Yuval School of Music and the Arts is up and running! The first week of studies has been exciting.

It is typical for us to start small, and grow and learn. But the vision of HaChotam Publishers and Beit Geula congregation when synergized with ours, is a big one, and the Yuval School Started with a bang with over 100 students!

From Monday through Thursday the Pavilion and the Media School have been buzzing with activity, and the simple sounds of music instruction are wafting from the rooms. One hears a little piano, guitar, drums (only when the doors opened, thankfully). There have been drama, dance, choir, visual arts, voice, and a variety of instruments!

The first few days were pretty hectic! Looking back, Irit Iffert, the school administrator says, "He [the LORD] was faithful in filling us daily with patience (believe me... we all needed a lot of patience from above this week and with joy to serve Him!"

I saw that first hand! Kids, parents, everywhere, some in places they weren't supposed to be, some grabbing blank papers from Pavilion office to write on, asking for coffee and drinks, confused about the instructions they were given. Some kids got loose on the stage (out of bounds of course)! You'd have to know the Israeli culture to truly appreciate this picture. To add to the challenges, the Pavilion technical crews were away at conferences leaving very few to troubleshoot keyboards, amplifiers, air conditioning, sound leakage.

Well, in short - there were many challenges, and both Irit and Sasha Atlas, also one of the school directors, kept their cool, their smiles, and their joy. Through the "balagan" (confusion) the excitement of a dream come true of a school like this becoming reality - was enough to keep them going. Some day they will write their own account of Day #1 at the Yuval School.

On Day two we had a huddle. Some swift changes were needed. None of us had walked this way before. Soon we had the reception desk relocated in a much more convenient spot, we discussed solutions for sound leakage from room to room, and had a peaceful day.

Students are coming all the way from Beer-Sheva, Mitzpe Ramon, Ramat Gan, Beit Shemesh, and Beit Lechem (Bethlehem!). There is an air of excitement. One teenager from Beer Sheva expressed to me how deeply grateful he is to God that this school has been established.

Irit reported the first weeks activities with much excitement and satisfaction, and confidence that we'll settle into a good routine that works well. This generation will emerge equipped, skilled, and able to offer their gifts back to God for His purposes!

The final words of her report were:

"Shabbat shel Shalom to all of us, rejoicing and being thankful for what HE has done this week! To Him be the glory!"