Academic Teams

The Ma’ayanot Debate Team engages in competition with other yeshiva teams in the Metropolitan area. Participants master arguments regarding some of the most controversial issues of our time, including physician-assisted suicide, gun control, abortion, nuclear war, and others. The student’s facility with these topics is fully and fairly tested through a debate procedure, encouraging creativity, comprehension, and clarity. While developing their rhetorical skills, students improve analytical skills, sharpen research strategies, and increase their self-confidence.

Members of Ma’ayanot’s College Bowl team engage in trivia competitions with teams from other schools. This team promotes quick thinking and the mastery of broad general knowledge.

Student participants in Hidon HaTanakh have the opportunity to hone their bekiut skills in Tanakh by preparing for the nation Hidon HaTanakh competition. Interested students are coached to compete in the regional and national competitions. Students who qualify have the chance to go to the International Bible Context that is held annually in Jerusalem.

Students who have strong math skills and who enjoy working on challenging math problems are welcome to compete for the Math Team. Members compete in the New Jersey Math League, which meets six times per year, as well as the American Math Competition 10-12. Students who excel at these competitions are invited to participate in additional contests.

Participants in this team learn the structure of courtroom practice, analytical approaches to maximizing the strengths and obviating the weaknesses of a case, and methods and benefits of thorough practice, becoming familiar with the American judicial system. Positions on the team include lawyers and witnesses. The Mock Trial Team competes against other schools by arguing a case before a judge.

Model Congress is a dynamic environment in which students interface with government and democracy. Students engage in political role-playing: they introduce bills, gather facts during committee hearings, arbitrate differences among committee members, and work together to reach a final consensus. Students become aware of their own political power and their responsibilities to the United States and its people.

Ma’ayanot’s Model United Nations Team represents a nation at the Yeshiva University National Model United Nations Conference, held annually in February. Team members perform many diplomatic tasks, meet with ambassadors from their nation, conduct research, and draft a statement of their nation’s positions on relevant issues. At the conference, team members negotiate with students representing other nations. The best delegations receive awards for their performances. This club helps students enhance their writing and public speaking skills.

Torah Bowl promotes Torah learning by providing students with a forum to display their mastery of various parshiot in a competitive environment. Team members prepare parshiot and Rashi’s commentary, and then compete with other schools for the championship.