Ma’ayanot’s Senior Interdisciplinary Day, “Navigating the 3 C’s post-Ma’ayanot: Campus, Career, Classroom,” offered seniors robust sessions with top-notch speakers to help prepare students for their new horizons after high school. Ma’ayanot biology and halakha teacher Racheli Taubes, former JLIC educator at Penn, contributed to the campus life panel. Also on the panel was Shifra Friedman, Ma’ayanot Judaic Studies teacher and current JLIC educator at Columbia-Barnard, who explained, “We wanted to bring together educators who have worked on college campuses with strong Jewish communities (and where many of our students attend) to answer real-life questions about the challenges our students may face as well as the opportunities that arise—and to discuss common scenarios faced by yeshiva graduates when they arrive on campus.” In another session, Science Department Chair Gila Stein discussed “The Big Bang, Biology, and the Bible,” and how believing Jews can view science in general, and evolution and the age of the universe specifically, through the lens of the Torah. Students explored sources in the commentaries that discuss creation and the age of the universe, “with the approach that science and Torah have different goals, but when viewed properly, can mutually enhance each other,” explained Stein.

Senior Ahuva Winder praised the program: “All of the sessions were interesting and well-run, and I gained many valuable skills that I will use throughout my college life and religious life. The sessions really helped me understand the value of balance and the need to do what is important for you while continuing to live a religious life.” The program, organized by Co-Directors of Interdisciplinary Programming Chani Rotenberg and Sarah Gordon, also included a workshop on decision-making with Associate Principal Tamar Appel, as well as a panel about balancing life as an Orthodox mother with a full-time career. Said senior Yael Press, “Interdisciplinary day really helped me prepare for my future!”