American Hebrew Academy takes first place in National Competition
The American Hebrew Academy announces its students earned first place honors in the 2017 Prizmah National Moot Beit Din competition, held in Houston Texas; The competition follows the traditional format of Mock Trial.
The Academy's team, from the only international Jewish college prep boarding high school in the world, was represented by seniors Samuel Goldberg from Monterrey, Mexico, Coby Strell from Hoboken, New Jersey, Yehonatan Vloski from Sha'arei-Tikva, Israel, and junior Isaac Ostrow from Memphis, Tennessee. The competition, organized for Jewish high schools, challenges students to examine the ethical and moral dimensions of Halakhah (Jewish law) and US case law through creative engagement with contemporary situations.
This year's competition focused on technology and the legal complexities specifically related to self-driving vehicles. The case presented involved a bystander who was injured as a result of an autonomous vehicle that was pre-programmed to avoid striking another pedestrian in its path who would have otherwise been killed. Students researched classical Jewish sources to answer the question, who is liable to pay for the injured party's damages, medical expenses, and lost wages. The American Hebrew Academy team earned first place in the competition's highest and most difficult division.
"Our students distinguished themselves by having a very clear and logical structure to their presentation and by fielding difficult questions from the judges with great poise and persuasiveness. They learned about the law, about crafting an argument, and about self-expression," stated Dr. Joshua Moss, the Academy's Moot Beit Din faculty advisor, and a member of the Jewish Studies faculty.
"The entire Academy community is proud of our Moot Beit Din team. Success at Moot Beit Din required our students to apply ancient and modern Jewish legal sources to a high-tech accident. Our team's success is indicative of the superb education Academy students receive, which cultivates clear thinking, polished writing, an ability to think on one's feet, and a deep connection to classic Jewish texts," said Alex Troy, Head of School.
The American Hebrew Academy is the only international Jewish college prep boarding school in the world. The Academy has inspired intellectually adventurous teenagers from 28 states and 35 countries to pursue excellence in a one-of-a-kind academic environment.
The diverse culture, customs, and values of Judaism challenge Academy students of all backgrounds to maximize their full academic, personal, and spiritual potential which serve as the foundation for lifelong learning, community service, and global engagement. Rigorous study, experiential learning, competitive athletics, creative arts, travel around the world, and leadership development are at the core of the Academy's elite curriculum.
