Academy Students Win Division at Moot Beit Din Competition
Originally featured in HaGesher, American Hebrew Academy's Monthly Newsletter

Competing against 21 teams from across the United States and Canada, the American Hebrew Academy took first place in their division in the RAVSAK national Moot Beit Din Debate Competition, held March 29 – April 1, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Under the direction of Associate Dean of Jewish Studies Rabbi Michael Gisser, Academy seniors Madeline Dubin, Ben Goldberg, Chanel Shulman, and Ben Drew prepared written briefs and oral arguments in preparation for their victory.

Moot Beit Din is a unique program that enables students from Jewish high schools to delve into issues of Jewish law through creative engagement with contemporary situations. This year’s competition focused on the laws governing the rights of employees to unionize, including the right to strike. Every year, RAVSAK, the association for community Jewish schools, prepares a new case on a topic that has not yet been adjudicated under Jewish law. After intensive study, students prepare written decisions for the case given to them. They then present and defend their decisions before a panel of judges, which includes lawyers and Jewish scholars, during oral argument at the competition.

Winning the Moot Beit Din competition is a prestigious honor and serves as national recognition for the rigorous American Hebrew Academy Jewish Studies program and the exceptional talent of Academy students.p>

Back