, such as welcoming guests. I am grateful to everyone here who has kept our jewish traditions and family traditions alive in your lifestyle so that they can be passed down to future generations. Throughout my years at the Davis Academy, I have learned the value of helping others, building community, and a true love of learning. Before I finish my speech, I would like to leave everyone with a question. Which person are you grateful for who has passed down Jewish and family traditions and values that you still use in your life? Take a moment to picture that person in your mind. Take a moment to thank them for helping you be the person that you are today. Have a good grandparents and special friends day and Shabbat Shalom. 

MSLTI students designate charity for Hurricane relief Tzedakah funds

During an early morning meeting, representatives from MSLTI gathered to allocate the nearly $650 of Tzedakah funds collected by Davis Academy Middle School and 1st grade students (whose grade level Tzedakah theme is that of "water") for hurricane relief. After meaningful discussion the students, with guidance from Rabbi Micah and Mrs. Shafron, selected the organization NECHAMA. As NECHAMA's mission states, "Our work is rooted in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam. We offer help to all people affected by disaster on the basis of need regardless of religious affiliation." It was this part of NECHAMA's mission that most resonated with our MSLTI decision-makers. 

A Simchat Torah D'var Torah

This year's Simchat Torah celebration at The Davis Academy was immeasurably enriched through the participation of several wonderful Middle School students. In her capacity as a Jewish Life Leader and member of MSLTI (our Middle School Leadership Training Institute), 8th Grader, Amit Rau, delivered the following remarks. Her words, thoughtfully written and beautifully delivered, captivated our community and inspired all of us. They are shared here with her parents' permission.

Boker Tov and Chag Sameach. My name is Amit Rau and I am in eighth grade. I am proud to be involved in Jewish Life Leadership this year. Yesterday, in our synagogues and in Israel, as well as at Davis today, we celebrate an important holiday. (To kids:) Can anyone in Mechina tell me the name of this holiday? … Yes, You’re right! The name “Simchat Torah” comes from “Simcha”, which means happiness. Simchat Torah is a holiday that teaches us to celebrate and be happy with our Torah.

Every year, during Simchat Torah, we restart reading the Torah. As soon as we finish reading the last words of the book of Deuteronomy today, in the same breath, we will read the first words of Genesis. Today, we sing and dance and celebrate the joy of the Torah with family, friends and teachers. We unravel the Torah to see the beauty of its words and teachings. We hold the Torah high to show each member of our community that it does not only belong to the rabbis, but also to every person in our Kehilla.

As I look around this room, I see many generations of people, sitting together and enjoying the happiness this holiday brings. This is similar to how we pass the Torah from generation to generation at bar and bat mitzvah services.

The last words of the Torah in the book of Deuteronomy are Kol Israel, which mean “all of Israel”. That is the most important message of this meaningful holiday. There is no better feeling than standing together with our Davis Academy family and celebrating our Torah. I want everyone to look around themselves. Parents and grandparents, look at your children and grandchildren. Students, look at your teachers, your friends, and your family. Teachers, look at your students. (PAUSE)

Standing together this morning…     we are, truly…     Kol Israel. 

Welcoming Guests to our Middle School Sukkah

Though it was cloudy and overcast today you wouldn't have known it based on the warm feelings inside our Middle School Sukkah today. That's because our Jewish Life Leaders (part of our Middle School Leadership Training Institute) welcomed guests from JF&CS's IndependenceWORKS to our Sukkah today. We sang a few songs, said our Sukkah blessings, and then enjoyed lunch and friendly conversation. This was the 3rd consecutive year that we've welcomed IndependenceWORKS to our Sukkah. This visit is part of a broader partnership between The Davis Academy and JF&CS that focuses on opportunities for our kids to do good by supporting the various initiatives of this vital Jewish communal organization. For those that aren't familiar with IndependenceWORKS you can click here or read the following quote from their website:

IndependenceWORKS, the day and vocational arm of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Services, offers a day program, evaluations, prevocational assessment and support, and job coaching so adults with disabilities can find and maintain work that utilizes their greatest talents and abilities.

