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Jewish Community News

News: October 2006

Yavneh Day School celebrates 25 years

When five-year-old Judith Dickman, accompanied by her mother Eleanor, walked into her first day of kindergarten in August of 1981, she and her mom had first-day jitters. In this case however, it was not only the first day of kindergarten for mother and daughter, but the very first day of Yavneh Day School, the South Peninsula’s first non-Orthodox Jewish Day School.

“When I brought Judith into the class, her teacher, Leah Bernstein, smiled at Judith first, and then introduced herself to me. I knew then that this was the right place for her,” recalls Dickman.

This year, Yavneh celebrates its 25th anniversary—a long and successful journey of growth and education. The school opened its doors 25 years ago in borrowed classroom space at Congregation Beth David, with one preschool and one kindergarten class. Former Yavneh principal Bonnie Slavitt Moore describes the years at Beth David as “like being in the womb.”

Jeremy Segall, a Yavneh graduate who now works as an attorney in Chicago, credits the school with his current strong level of Jewish observance. “Yavneh ignited a spark. I felt an inherent beauty and truth in what we were taught, and found it fascinating. As a result, I always knew that [Judaism] would always be an important part of my life,” Segall said.

Yavneh’s opening 25 years ago not only offered current Silicon Valley residents a day school opportunity, but it attracted new families to the area that might otherwise not have come. Indeed, Congregation Beth David Rabbi Daniel Pressman said that when considering whether to move to the area, the presence of a day school weighed heavily. “We were looking for a community in which there were opportunities for a good Jewish day school education and in which we could find a growing Conservative Jewish environment,” he said.

Day school was important to Dickman, too. “I knew we would find a Jewish community institutionally, not geographically. So we immediately joined a synagogue and enrolled our kids at Yavneh.” Although well-entrenched in the community now, Dickman feels that Yavneh is an important asset for newcomers as well as the established community.

“Yavneh’s existence really makes a difference in our Jewish community. It helps parents get connected, become involved, grow and want to serve.”

After three years at Congregation Beth David, Yavneh moved to the JCC campus in Los Gatos in 1984. Aside from a three-year stint in San Jose, during the construction of the Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus, the school has remained at this location. Sharing a communal campus with other Jewish agencies has proved beneficial to the school and agencies alike.

“Yavneh and JFS have had a close, ongoing relationship over the past 25 years,” says Jewish Family Services Director Mindy Berkowitz. “Yavneh students have made holiday cards for seniors, donated toiletries, household goods and toys for needy people, and assisted with our Project NOAH Passover Food Drive.”

JCC Preschool Director Cyndi Sherman says that Yavneh has been a good neighbor to the preschool as well. “Yavneh has lent us room space, we’ve partnered for Shabbat celebrations and their Head of School, Lori Abramson, regularly conducts a beautiful Havdallah service with our children.”

For Yavneh’s part, “Jewish Family Services is a ready source for teaching our children about the connection between Tsedakah, Gmilut Hasadim (acts of kindness) and daily life,” says Head of School, Lori Abramson. She also praises the JCC preschool for “preparing their children superbly for kindergarten and for being a dedicated partner in trying to get across the message of the benefits of a Jewish education.”

“We are truly blessed to be a part of this campus, and we are grateful to the Federation and the entire Jewish community for making it possible,” continues Abramson. “We believe that the relationships we have with the four campus agencies as well as with the synagogues will be a hallmark of our next 25 years.”

In its twenty-fifth anniversary year, Yavneh plans to celebrate with the same spirit that has invigorated the school since its founding. Yavneh knows how to combine Tzedakah with fun. The school has launched a year-long student-driven charity drive to raise money for a school in Northern Israel. The Yavneh Parents Association is planning a family fun event to celebrate the anniversary, and a community-wide Anniversary Gala, “From Silver to Gold” is planned for next May.

For Dickman, things have come full circle. Her son Michael spent this past summer in Silicon Valley with his family, and grandson Uri attended the JCC Pre-School summer camp. She hopes that daughter Judith (who now lives in Tarzana, CA, and is expecting her second daughter in December) will be able to attend the spring gala. “A kindergarten teacher now herself, she will enjoy seeing both how Yavneh has grown and yet how it has remained a warm and nurturing place,” says Dickman.

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