THE RAMBAM RECORD
The eNewsletter of Rambam Mesivta High School
December 9, 2004

As Chanukah rolled in, the chagigah spirit was everywhere at Rambam. On Tuesday, December 7th, after regular shirim in the morning, the boys enjoyed spirited singing and dancing together powered by the Rambam Band.

Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh HaMesivta of Rambam, also spoke to the boys about the message of Chanukah. (see below)

Then, after more ruach and dancing, the boys crowded into the lunch room for a hearty meal of Chanukah “Dougie’s,” sponsored by our Women's League, and served hot and spicy by a group of volunteer student servers.

(Click here to see Photo Gallery...)

Rambam Students Win Fourth Place in Prestigious Siemens Westinghouse Competition

Rambam students Yonatan Schwab and Yisrael Herzberg have been awarded fourth prize team award in the prestigious 2004-05 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology. The two will share a $30,000 scholarship award.

"We are so proud of the achievements of these young men," said Rabbi Friedman, Rosh HaMesivta of Rambam, "They worked hard and truly deserved recognition for their outstanding work."

Herzberg and Schwab worked together on their project, entitled “Synthesis and Characterization of Palladium Nanoparticles.” The students conducted their research over the summer under the direction of Mrs. Rebecca Isseroff, AP Chemistry teacher at Rambam Mesivta, and Prof. Miriam Rafailovich PhD, Director of Stony Brook's Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, part of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) program of the National Science Foundation.

Rabbi Yotav Eliach Leads Partition Day Assembly

Article written by junior Westleigh Nirenberg

Fifty seven years ago, on November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution that would shape the future of the British Mandate of Palestine and its inhabitants. The United Nations voted to partition the land between the Jews and the Arabs, a two-state solution.

The students at Rambam Mesivta marked the anniversary of the passing of the partition plan with an assembly that examined the plan and the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since that day. The assembly was led by Rabbi Yotav Eliach, Rambam principal, who also teaches a course in Zionism at Rambam.

"Part of the problem with many members of the media today is that they begin the history of the Israeli-Arab conflict with the Six Day War," said Rabbi Eliach. "This would be the equivalent of starting the history of the United States involvement in World War II on December 8th 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor." (Click here to read more...)

Rambam Debate Team Wins Big

The Rambam Debate Team won big at the Yeshiva Debate Competition on Tuesday, November 30th at Central Girls High School in Queens. Rambam's 'affirmative' team won first place and its 'negative' team won second place in the 17 - school competition.

The 'affirmative' team was lead by Stephen Burg and Aryeh Bernstein; the 'negative' team was lead by Michael Pisem and Raffi Holzer. Individual awards included a second place award to senior Aryeh Bernstein and a third place award to junior Raffi Holzer.

Chosen by the host school, the topic of the debate was: “Should the alcoholic beverage drinking age limit be lowered from 21 to 18 years of age.”

Pisem said of the victory: “I hope this is the first of many victories.”

Team members pictured above are: (l. to r.) Gabriel Weinberg, Raffi Holzer (captain), Raphael Hirsh, Stephen Burg, Michael Pisem, David Orner, Jacob Akhavan, Avrumi Berkovitz. Not pictured: Aryeh Bernstein (captain), Yehuda Holzer, Avraham Akhavan.

Alumni Reunion Shabbaton in Israel

Rosh HaMesivta Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman recently returned from the annual Reunion Shabbaton for our alumni studying in the Yeshivot Eretz Yisroel. Our alumni enjoyed the camaraderie, good food, zmirot and divrei Torah at the home of Steve and Mychal Brown in the beautiful Shaarei Hessed section of Yerushalayim.

“It's a great way for our alumni to keep in touch," said Rabbi Friedman. "Guys look forward to this every year and so do I."

Rabbi Friedman was invited to give shiruim at various yeshivot during the trip. (Click here to read more...)

The Message of Chanukah

The Gemara in Shabbos (21B) teaches us that the time of lighting Chanukah candles is from sunset until people are no longer walking on the streets. It further states that the last group of stragglers were the 'Tarmidoim', the name of a nation who gathered wood scraps for resale (Rashi).

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveichik, zt"l, noted that from here we see that our obligation of Pirsum Hanes by Chanukah extends to all nations, not just Klal Yisroel. He asked why is this different from the Pirsum Hanes of Purim, which takes place in our shuls and applies only to Klal Yisroel and not the nations of the world.

The Rav, zt"l, explained that the threat and consequent redemption of Purim and Chanukah were different. During the times of Haman, the desire of Haman and his ilk was to physically destroy us as a people. As a result of Hashgachas Hashem we were saved and we celebrate Purim by publicly recognizing this miracle amongst all who were affected by it, men, women and children, our nation as a whole.

On Chanukah the goal of the Greeks was to induce us to change our Torah way of life- to assimilate Jews. They sought to convert us and keep us physically alive, 'the more adherents to the Hellenstic way of life the better'. When Hashem saved us the message was clear, the Torah way of life survives and continues to survive as a moral and ethical beacon for all to observe.

This type of Pirsum must be done publicly for ALL nations to observe. The recognition and celebration of Chanukah brings with it a practical obligation and responsibility for all of us. We must always act both individually and collectively in a manner which will produce a Kiddush Hashem in the eyes of all.

Check out these links to recent media stories about Rambam.

2 studious teens snag 50G award
New York Daily News

LI students win at top science competition
Newsday

'My hometown is so intelligent'
New York Newsday

Students vie for $100K
New York Herald Community Newspapers

City teens are science stars
Newsday

Sci-five
Newsday

2 local students runners-up in Westinghouse competition
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Sen. Skelos's grant provides necessary funding
New York Herald Community Newspapers

The Rambam Raven JV Basketball team won a real thriller 36-35 against HANC on Monday, November 29th.

The game went right down to the wire. HANC drained a two-point buzzer-beater at the end of regulation to come up one point short.

The home court crowd erupted with joy.

"It was a great game," said sophomore David Zafarani. "But it's one we felt we needed to win to continue our momentum this season."

The next game for the JV team is on Thursday, December 9th, 8:30 at HAFTR.

The Varsity team is 3-3 so far this season, including a big upset win against HANC, the pre-season favorite to win the division.

"We're doing far better than anyone thought we'd be doing," said team member, senior Elan Kattan. "And we're improving. So, hopefully, this will lead us to the playoffs."

The next game for the varsity team is at home against Westchester on Thursday, December 9th, at 8:00 pm.

C'mon out and root on the Ravens!

"The rain became a real factor in the paintball matches, " said sophomore Charlie Cohen, "But, in a way, it made it more fun. Everyone was drenched but happy."

Last month, the Rambam freshmen had a similar paintball outing and also had a blast.