L'chaim Sandy Springs!

Last night, Davis Academy 8th grader, Alon Rogow, had the honor of sharing a D'var Torah at an event celebrating the past, present, and future of the Jewish community of Sandy Springs. Speaking immediately before mayor, Rusty Paul, and Rabbi Phil Kranz, Alon's message helped set the tone for the evening. We are proud that our students so beautifully and authentically represent our school values and also proud of the myriad ways that The Davis Academy has contributed to the Jewish story of Sandy Springs during our 25 years of educating the next generation. Alon spoke last night as part of his commitment to being a part of MSLTI, The Davis Academy's Middle School Leadership Training Institute. Here's his speech, shared with parental permission. 

Good evening. My name is Alon Rogow and I am an eighth grader at The Davis Academy. I am a member of our Middle School Leadership Training Institute (MSLTI) as a Student Government representative and I will be giving a D’var Torah tonight, which is a short speech or lesson interpreting the weekly Torah portion.

This week’s parsha is called Ki Tavo. The parsha contains many important teachings and themes. The theme that I would like to focus on for my D’var Torah is that of ‘blessings and curses.’ In this parsha, we see Moses explain that the Israelites will be blessed if they follow the mitzvot but that they will be cursed if they disobey. Mitzvot teach us morality, compassion, justice and humility. These mitzvot are not just laws that we are obligated to follow, but they are meant to help guide us to live our lives in a righteous manner.  Moses gives the Israelites a choice—if they choose to follow the mitzvot not only will they have many blessings, but they will also BE a blessing. You may think the choice was easy, but some Israelites could not follow the mitzvot. Of course, as you can imagine, most of them made the right choice, which is part of why we are all gathered here today to celebrate the Jewish community of Sandy Springs.

As I mentioned, I am an 8^th grader at The Davis Academy. I consider myself blessed to be able to go to such an amazing Jewish school. Among the many opportunities that me and my classmates have at Davis, we have many opportunities to be a blessing. For example, every year, as a Davis Academy middle school, we work together to raise money for various charities. We do this through bringing in tzedakah as well as through various competitions between grades, where we compete against one another to see who can bring in the most money. At the end of the competition, the money is donated to a charity of our choice. On a more personal note, I am always eager to help others, whether it’s with school work or with a personal situation, I am always willing to lend a hand. Also, I am welcoming to everyone and always like to include others and make them feel like they are a part of the group.  Recently, I participated in the Macabbi games.  I was on the soccer team and we were lucky enough to have two players join us from Israel.  They spoke little to no English.  Because of my Davis Academy education, I was able to communicate with them and welcome them to the team and to our community.  Spending time with them and getting to know them was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and one that I will never forget. 

 I know that The Davis Academy is only one of the many wonderful Jewish communities in Sandy Springs. Even as an 8^th grader I have visited many synagogues for different activities and Bar Mitzvahs. I know that our entire Sandy Springs Jewish community is a blessing, which is why we are here tonight to celebrate our history and how far we’ve come. I am thankful that our school is able to be a part of such an incredible exhibit and I’m honored to be a part of the program tonight. Thank you for listening to my D’var Torah and Mazal Tov to all.

Yom HaShoah 2017

Yom HaShoah is one of the most sacred days on the Jewish calendar. It is the day that we honor the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as well as those who survived to tell their stories. It is the day that we renew our commitment to never forgetting and never allowing such an unfathomable atrocity to occur again to any people.

We mark this occasion not only by lighting traditional Memorial Candles on both campuses, but in several other significant ways.

First, we partner with the Breman Holocaust Museum to bring a Holocaust survivor to share their story with our older students. This year we were honored to welcome Mr. Herschel Greenblatt. Our Jewish Life Leadership students will lead a short memorial service before he shares his remarks.

