Last week was a major milestone for Yavneh, the United States, and all of humanity. NASA’s Perseverance Rover landed successfully on Mars and immediately began sending pictures. Anyone wonder where the name came from? Perhaps you’re more familiar with Netzach?
For the last 10 years, Yavneh has been focusing on teaching middot (character traits). Chosen by students, parents, and teachers each fall, we focus on seven different middot. Most years, Netzach, perseverance, makes the list. It’s no surprise that our Keshet Krew was so persuasive about the merits of this middah that NASA decided that perseverance was the perfect name for their Rover.
In fact, Yavneh is thrilled to announce that we have received the honor of partnering with NASA to create the first school on Mars. Once Perseverance has completed its job of searching for signs of ancient microbial life and characterizing the planet’s geological and past climate, it’s goal is to pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. After exploration comes colonization and all colonies need schools.
Although it’s a few years away, we’re already planning on ways to take our immersive, integrated model of education to space. General Vashti from NASA commented, “What started as a search for a name for our Rover, turned into a partnership for the ages. My cousins’ sister’s friend’s daughter graduated from Yavneh last year. At our Pesach seder, she shared the Yavneh Haggadah that was created by your students. As she was sharing her experiences of being part of the Keshet Krew and how important Netzach was, I knew that I had found the perfect name for our Rover.”
Just imagine…Yavneh on Mars!
Chag Purim Sameach!
