THE RAMBAM RECORD
The eNewsletter of Rambam Mesivta High School
May 31, 2006 / 4 Sivan

Camp Morasha 2006!

For the second year running, Rambam took it's end-of-year trip to Camp Morasha for two days of well-deserved recreation in the picturesque Pocono Mountains before the big push for finals.

Virtually the entire student body joined the trip, and packed in as much fun as they could have in the 48 hours they had available.The boys arrived early Monday morning May 22nd, davened, and then departed on luxurious coach busses to the camp. There the boys spent two glorious days playing sports, eating good food, davening and learning with one another in a beautiful setting on the shores of Lake Como.

Weather played a big role this year as the trip was postponed from a week earlier because of rain. But the postponement paid off as sunshine prevailed throughout the boys' stay at the camp though the temperature was a little chilly.

In a tightly scheduled itinerary of events, the boys took full advantage of the 400-acre complex playing roller hockey on the three hockey rinks, basketball on the eight basketball courts, softball on the five baseball fields, tennis on the 12 tennis courts, rock climbing and boating on the 25-acre Lake Como.

On Day One, round-robin tournaments began in softball and basketball wherein students played with and against other students and some of the teachers and administrators on the trip.

Each day included thought-provoking shiurim for the entire Yeshiva.

Day Two featured more of the same including the finals of the basketball and softball tournaments.

Davening mincha on the final day took on a special significance. After two long and happy days together, the Mesivta gathered and davened mincha one more time before packing out onto the busses again.

"It was exhausting, but fun," said freshman Hillel Gross about his first Camp Morasha experience.

Yeshiva University Honors Rambam Students

Six Rambam graduates received special commendations at this year's commencement exercises at Yeshiva University - Ezra Blumenthal ('02), Aaron Etra ('03), Yigal Gross ('02), Michael Lavner ('02), Ephraim Polakoff ('99) and Alan Stein ('02).

Ezra Blumenthal ('02) won the Monis and Chaya Zuckerman Memorial Award for Best Research Paper in Jewish History from Yeshiva College.

Aaron Etra ('03) won the Louis Werfel Memorial Award for the junior with the Highest Ranking GPA from Yeshiva College.

Yigal Gross ('02) won the Benjamin and Bertha Lebzelter Memorial Award for Excellence in Bible from Yeshiva College.

Michael Lavner ('02) won the Mendel and Sarah Gottesman Memorial Award for Scholarship, Ethics and Character from Yeshiva College.

Ephraim Polakoff ('99) won the Jeffrey Seelenfreund Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies and Character from Yeshiva College.

Alan Stein ('02) won the Harry R. Mancher Award for Excellence in Accounting from the Sy Syms School of Business and the Frank Shavitz Memorial Award from the Mazer School of Talmudic Studies.

Rambam Honors Yom Yerushalayim and Memorial Day

At an assembly on Tuesday, May 30th, Rabbi Eliach made the connection between Yom Yerushalayim, the day on the Jewish calendar honoring the recapture of the Holy City, and Memorial Day, which recognizes the service and, in over one million cases, the ultimate sacrifice, of United States soldiers.

"The connection between these two special days is this: each basically comes down to our obligation to honor the soldier on the battlefield," he said.

Rabbi Eliach then presented a brief history of the Jewish people's close bond with Yerushalayim, and finished with the playing of a video telling the story of the re-capture of the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967.

The talmidim then watched a video excerpt of actor Gary Sinise reading a emotional letter from the Iraqi war veteran at last weekend's Memorial Day ceremony on the Great Lawn in Washington. D.C.

"As Jewish-American citizens, we should appreciate what freedom means, " Eliach concluded. "We must also never forget that freedom comes at a price."

The Rambam Softball team finished up a successful 2006 softball season with a 5-3 record after their double-header split against the Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) on Friday, May 26th.

Friday's games featured a grand slam home run hit by Gili Litwack.

"This season was a big step up for us from previous seasons," said junior Sruli Szpigiel. "But I think we can do even better next year. The talent is there. We just have to put it all together."

Coach Seth Ungar added: “I am very proud of this team, and at 5-3, I'd call our season respectable. We'll know soon whether or not we made the playoffs."

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