Next, our 7th graders visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. on their 7th grade trip which takes place during the week of Yom HaShoah. This visit is a culmination of many months spent studying the Holocaust in 7th grade Jewish Studies. Check out Twitter #Davis7 to see the 7th graders on their trip.

While our 7th graders are in D.C. our 6th graders spend a day with their peers at the Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell. There they jointly write victims' names on stones for QofA's daffodil garden.

Lastly, our Lower School choir, The Magical Melodies, sings each year during the community wide Yom HaShoah ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery. Their beautiful voices add a dimension of hope and joy to an otherwise very somber celebration. This year's commemoration was rainy and cold but our students didn't complain a bit because they understand the solemnity and significance of the occasion. The back of the memorial is in the picture below.

3rd-5th grade Magical Melodies rehearse for the community wide Yom HaShoah Ceremony 

Kabbalat HaSiddur 2016

DAVIS ACADEMY 2ND GRADE KABBALAT HASIDDUR 2016 from James Futch on Vimeo.

On 12/16/16 The Davis Academy 2nd graders and their families participated in our annual Kabbalat HaSiddur ceremony. In keeping with past years, today's celebration was incredibly moving. Tears of joy, words of blessing, songs of praise, and so much more filled the morning. Kabbalat HaSiddur is a L'dor V'dor moment-- a time when the generations meet, when past, present, and future all become one. It is a time for opening hearts and connecting souls. This year's ceremony featured a special video made by Morah Rivkah, the children's Jewish Studies teacher, as well as a very thoughtful and poignant D'var Torah from Charlie Janko, a member of this year's 8th grade class and representative of our student government.

Every year I discover a new aspect of what makes Kabbalat HaSiddur so powerful in the lives of our families and our school community. This year I am struck by the fact that Kabbalat HaSiddur represents a true partnership between Davis parents and The Davis Academy, between home and school. Together, home and school have elevated the presentation of the child's first siddur from a simple transaction to a magical life cycle event. Without ever having to discuss it explicitly, the most influential adults in our childrens' lives have decided that the presentation of the prayer book will be one of the most sacred and cherished of the Jewish experiences at Davis. This communal accord, this commitment to shared values between home and school, infuses Kabbalat HaSiddur with authenticity and sanctity. The siddur becomes a symbol of the shared hopes, dreams, visions, values, and blessings that we want for our children. Presented by each family in the broader context of the school community it represents the unique character not only of each child and family, but of The Davis Academy as a whole.

The educational importance of milestone moments and life cycle moments like Kabbalat HaSiddur cannot be overstated. The level of anticipation coupled with the experience itself make a profound impact on every child. When you read Charlie's words below you can see how Kabbalat HaSiddur at The Davis Academy continues to nurture a child's religious, spiritual, and character development for years to come. And this is truly a cause for celebration.

Here's Charlie's D'var Torah (and Morah Rivkah's video is at the end):

Shabbat Shalom,

    First off, I would like to say mazal tov to the second grade class and to all of their families. You guys are doing an amazing job. I am here to share some thoughts in my role as an 8th grade student government representative of MSLTI, our Middle School Leadership Training Institute. At the beginning, let me start by saying that after going to Davis for nine years, I have many memories.  Receiving my siddur, in this very ceremony, is one of my favorite of these memories. Before I tell you about my siddur, I want to share a little bit about this week’s Torah portion, called Vayishlach. This week’s parsha tells the story of Jacob and Esau. It specifically tells the part of the story where the two brothers are reunited after not seeing each other for 30 years. 30 years? That is a long time. And it turns out that both Jacob and Esau changed a lot during those 30 years.

It is hard to believe that I have had my own siddur for almost 7 years. When I got my siddur it represented who I was as a 2nd grader. Amazingly, when I look at my siddur cover today, with its sports theme, I see that unlike Jacob and Esau, I have not changed one bit. I am still a die hard Alabama Fan, Roll Tide,  and though the Braves record is not on the winning side, I still root for my hometown team. It is certainly easier to be an Alabama fan than it is to be a Braves fan. To me, my siddur cover symbolizes family, tradition, personality, and the idea of living a life full of Ruach. And while I just said that I have not changed much, on another level, I have. I have grown, I have had many new and different experiences. I have thought about things differently. And, at least sometimes, I am more mature. Which brings me to the idea of what’s inside my siddur.

