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THE
RAMBAM RECORD |
The $6,000 donation raised by the students and parents of Rambam and presented to the people of Sri Lanka generated big news last week - and some controversy. "Yasher koach guys, "said Rambam principal Rabbi Yotav Eliach to the talmidim after the donation was presented to the Sri Lankan ambassador on January 6th. "You really did something today. This was really positive diplomatic intervention and you can really see how just one person or one small school can make a difference." Rabbi Eliach said that he also viewed the presentation as an opportunity to strengthen relations between the Jewish people and the people of Sri Lanka. In the early hours of the disaster, there were press reports that emergency personnel from Israel had been denied the opportunity to assist. Although it is true that initially, Israel's offer to help was turned down, it was due, the ambassador said, to the logistical chaos in the immediate aftermath of the event and not because the offer had come from Israel. Within a day or two, as the logistical situation changed, the Israeli relief contingent landed in the country and has helped provide vital emergency assistance. Read the following news stories about how Rambam's initiative in Sri Lanka's Kids for Kids program became a catalyst for better relations between Sri Lanka and Israel ...
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Rambam's educational philosophy is to not only learn chesed and love of Israel but to manifest that love through action. In keeping with this philosophy, during the winter break, a group of Rambam students have volunteered to serve on an Israeli army base near Kiryat Shemona in Israel for Project Mitnadvim IV. This is the fourth year in which Rambam student-volunteers have given of themselves during their winter break to serve in Israel. For two weeks, the boys will be learning and attending shiurim, visiting yeshivot and also helping with the vital mission of providing for the safety and security of Israel. The group will participate in a major project in the region: the construction and maintenance of the security fence between Israel and Lebanon under the auspices of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In past years, Rambam's Project Mitnadvim has focused on various volunteer efforts including, last year, volunteering at the Shaare Tzedek Medical Center in a program dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Dr. David Applebaum and his daughter, Nava, who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists. "We don't just teach people to learn, but to do," said Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh HasMesivta of Rambam. The students will be involved in a number of other unique learning and chesed projects. Details to follow. |
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Chaplain Colonel Jacob Goldstein was guest speaker at Rambam on Motzei Shabbat, January 8th. Chaplain Colonel Goldstein is the first Jewish State Chaplain in the United States Army, the Chief of Chaplains of the New York Army National Guard and the recipient of numerous service honors and distinctions. Chaplain Goldstein spoke passionately about bringing in lulavim and esrogim to the Jewish troops under the most difficult circumstances in Iraq and Afghanistan. By recounting some moving anecdotes of his personal experience, Chaplain Goldstein spoke about some of the challenges he has faced tending to the spiritual needs of all American troops within the parameters of halacha and how he was able to deal with these challenges. Chaplain Goldstein said that we have an obligation to offer hakarat hatov to the American fighting forces for helping to keep our country free. He praised Rambam Mesivta in particular for making these values part of the educational philosophy of the school. Special thanks to the Rambam Women's League for successfully sponsoring Chaplain Goldstein's visit to the school. Kudos also go out to the many sponsors of Chaplain Goldstein's visit: Dr. & Mrs. Martin Ehrenberg, Mr. & Mrs. Elliot Horowitz, Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Katz., Dr. & Mrs. Zvi Lefkovitz, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Reinstein, Mr. & Mrs. Larry Siegel, Mr. & Mrs. Shelby Goldgrab, Mr. & Mrs. Neil Kugelman, Dr. & Mrs. Neal Rosenblum, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Cohen, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Gluck, Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Grushko, Mrs. Lori Guterman, Mr. & Mrs. Akiba Keehn, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Miller, Dr. & Mrs. Eddie Simpser, Dr. & Mrs. Michael Sperling. Others who helped with the event also merit a special thank
you: Rose Bernstein (committee chairperson), Renee
Friedman,
Mindy Gluck, Mindy Haar, Phyllis
Kornbluth, Miriam
Kugelman, Goldspeed.com, Gotta
Getta Bagel - Joel Baruch and Dov Halbertal. |
| ©2005, Rambam Mesivta High School 15 Frost Lane Lawrence, NY 11559 (516) 371-5824 http://www.rambam.org |
Rambam
Tsunami Donation - News and Controversy
Project
Mitnadvim IV
| Fall Semester in Pictures |
 Click
here to see the Photo Gallery of the Fall Semester in Review! |
| Soccer Team |
|
Shmuel Burg |
| Shabbaton with Rabbi Ziskind |
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The talmidim davened, ate, sang z'miros, schmoozed, shared divrei Torah and did more of the same the next day with their rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Ziskind. "It was a great opportunity to get together with the guys from the shiur and the rebbe in an informal setting," said Shlomo Yosef Simpser. "And the food was great!" |
| Finals are Finally Over!! |
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Now that it's all over, there's a general feeling of relief, and of a mid-term break that is well-deserved by all. Congratulations, talmidim! Look forward to a learning-filled, action-packed spring semester! |
Thank you to all
the students who tried out for the Rambam Soccer team, and congratulations
to those who made the team:
Rabbi
Ziskind had some 20 of the Rambam freshmen for a special shabbaton at
his house in Brooklyn on Shabbos Parshas Veyechi.
The
classrooms, hallways and even stairways of Rambam were
being used by students for some last-minute quiet time to study
for mid-term
finals these past two weeks.
