THE RAMBAM RECORD
The eNewsletter of Rambam Mesivta High School
November 4, 2005 / 2 Cheshvan

Grant Park Outing

While the sophomores and juniors took the PSAT on Wednesday, November 2nd, the freshmen and seniors had a fabulous outdoor outing at local Grant Park.

The sunny afternoon was filled with talmidim enjoying the still-warm weather playing softball, basketball, football, tennis and roller hockey. Student Activities Director Rabbi Arie Chait said: "Now that we're getting into the first semester academically, it's important that the students get out and have a little fun together." (See Photo Gallery...)

(Click here to see the story of Professor Sinclair's injury...)

Talmidim Say Goodbye to Rabbi Miller

Rambam bade a nostalgic farewell to Rabbi Lester Miller who, after 11 years of service at the Mesivta, is leaving to pursue other educational opportunities.

In his introduction, Rabbi Friedman playfully compared Rabbi Miller to Noah of the Torah.

"Rabbi Miller is an individual as Noah was an individual," Rabbi Friedman said fondly, "Going his own way but always for the right reasons."

After accepting a plaque of thanks and recogniton, Rabbi Miller had some heartfelt words for the talmidim: "At Rambam you are truly blessed by rebbeim here who are trying to teach you something real, something meaningful. They worry about everything you say and do, not because it's their job, but because it's their life. We all believe that what we are teaching is critical in your life. All the rebbeim here are wonderful people, uniquely wonderful. In a little school here in Lawrence, they are changing the world."

The talmidim danced and sang in Rabbi Miller's honor afterwards and presented him with a gift of fond farewell.

Students Take the PSATs

On Wednesday, November 2nd, the sophomores and juniors at Rambam took a 3-hour PSAT test. This test helps to acquaint students with the SAT test and to help qualify them for the Merit Scholarship Program.

(Click here to learn more about the PSAT)

"We wanted to provide a testing atmosphere with no interruptions during the PSAT, so we give the freshman and the seniors an afternoon outside of the building at Grant Park," said Principal Rabbi Yotav Eliach."This outing also serves to promote achdus between the freshmen and seniors."

At Rambam, a student will take the PSAT test twice - once as a sophomore and once again as a junior. Only the score on the test taken during the junior year is taken into account for National Merit Scholarship qualification.

Sophomores take the test to acquaint themselves with the SAT, a critical element in the college admissions process. Experience has shown that familiarity with an exam provides a level of comfort conducive to success. As well, it is a good gauge of areas of weakness on which to focus for the later exam.

This past year, 20 per cent - or one out of five seniors - received recognition by the College Board for excellence in academic achievement. This supports and extends Rambam's reputation for academic excellence.

Good luck to all!

The team schedules for the Basketball and Hockey teams for the '05-'06 season are now posted online.

Click below to download:

Basketball (Varsity)
Hockey (JV)
Hockey (Varsity)

The Rambam Ravens are looking forward to a successful season this year under first-time head coaches Tzvi Hershenov (Varsity), Yaacov Gross and Meir Wadler (JV).

"I expect that this will be a rebuilding year," Mr. Hershenov said. "We lost a lot of offensive talent from the varsity team with our graduating seniors last year, so we're going to have to play much tighter defense to compete successfully."

Rambam looked to Mr. Gross and Mr. Wadler to take on the JV coaching duties this season. The pair bring a professional's approach to coaching the players in everything from game strategy to practice protocols. In the past, Mr. Wadler has coached teams to the chamipionship level in the yeshiva league.

The home opener for the Varsity Ravens is on Monday, November 7th, at 8:30 p.m. against Solomon Schecter of Long Island. C'mon out and root on the Ravens!

Mr. Benjamin Levy, Rambam Hebrew Teacher, has just published a research paper on Chaim Nachman Bialik in The Queens College Journal of Jewish Studies. Bialik is considered one of the greatest Hebrew/Israeli writers of modern times.

At Mr. Levy’s suggestion, the paper has been published in Hebrew although the journal does not commonly publish in languages other than English.

Mr. Levy’s work can be found in the Spring 2005, Vol. VII edition of the Journal or can be downloaded by clicking here.

Click here to read the latest edition of Hamasmid, a regularly-published Talmud studies newsletter produced by the students of Rambam Mesivta - Editors Jonathan Ziring and Avi Bernstein.