Even though my siddur cover may represents my personality, the inside represents my Jewish identity. Most teachers have to influence students to open their siddurim during t'filah, but for me it is just second nature. Having my own siddur is something to cherish and I hope these students will feel the same way. Not everyone has a chance to become so close to their religion, and I for one do not take this opportunity for granted.

Many only children hope to have a sibling to play with. Jacob and Esau took their chance for granted and left each other for thirty years. If I were to not see my brother or sister for thirty years, I think I would die of boredom. I was even getting bored when they went on they four day Charleston trip. My lesson here today is to not take anything for granted. It is a privilege to go to Davis, hang out with family, participate in activities outside of school, get your own siddur and many other things too. So sometime today, say thank you to your parents, grandparents, coaches or teachers, because whatever they are doing, they are doing it for you. Thank You

 

An American Hero

  Last night, The Davis Academy had the honor and privilege of hosting Congressman John Lewis on our Lower School campus. Speaking before a crowd of approximately 500 guests, Congressman Lewis spoke about his childhood, his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and his award winning series of graphic novels, March. Students, Davis community members, area neighbors, members of the press, as well as Mayor Rusty Paul of Sandy Springs and Ambassador Judy Schorer, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States were in attendance. And everyone appreciated Congressman Lewis' humor, passion, optimism, and conviction. Congressman Lewis reminded us that our country has made incredible strides in the last 50 years and that America can and must be a beacon of light and an inspiration to the rest of the world.

              In a private meeting with Davis Academy Student Government representatives and later during the public portion of the evening, Congressman Lewis emphasized the importance of getting involved, getting "in the way", and causing "good and necessary trouble." When asked what Dr. King would say about America today, Congressman Lewis said that Dr. King would encourage us all to keep the faith, keep the hope, and remember that there are always ups and downs in our individual lives and the life of our nation.

  Several standing ovations, a long and diverse line of guests waiting to shake his hand, and a general feeling of warmth, community, and shared purpose filled the room. Congressman Lewis has already accepted an invitation to return to The Davis Academy. It would certainly be a tremendous honor to host him again.

           


         

The Mitzvah of Welcoming Guests to our Sukkah

This year, our beautiful Davis Academy Sukkot welcomed several hundred special guests. Most of these guests were family members that came to celebrate the festival with their children. But two extra special groups visited as well.

On Wednesday morning our 1st grade friends from the Dunwoody Springs school across the street came to learn about Sukkot from our 1st graders. They impressed us with their knowledge as they had clearly studied up. We set a joyful tone by singing, "If you're happy and you know it." From there, the children went on to share about Sukkot and eventually compare Sukkot with Thanksgiving.

On Thursday, 6th grade members of the Jewish Life Leadership team of MSLTI welcomed JF&CS's "Independence Works" group. Our 6th graders enthusiastically and graciously hosted 12 adults with a wide range of developmental disabilities some of who had never been in a Sukkah before. The students sang songs, led the traditional blessings, served lunch, and then visited with our guests. I was particularly impressed by the easy way that they interacted with people they'd never met before and who have very different and diverse backgrounds.

The Davis Academy provides many occasions and opportunities for our students to put their values into action. Welcoming guests to our Sukkah is a very meaningful and special way to share the joy of Jewish tradition with others.

Why do you think God created the world?

I'm looking at a stack of papers on my desk. Each page represents a Davis Academy 4th grader. Each page has their thoughts about why God created the world.

I've just come from our Middle School Kabbalat Shabbat. Today we were honored to have as our guests, Gina and Suzann Cayne. The Cayne's are a bereaved family who lost their husband/father on 9/11. Among the memories I will carry from their visit are Suzann helping us count the passing of the days as well as our students rising to sing Oseh Shalom and then rushing to thank the family for sharing their story.

This morning I had the delight of welcoming our Mechina and Kindergarten children to their first "official" Kabbalat Shabbat at Davis. I was totally blown away by how many songs they already know as well as their deep engagement throughout the entire experience.

Yesterday afternoon I stood alongside a Davis Academy 8th grader as she led an entire Mincha service from start to finish with no advance notice that she would be invited to do so. It was among the most capable and exceptional student-led services I've ever witnessed.

Prior to that I accompanied our entire 8th grade class on our annual 8th grade retreat. During our 36 hours in the North Georgia Mountains I was consistently overwhelmed by their willingness to engage in deep spiritual and personal reflection as well the sense of Kehillah that they showed toward one another. It was a transformative 36 hours for them and their teachers.

Tuesday I watched some of those same 8th graders engaging preschool aged children at a community outreach event. I was inspired by their infectious energy and joyful personalities.

Also on Tuesday I joined our faculty as we held our first faculty meeting of the year. During our time together we watched a challenging ELI Talk about the importance of leading by example and cultivating our own spiritual, moral, emotional, and intellectual lives.

On Monday of this week I had a chance to participate in Middle School Tefilah not as the service leader, but as a participant. This is something I've longed to do for many years and is a direct result of my outstanding colleagues who are working every day to create an empowered Jewish community among our Middle School learners.

And the week began on Sunday with our Back to School Carnival where I watched a middle school student teach my son how to climb the bouncy slide all on his own. Sunday also included our annual MSLTI training (that I wrote about in an earlier post).

Just a typical week for me at The Davis Academy.

Shabbat Shalom!

Learning Leadership Through MSLTI

This Sunday we welcomed the 2016-2017 cohort of MSLTI, The Davis Academy's Middle School Leadership Training Institute. This year's cohort is an extraordinary group of 6th through 8th graders who are deeply committed to learning the art of leadership through service to their school and the broader community. Rather than summarize the afternoon's program, here are some leadership ideas that emerged during our time together.

1. Leaders are storytellers who must give a lot of thought to the stories they tell and the morals of those stories.

2. Leadership is a lens that we can put on the view any given situation. We can always ask, "What can I learn about leadership in this moment? What kind of leadership is being exhibited here?"

3. Our life experience is a tremendous source of insight when it comes to developing our own leadership style.

#davis7 #davis8 #davis6 leadership cohorts at #mslti talking about Golda Mier. pic.twitter.com/SKzB6T3miT

— jeffrey (@jetteryderdad) August 28, 2016

4. "The dog that trots about finds the bone."-- Golda Meir

5. One goal of leadership is to empower others and create empowered communities.

6. You never know the full impact of your action on others.

#davis6 #davis7 #davis8 #mslti talking passions, challenges, risks, travel, change and growth. pic.twitter.com/fE8aaL3brX

— jeffrey (@jetteryderdad) August 28, 2016

7. One way to cultivate leadership and personal growth is through self-reflection. Leaders should model self-reflection and encourage it in others.

8. What's possible is a direct outcome of who is in the room.

9. Leadership is "neutral." There are good leaders and bad leaders. There are leaders who make the world better, those that don't, and some that leave the world worse off than before. The most courageous leaders are committed to making the world better.

10. The test of leadership is in the doing.

On a personal note I have to say that I was completely inspired by what transpired during the MSLTI orientation this week and also profoundly grateful to the many MSLTI students that helped my two children have such a wonderful time at this year's Back to School Carnival. They didn't know it at the time, but they helped both my kids learn new skills and grow as people. Not something you can say about every Back to School Carnival!

Israel Sendoff D'var Torah

The following remarks were shared by Chloe Lipton at our 2016 Israel Sendoff Shabbat. Chloe spoke on behalf of her classmates. Among her many thoughtful insights, it is particularly meaningful to see that she identifies all of her teachers and all of the people who influenced her during her years at Davis as being responsible for her ability to fully appreciate the gift of the Israel Trip. 

Shabbat Shalom! My name is Chloe Lipton, and I’m here today to speak on behalf of the Davis Academy class of 2016 as we get ready to head to Israel next week. Before looking forward, I want to take a look back. I remember the day in kindergarten when Mrs. Buc told our class that we should go home and bring three items to school tomorrow, because we would be flying to Israel. The next day, I showed up with my bag packed and ready to go. I was over the moon with excitement, and we were just going to the gym. Once we “arrived” in Israel, we stopped in the lobby and wrote notes to stick into the Styrofoam Kotel. I sat there and read my note over and over again, thinking that when I finally did go to Israel, I would write the same note.

            Here I am, eight years later, with absolutely no recollection of what that note said, but this time I actually am flying to Israel. Just the idea of touching the Kotel, or floating in the Dead Sea puts a smile on my face. The waiting is done, and our turn is here. In five days, I’ll be boarding a plane with my fifty-five brothers and sisters. We are going to explore places and engage in activities we have only imagined. I’ve been told it’s the adventure of a lifetime, full of unforgettable experiences. The Israel trip is the perfect ending to our Davis journey, and the perfect start to our next one.

            Wherever I go, I know I will always have the Davis kehillah to come home to. For nine years it has supported me, and I can only hope that when I depart from Israel I will be a part of many new Kehillot—like the Nili School in Zichron Ya’akov, Kibbutz Ginosar, the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem where we will celebrate Shabbat afternoon, and the beach bum community of Tel Aviv. I am not quite sure what the trip will entail, but I cannot wait to see the look of amazement on my classmates faces when we see the old city for the first time, or the pure joy as we ride the camels, or the peaceful and content look on our faces as we welcome Shabbat together. Had it not been for every teacher and every member of the Davis Kehillah who has touched us along the way, we would not even be going to Israel, let alone able to appreciate all that will happen during our time there.

Some could say the Israel Trip marks our departure from Davis, but in my opinion, Davis will always be with us. In the memories of doing letter books in kindergarten, or in the memories of journaling in Israel and everything in between. Yes, we are leaving for our big trip, and soon after that we are graduating, but this is just the beginning. Thank you and Shabbat Shalom.

Davis and Marist Enrich the AJC's 30th Annual Black Jewish Seder

For the 3rd consecutive time, Davis Academy student leaders have had the honor of participating in the American Jewish Committee's Biannual Black Jewish Seder. This year they were joined by some of their interfaith peers from The Marist School as part of an ongoing partnership between the two schools.

This year's seder opened with Davis and Marist students singing the original version of Hinei Mah Tov that was written for our 2nd album of original Jewish music, A Palace in Time. You can download it for free here. Later in the seder, Davis students led the 4 questions and Dayeinu.

I told the kids and really do believe that even with the incredibly impressive array of civil rights leaders, politicians, and interfaith clergy in attendance, that the presence of young people helping lead the seder meant a great deal to the participants in the room. Davis and Marist students represent the next generation of leaders and it will be up to them to take up the torch of Tzedek ("Righteousness") from those that came before.

Here's a video of the kids singing the 4 questions and a few pictures from the event.

A Lesson in Leadership

The following D'var Torah was written and delivered at Kabbalat Shabbat today by Lauren Cohen, a Davis Academy 8th grader. In addition to the excellent writing and effective communication, what is striking is how authentically Lauren is able to reflect on the leadership characteristics of Moses in the week's Torah portion. In part, her ability to see Moses' leadership is a result of the many leadership opportunities she has sought ought and taken advantage of during her years of study at Davis. As Lauren spoke it was heartwarming to see hundreds of younger students, her peers, and even her teachers, listening intently and looking up to her.

Good Morning! My name is Lauren Cohen and I am an eighth grader here at The Davis Academy. I began my journey here in kindergarten making this my ninth year. In seventh grade, I had the amazing opportunity to become a student ambassador and join the MSLTI. As a student ambassador, I represent The Davis Academy at events all over Atlanta. Today, as an ambassador, I am here to share a D’var Torah about parsha Va’era, the second parsha in Exodus. Va’era covers a series of topics including Moses’ rise as a leader, the beginning of the plagues, and the Jewish people’s pursuit for justice. This morning I am going to focus on the idea of Moses’ responsibility as a leader.

      Until the age of fifteen, Moses didn’t have much responsibility. As a prince, everything was handed to him on a silver platter; however, when he chose to leave the palace and become a shed, his life changed dramatically. When he became a shepherd, Moses was forced to become a leader and assume responsibility. He took care of and protected his vulnerable sheep. He kept them out of harm’s way. This gave him the experience he needed in order to take responsibility as the leader of the Jewish people.

      While reading about Moses, I learned a great deal about responsibility. To start, I learned that it’s important to stand up for the cause you believe in. Moses chose to go back to Egypt and fight for the rights of the Jewish people. He worked to free us from exile because he believed that no one should be treated so poorly. He took responsibility and didn’t stop until his people, his kehillah, were safe. Next, I learned that as a leader, persistence is necessary. Although Pharaoh frequently told Moses that the Jews may not leave, Moses continued to plea for our freedom. Finally his persistence paid off and Moses led us out of Egypt. Lastly, I learned from Moses to be patient. Moses fought for a long time against Pharaoh and it was important for him to stay positive and believe that Pharaoh would eventually change his mind. Without Moses' patience and persistence, we would have remained enslaved.

While attending the Davis Academy, the most important lesson that I have learned is responsibility. I’ve learned that I must take responsibility for my actions, belongings, and even my assignments. To add, I am responsible for standing up for what I believe in and fighting for justice. I have also learned that I am responsible for setting high standards for others and myself. In order to be a good leader, I must set a good example for my peers and the younger students both at The Davis Academy and throughout our kehillah.

      Looking back at my nine years as a Davis Academy student, I realized that I have changed drastically since kindergarten. When I was five, I was very similar to young Moses in the way that I had little responsibility. I was a shy girl who enjoyed naptime and munchy math. However, as I’ve matured, I have grown and learned to take responsibility. The many amazing experiences I have had here at The Davis Academy have helped me become the mature, confident and responsible girl I am today. When I became a sixth grader at the middle school, I tried out for volleyball. Luckily, I made the B team, and was elected captain. As the captain, I had a lot of responsibilities. I had to be loud, aggressive, and make sure the team was working together. As the team captain, I had to, like Moses, take care of and protect my team. In seventh grade, I was given an amazing opportunity. My language arts teacher, Mr. Rifkin, gave our grade the fantastic chance to spend a day shadowing the executive manager at Macy’s. After submitting an application, writing an essay, and even being interviewed by a former Macy’s manager, I was fortunate to be chosen to be one of the four students in our grade to work at Macy’s. Similarly to Moses, I had to work very hard in order to get what I wanted. My persistence paid off.

Music has always been a huge part of my life.  I began playing piano in kindergarten.  In fifth grade, I was so excited to move to the middle school in order to take fusion.  I thought for a while about what instrument I would play.  You should have seen my parent’s faces after the first day of school when I told them I was going to play the drums. Fast forward to eighth grade.  Presently, I am the drummer for both 8^th grade fusion bands. I have the responsibility of keeping everyone on beat and making sure we are all playing together. Moreover, my biggest responsibility is to lead the band. Thanks to the Davis Academy, I have had many amazing opportunities that have shaped me into the person I am today.

      In the future, I know that I will continue to be actively involved with causes I passionately believe in.  Like Moses, I hope to be a leader who never backs down from a fight and strives for justice. While I don’t know where my journey will take me, I know that because of my strong foundation from The Davis Academy, I will be prepared for anything.