Every yeshiva Boy knows that one of the most important aspects for success in the yeshiva experience is making sure to have a good chavrusa. In our case, Yaakov, despite being in utero, clearly understood this social dynamic as well.

As I think of the year gone by and the dedication of our faculty to our children I recall the famous idiom of Winston Churchill that we should “never let a good crisis go to waste!”.

If there was ever an end-of-year pick me up, going maskless definitely did the trick and then some. A marvelous way to enter Shabbos and the holiday of Shavuos.

The lesson here is quite obvious but well worth thinking about. We are allowed to have a difference of opinion or an alternate perspective on an issue. There is nothing wrong with that at all. In fact, a polyphony of opinions can lead to an even greater outcome. But should it lead to negative feelings or ill-mannered disrespect we must assert that it does not come from a place of life and blessing and change course to ensure that we reap the blessings of life and fraternity for our families and our people.