The 鈥�Siach Va鈥橲ig鈥� Hebrew debating competition named after Sagitte Yom-Tov 锄鈥漧

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Written by Naomi Kawaz, Year 10

Every year the Hebrew students from Years 9-12 come together to participate in the 鈥淪iach Va鈥橲ig鈥� Hebrew debating competition named after Sagitte Yom-Tov 锄鈥漧, and this year was no different. Students were divided into 4 different teams consisting of students from each year group, as well as a Tzevet member. The students were given the topic on the night and received an hour to prepare for the debate in their teams. For the first round, there were two topics. One of the topics of the first round was 鈥淚f Bezalel had the opportunity to buy at IKEA, he would not have needed thirteen chapters in the book of Exodus with instructions of how to build the Tabernacle.鈥� Both teams put up a good fight and had some very engaging arguments. From the affirmative team, we had ideas regarding how an IKEA manual is less complicated than a 13-chapter book. On the other side, we had the negative team who spoke about how IKEA furniture isn鈥檛 鈥楰osher鈥�. After a good battle, the affirmative team pulled through with a win.

The second topic of the first round was 鈥淓sav bought the birthright from Yaakov for a lentil stew (Genesis 25), today he would have bought it for a hundred Bitcoin.鈥� We heard excellent points from both sides of the debate. From the affirmative team, we heard about how 100 Bitcoin is worth around $3.3 million today and some humorous ideas about how money means a lot to people these days. On the other side, we had the negative team who spoke about how you can鈥檛 place a price tag on the birthright and how it was always G-d鈥檚 plan to give the birthright to Yaakov. There were great points from both sides, however, the negative team pulled through with a win.

For the finals, the two winning teams from the first round were given a new topic, 鈥淢en wear Oodies which is a garment for women, contrary to the law of prohibition against men wearing a woman鈥檚 garment: 鈥渁 man shall not wear a woman鈥檚 garment (Deuteronomy 22:5).鈥� The two teams had 15 minutes to prepare ideas as a team. Even though the teams had very little time to prepare they both had great ideas. For the final round, it was the affirmative team who managed to pull through with a win. The judges of the night were Mr Yom-Tov, Mrs Kagan and Hebrew graduate Hadassa Solomon. We want to thank them for taking the time out of their nights to adjudicate for us. We would like to thank Gadi for being the MC, and Mr Lawrence and all the Hebrew teachers for their support. We鈥檙e also grateful to Morah Gunders-Hunt and Shivi for the preparation prior to the night and for making the night possible. It was an overall successful and enjoyable night which helped develop the students鈥� Hebrew skills.