The Rampage The Newspaper of the Ramaz Upper School
New York • Volume 68 • Issue 1 • November 2023 • Kislev 5783 • the-rampage.org
Inside This Edition...
Ramaz Takes Initiative to Support Israel
Inside The Freshman Shabbaton
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SYLVIE PAGOVICH ’25
Ari’s ‘24 Bar Mitzvah
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The G.O’s New Initiatives
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The Ramaz community has taken many actions in supporting Israel, with assemblies organized by the administration and initiatives from the student body. “We just knew that this was crazy and that we needed to react,” said Ms. Miriam Krupka, Associate Principal of Ramaz. At the outbreak of the war, the school did not know what they could do to help students deal with the situation; they just knew that something must be done. Since then, the administration has organized events, invited speakers, joined an implemented fast day, and held full-school davening where Rabbi Haskel Lookstein ‘49 and Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, the Head Rabbi of KJ, addressed the students. In addition to this, the school also held daily full-school minchas, accompanied by Tehillim and extra prayers for Israel. To encourage students to show up and support Israel, the school also made scheduled accommodations to allow all students to attend rallies after school, and has helped students go to rallies during the day. Additionally, throughout the school day, a room of
Insider Interview With Gad El Baz
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All About Nakh Yomi
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Tehillim was available for anyone to say a prayer, and educational sessions with Dr. Lekht and Mr. Deustch were held to educate students and answer questions they might have. The school aimed to create a supportive atmosphere and make it easier for students to deal with the situation. They did this by having many available teachers and faculty for students to talk to and a focused advisory session for students to discuss their feelings on the subject. “The planning was only tough in the amount we wanted to do,” Ms. Krukpa said. Students, parents, outside organizations, and the school had many different ideas for approaching this situation. There were so many ideas and not enough time to execute them all, but as long as this conflict remains, the school will continue to adapt. In addition to the administration, the students also played a vital role by planning different events and fundraisers throughout the past few weeks. They organized a drive to bring supplies for soldiers and write letters to
them. Some students sold challahs to raise money for Israel, while the sophomore class sold bagels. Many students went around the city to hang up posters of the hostages, and many went to police stations to thank officers for their service. “The last twelve days have been unprecedentedly difficult. However, it is so empowering to see the students themselves take the initiative to make as large an impact as possible, even from across the world,” said Noa Essner ‘25. Like many other students, she appreciates the school’s initiatives and the unity that came out of them. Essner went on to say, “There could be more opportunities to learn about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the war itself, but overall Ramaz is taking all the right steps to ensure that we are not passive, that we do not assume a victim mentality, and that most importantly, we always show up to demonstrate our fervent support for Israel.”
What’s the Deal With the Lounges? GABI FLATTO-KATZ ’26
This year, students don’t have many options for where to go during homeroom, free periods, and lunch. The limited options they have include the lunch room, the library, and the fourth-floor lounge. What is noticeably missing? The third-floor lounge and half of the furniture in the sixth-floor lounge. Last year, Raymond Ashkenazie ‘24 promised to have a proper lounge on the third floor when running for President of the G.O. But when students returned at the beginning of the school
year, they were met with a similarly empty third floor. Bean bag chairs were removed from the third-floor lounge in the past year, and so far, nothing has replaced them. Instead, a lone chair sits in the corner of the expansive, open area. “Last year, there was a lot of talk of getting a permanent couch instead of the beanbags in the third-floor lounge, and I was hoping that they were going to be there for the beginning of this year,” Rachel Buller ‘25 expressed with frustration. Due to the lack of seating, many juniors are seen sitting on the floor of the lounge or in front of their lockers, disrupting the walkways in the
halls.
On top of the unfurnished third-floor lounge, the furniture in the fourth and sixth-floor lounges had disappeared. However, this problem turned out to be a technical issue. Over the summer, the cushions had been upholstered from a dull purple to bright blue, and they weren’t ready until a few weeks into the new school year. Throughout the fall, pieces of furniture slowly returned, and the fourth-floor lounge is fully furnished once again, while the sixth-floor lounge is still missing some furniture. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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What’s the Deal With the Lounges?
The Rampage
November 2023/Kislev 5783
Freshman Shabbaton: The Class of 2027 Becomes a Community
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But why is the third floor still empty? “Originally, the plan was to wait for the arrival of the incoming principal Rabbi Aaron Frank to begin the design process,” said Avi Flatto-Katz ‘25, junior class president. “But after a meeting between Rabbi Frank and President Ashkenazie, Rabbi Frank gave us the green light to begin and hopefully implement the designs before his arrival.” Flatto-Katz ‘25 has since been assigned the role of designing the new space. If approved, the renovations will begin immediately. Gavriel Harmetz ‘25, whose locker is on the third floor, says he has nowhere to go during his free time, so he is eagerly awaiting the upcoming project. “I really hope we have a lounge by the end of this year.”
Ramaz’s Pursuit of Distraction-Free Learning MATTHEW FISHER ’26
Ms. Krupka, Associate Principal here at Ramaz, recently clarified the administration’s rationale behind this year’s new school policy regarding phone usage. As a part of their ongoing commitment to creating a focused and distraction-free learning environment, the school has decided to implement a policy that prohibits the visibility of phones in communal spaces such as davening, assemblies, and classes. Should a student’s phone be seen, it will be confiscated for the remainder of the day. During an interview, Ms. Krupka highlighted the psychology of the addiction to technology, particularly phones, saying, “that feeling of like, Oh my God, I haven’t checked my phone in two hours...I’m going to miss out on all of those Instagram posts and all of it,” is what they aim to combat with this policy. It’s clear that the school believes the constant need to keep up with social media and the internet can be disruptive to a student’s learning process and overall well-being. The school administration wants to challenge the default of constant tech usage and explore the benefits of a less digitally reliant environment. “What would a world look like in which students know when they enter a building, Internet and social media and their phones are off for the day,” Ms. Krupka questioned, discussing the potential upsides of further expanding this policy. While recognizing the practical challenges, such as the school’s systems that currently depend on technology, Ms. Krupka expressed openness to reevaluating these methods. “Our school structure depends on it...Would we go back to the way schools looked twenty years ago where CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
GABI FLATTO-KATZ ’26
Last month, the class of 2027 had their first Shabbaton as Ramaz high schoolers. The trip began at the Branchburg Sports Complex where students played basketball, arcade games, and laser tag. The students then headed to the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel to spend Shabbat. One of the major themes of the Shabbaton was going out of your comfort zone. “My advice to all of you is ‘Lech Lecha,’” said freshman G.O. Vice President Levi Kotulski in his d’var Torah, which was given to the freshmen before they left the school on Friday. “On the Shabbaton, there will be many opportunities to talk to new people… these opportunities will only be helpful if you truly make the most of them. Talk to the people near you. Hang out with someone new. Take risks.” The Ramaz administration also pushed students to meet new people through assigned seating at Friday night dinner and randomized learning groups that met throughout Shabbat. “When I came to Ramaz earlier this year, I didn’t know most of my grade, but was instantly greeted with warmth,” praised Abby Maksin ‘27. “The Shabbaton only increased this feeling of community.” The Shabbaton consisted of a mix of free time and programming. There were two sessions about friendship and beginning high school and many divrei Torah given by students and faculty. During their free time, students had many options on how to fill their time: there were optional Nakh Yomi sessions, walks
on the boardwalk, and games set up in the main room. The freshmen also had the opportunity to meet the incoming principal Rabbi Aaron Frank, who participated in the Shabbaton for his first Ramaz program. “I’m here so that in four years, when you guys graduate, I’ll be able to say I was at your first Shabbaton,” Rabbi Frank joked in his d’var Torah. The weekend concluded at Urban Air Trampoline Park where students jousted in a foam pit, completed American Ninja Warrior obstacle courses, and had trampoline dunk contests: the perfect wrap-up to the Shabbaton weekend. Jane Winokour ‘27, who sprained her ankle at the park, said that even her injury couldn’t detract from the Shabbaton’s magic. “Everyone came up and asked if I was okay. The whole weekend, teachers and students were talking about community, but when everyone cared about how I was feeling and if everything was okay, I really felt it.” Ms. Eva Bernfeld, the freshmen grade dean, said she was very impressed with the student’s behavior and attitude on the Shabbaton. In a Schoology post following the weekend, Ms. Bernfeld exclaimed that “Your [the freshmen’s] participation and enthusiasm made the Shabbaton an unforgettable experience. The sense of community and togetherness was inspiring, and I can’t wait to see how you continue to grow and build upon the maturity you displayed and the connections that you made this past weekend.”
The Yom Kippur War Assembly RACHEL BULLER ’25
On October 22nd, 2023, Ramaz Upper School hosted the Yom Kippur’s 50th Anniversary special assembly for all students to listen to the critical moments in our Israeli history. This commemorative assembly was in honor of those we lost in the war and to provide all students with an empathetic mindset. During this event, Morah Sole, a teacher in the Hebrew Department, talked about her sister’s husband, who served as an expert fighter pilot during the war. Morah Sole spoke about how she and her sister went “to the porch every time we heard a car stopping by our house, to check if it was a military car, fearing they might deliver the worst possible news.” Confronted by pain and fear, she believed “that it is valuable for our students to hear first-hand stories about wars in Israel, so they don’t take the existence of the state of Israel for granted and hopefully appreciate how important it is to always seek peace.” Afterward, Mr. Adelman, Head of the Hebrew Department, spoke about another solidier named Danny Arbusman and his experience fighting in the war. Mr Adelman said of the overall outcome of Yom Kippur programing,”Students found it to be meaningful and impactful, and with all these assemblies, this must be meaningful for Israel and therefore meaning-
ful to us.” It challenges students to think about how this relates to our society today rather than just how it was in the past. A more valuable lesson and development to understand was to think about “the empathy aspect and understanding the trauma people went through”. Even though there were horrible fights in the war, we should continue to think positively “as all things get better eventually”. This moment during the war was mostly negative “which was horrible and even at the moment when people experience something so horrible and pose as a threat”, but together, our community can shape a future that is less defined by fear and more empathetic and understanding.
November 2023/Kislev 5783
The Rampage New York • Volume 68 • Issue 1 • October 2023 • the-rampage.org
ORLI RABBANI ’25
Aviva Schilowitz ’24 Ashley Behm ’24 Romi Chavot ’24 Moriel Weitzner ’24 Charoltte Kleeger ’24 Sarah Silverman ’24
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Kleeger ’24 Aviva Schilowitz ’24 Rachel Buller ’25 Grace Kollander ’25 Keren Teichner ’25 Romi Chavot ’24 Maya Puterman ’25 Moriel Weitzner ’24 Ashley Behm ’24 Sarah Silverman ’24 Orli Rabbani ’25 Gavi Sobel ’25 Sylvie Pagovich ’25 Lindsay Chuback ’25 The Rampage is the student newspaper of the Ramaz Upper School. It is published on a monthly basis. Letters to the editors may be submitted to rampage@ramaz.org. Letters must be signed and may be edited to conform to The Rampage style and format.The opinions expressed in The Rampage are of the author’s alone, and do not represent the views or opinions of Ramaz, The Rampage, or its editors.
News 3
Ari’s Bar Mitzvah
Ramaz Upper School
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
The Rampage
Five year’s after Ari Goralnik ’24 Bar Mitzvah, he decided to relive the moment and celebrate his bar mitzvah again with friends in honor of his five year anniversary . Ari printed fliers and hung them up around the school as word spread about a bar mitzvah celebration. Some fliers were even found in the girl’s bathroom. Juniors, seniors, teachers, and even Ari’s mother showed up to participate in celebrating Ari’s bar mitzvah. Ari brought candy, and had seniors pass it out to throw at him after reading his portion. Students and teachers sang and danced around the bar mitzvah boy. His mother brought donuts for a special treat after the bar mitzvah. Why should bar mitzvahs only be celebrated in middle school anyway? What started off as joke fliers hung up everywhere around school ended in an epic bar mitzvah event that caused laughter. This bar mitzvah was a reaffirmation of Ari’s Jewish identity and it brought much needed light into our lives. “I think Ari’s Bar Mitzvah was a great idea. It brought a lot of light to the school in such a small amount of time, and it was especially meaningful when there’s so much suffering,” said Moriel Weitzner ‘24. This experience lightened up our week and turned an uneventful regular davening into a morning filled with dancing and laughter. Five years ago, Ari’s bar mitzvah took place the same morning as the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The simcha was cut short by Jews rallying together amidst the horrific crime, but it did bring light into a dark time. Now, at a
time of discomfort for the Jewish people, this full circle event is exactly what students needed to plaster a smile on their faces. Amidst dangerously high antisemitism, what we needed was a hilarious and ridiculous event to keep our spirits high and reaffirm our Jewish identities. In a time when many Jews are uncertain and uncomfortable with their Jewish identities, we need sprinkles of joy in our lives, even if it is celebrating a regular Thursday morning leining. A normal morning at a time of crisis erupted into a celebration of a Jewish identity, saying that no matter what, we will remain proud of our Jewish identities. “I had a really fun time, I am so thankful to all the rabbis and students who helped me organize this,” said Ari.
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everything is announcements or sheets near the elevator?” she mused. The administration acknowledges that the execution of this policy might not be simple and has shown a willingness to adapt. Despite potential limitations, Ms. Krupka shared her observation on the shifting conversation around
technology use in schools, suggesting an increasing awareness of its negative effects. The students and school will need to make some adjustments to follow the new phone policy. Overall, it is viewed as a positive step towards creating a healthier learning environment in the eyes of the
administration. The school is committed to exploring and adapting to create an environment that promotes optimal growth and development for its students.
Pink Day
NATHAN HILTZICK ‘25
In a world pulsating with hues and shades, there exists a day where a singular color takes center stage, not merely for its aesthetic appeal but for a profound cause that touches the lives of millions. On October 23rd, 2023, Ramaz celebrated Pink Day, a day adorned in the soft blush of pink, dedicated to raising awareness and support for breast cancer, a battle that transcends borders and affects women and men worldwide. As the day went on, the student body immersed themselves in pink as a reminder of the importance of solidarity, compassion, and the collective effort required to combat breast cancer. Breast cancer stands as one of the most prevalent and formidable health challenges faced
globally, impacting the lives of millions of individuals and their families. Pink Day emerges as a beacon of hope and strength, fostering a sense of community as the Ramaz community unites to support those affected by this relentless disease. Pink Day, this year, holds even more significance within the Ramaz Jewish community when put into perspective of the unity of the Jewish people in light of the recent war. Pink Day is a chance for the students and faculty to come together as they have done in the past few weeks to raise awareness for a prevalent cause. Pink Day is more than just a color; it symbolizes resilience, awareness, and a shared commitment to eradicating the barriers that breast cancer presents.
As a way to feel more involved and sympathetic, the student body explored the stories of survivors, advocates, and those currently navigating the challenges of breast cancer. It was touching as the whole school sat in the auditorium, engaged in the stories of those directly affected by this terrible disease. Together, the Ramaz community, paired with the actions of the world, aims to paint the world pink and stand in solidarity with those who continue to inspire hope in the face of adversity.
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The Rampage
November 2023/Kislev 5783
Students Respond to New Rules For Writing SARAH COHEN ‘25
Chat GPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that became widely used after its November 30, 2022 release. Realizing how popular this chatbot had become, the English department became concerned that students may begin using this chatbot to write their essays for them. This concern led to the English department’s new rule regarding essay writing this year. All students must write their essays in class rather than at home. The rule allows (after some discussions) students to use computers to write in class, and does permit students some (limited) time to edit and revise at home.
Most of the student population seems to have a negative opinion about this new rule, such as Annie Malkin ‘26, who says, “I think that the new rules regarding essays restrict students from accurately writing what they’re trying to say. Having in-class essays does not show the full potential of students writing as they are limited to certain time restrictions that they cannot overcome.” Eleanor Goldfarb ‘27 expresses a similar opinion, focusing on the time aspect of these essays: “I don’t think there’s enough time because for some people it takes a little bit more time for them to write and get
their ideas down.” Hannah Katz, ‘27 has a different reasoning as to why she dislikes this rule and argues, “I think teachers should have more trust in their students and that if you’re going to use Chat GPT that’s your loss because you’re not going to learn from it.” However, other students appreciate this new rule, such as Noa Sofer ‘26. Noa explains, “Students are becoming too reliant on Chat GPT, and by enforcing in-class essays it shows them that they have to rely on their own intellect and not a robot.”
Promises Kept - The G.O. Starts the New Year Off with a Bang
SYLVIE RAAB ’26
When we elected our student government last year, many students anticipated the usual unfulfilled promises, but this year’s G.O. has already taken steps to defy the status quo. Last May, G.O. President Raymond Ashkenazie ’24 promised charging stations around the school, school discounts at kosher facilities in the area, a third-floor lounge, and Student-Faculty Administration Committees (SFACs). Though most of these promises have been fulfilled already, the G.O. is still working with the administration to finalize plans for the third-floor lounge and for SFACs. However, this school year has also posed new challenges for students. For example, the new lateness policy causes students to be marked late if they arrive even a minute later than when school starts at 8 a.m. “There was a lot of backlash from students when the administration decided to change the rule, but we are currently working with the administration to modify the lateness policy. I am hoping that by the second quarter, we will have transformed the lateness system,” Simon
DELILAH WEISS ‘26
Werthenschlag ’26, one of the sophomore class presidents said. Students were also disappointed with the new makeup exam policy, which is that they can only be taken on Wednesdays. “We worked with the administration over the summer, and we were very disappointed with some of the results,” Ashkenazie ‘24 said in response to the new policy. “But we are going to continue trying to find viable solutions.” Going forward, the G.O. plans to further improve the school with changes to the new tapin system, more privileges for underclassmen, and more free periods for upperclassmen. However, Ashekenazie ‘24 added that the G.O. will be prioritizing student support for Israel amidst the Israel-Hamas war, claiming that everything “has taken a backseat just so that we can really focus on Israel programming and getting students involved in what’s going on.” The G.O. has been effectively encouraging students to go to rallies, hang up posters, say Tehilim, and start their own initiatives, with Ashley Rechtschaffen ‘25 expressing how the G.O. has facilitated her and her peers to
get involved in various initiatives to support Israel. “The G.O. really made supporting Israel easier by canceling the test the day after the [October 10] rally. It definitely encouraged me and other people in my grade to go.” In addition to focusing on these broader issues, individual class presidents are actively addressing specific concerns within their grades. Gabi Flatto-Katz ’27, one of the freshman class presidents, mentioned that he and the other freshman representatives are working to plan “field trips specifically for the freshmen.” However, there are concerns regarding how effectively the G.O. is addressing its promises. One student criticized the G.O.’s lack of success in lessening their workload, claiming that they’re feeling “even more stressed than I was last year.” