BOYS HIGH SCHOOL LIMUDEI KODESH

"Privilege me to raise children and grandchildren who are wise and understanding, who love Hashem and fear Hashem, people of truth, offspring that are holy, who to Hashem are attached, and who illuminate the world with Torah and with deeds that are good, and with every labor in the service of the Creator.“ (Prayer recited by women after lighting Shabbat Candles) BOYS HIGH SCHOOL LIMUDEI KODESH “וזכני לגדל בנים ובני בנים חכמים ונבונים, אוהבי ה', יראי אלוקים, אנשי אמת, זרע קודש בה' דבקים. ומאירים את העולם בתורה ובמעשים טובים, ובכל מלאכת עבודת הבורא."

A little bit about me… Attended Bnei Akiva Machaneh growing up. MTA – At Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush). MTB – Shana Bet at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Returned to South Africa and began involvement with the community. Worked at the DIJE at King David Schools for 2 Years. Assumed various roles in Bnei Akiva over a period of 3 years. Culminating in being Rosh Machaneh in Invited to join Mizrachi Leadership Training Programme Yeshivat Hakotel for 2 years Isralight Leadership Fellowship under Rabbi David Aaron Yeshivat Hamivtar Kollel under Rabbi Riskin for 3 years Machon Amiel for the Training of Rabbis & Educators to serve in Chu”l Completed Bcom Informatics & Industrial Psychology My wife, Sarah and I, along with our 2 children – Yehuda and Eliana – are thrilled to make our new home at Yeshiva College in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Educational Philosophy STRUCTURE IS FUNDAMENTAL “No Briyah without Tzimtzum” “There is no creation without constriction” (Adapted from Eitz Chayim) Students need to know where the four walls are in order feel safe and secure enough to step out of their comfort zones – to grow and flourish. Discipline is a sign of love, not the opposite.

Educational Philosophy CREATIVITY EMERGES FROM STRUCTURE "...' והמכתב מכתב אלהים הוא חרות על הלוחות '. אל תקרא ' חרות ' אלא ' חירות ', שאין לך בן חורין אלא מי שעוסק בתלמוד תורה..." ( אבות פרק ו משנה ב ) “…’And the writing is the writing of G-d – engraved on to the tablets’. Don’t read ‘Charut’ (engraved), rather ‘Cheirut’ (freedom). For there is no one as free as he who busies himself with learning Torah…” (Ethics of the Father 6:2)

Educational Philosophy EDUCATION THAT IS SUITABLE, RELEVANT & ENGAGING TO THE TALMID חֲנֹךְ לַנַּעַר עַל פִּי דַרְכּוֹ גַּם כִּי יַזְקִין לֹא יָסוּר מִמֶּנָּה :" ( משלי כ " ב : ו ') “Educate the youngster according to his way, so that when he gets older, he will not stray from it” While acknowledging the difficulty presented by classroom education – there must always be the aspiration to find the unique path suited to each talmid. Unique Character Traits must be discovered, valued, explored and developed. The talmid’s uniqueness should be used to make him feel special, significant and important. Our Chinuch must continually strive to be dynamic and creative.

Educational Philosophy HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CHINUCH " את התשובה אנו מוצאים בשלש מערכות : א ) תשובה טבעית, ב ) אמונית, ג ) תשובה שכלית. בתשובה הטבעית יש שני חלקים : תשובה טבעית גופנית ותשובה טבעית נפשית..." ( אורות התשובה - הרב אברהם יצחק הכהן קוק ) "There are 3 categories of Teshuva (Repentance): 1) Natural (Physical & Emotional), 2)Belief-based, 3)Wisdom-Based” ( Lights on Repentance – Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook) CHINUCH MUST ENCOMPASSES THE WHOLE RELIGIOUS PERSONALITY PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL INTELLECTUAL BALANCE BETWEEN LOVE AND FEAR IN SERVICE OF HASHEM

Educational Philosophy COMMUNITY OUT OF THE CLASSROOM " ותשובתו הרמתה כי שם ביתו."( שמואל א ' א ': ז ') ואמר רבי יוחנן : שכל מקום שהלך שם - ביתו עמו " ( מסכת ברכות דף י עמוד ב ) “And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and he built there an altar to the Lord.” Rabbi Yochanan said: “Because every place that he went to – his home was with him” (Tractate Brachot 10B) We wish for our home to be an extension of the classroom. A place for our talmidim to genuinely feel at home – comfortable to question and develop their religious personalities in a safe and warm environment - through connecting experientially and deeply to their Yiddishkeit

Educational Philosophy BALANCE OF PASSION AND SKILLS It is not sufficient to be equipped with learning skills and abilities, if passionately connecting to Hashem is not valued deeply and genuinely. Similarly, a love and fear for Hashem cannot guarantee a lifelong commitment to Yiddishkeit outside of the school walls, if not supported by a sophisticated approach to serious and committed learning. " רבי אלעזר בן עזריה אומר... אם אין חכמה אין יראה אם אין יראה אין חכמה אם אין בינה אין דעת אם אין דעת אין בינה אם אין קמח אין תורה אם אין תורה אין קמח..." ( פרקי אבות פרק ג ' משנה י " ז ) “Rabbi Eliezer ben Azarya says…If there is no Wisdom, there is no Fear, if there is no Fear, there is no Wisdom…” (Ethics of the Fathers Chapter 3 Mishnah 17)

Educational Philosophy THE ULTIMATE GOAL BEING TO DEVELOP WITHIN THE TALMIDIM A GENUINE AND PASSIONATE LOVE FOR HASHEM, LIMUD TORAH AND A COMMITMENT TO A LIFETIME OF GROWTH. CONNECTING THE TALMIDIM TO OUR BEAUTIFUL TORAT ERETZ YISRAEL OF TIKUN OLAM THAT ANSWERS THE NEED OF OUR GENERATION. " צריך שכל איש ידע ויבין, שבתוך תוכו דולק נר, ואין נרו שלו כנר חברו, ואין איש שאין לו נר. וצריך שכל איש ידע ויבין, שעליו לעמול ולגלות את אור הנר ברבים, ולהדליקו לאבוקה גדולה ולהאיר את העולם כולו." ( הרב קוק ) Every person needs to know and understand, that inside him kindles a candle, and his candle is not like the candle of his peer, and there is no person that has no candle. And every person needs to know and understand that it is upon him to toil and to reveal his candle to everyone, and then to enlighten it into a huge flame – to enlighten the entire world, completely. (Rav Kook)

Goals 1.INITIAL GOAL – LISTEN AND LEARN IN ORDER TO FORMULATE VISION & STRATEGY CONNECT WITH TALMIDIM CONNECT WITH RAMIM CONNECT WITH UPPER MANAGEMENT CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY Estimated Timeframe: Remainder of Third Term 2. PRESENT AND DISCUSS VISION AND STRATEGY WITH BOARD AND EXCO Formulate Goals until End of the Year Formulate Goals for 2013 Estimated Timeframe: Beginning of Fourth Term

Thoughts so far… Formal Curriculum YID Night Seder Davening Shabbat Experiences Sport & Drama

BOYS HIGH SCHOOL LIMUDEI KODESH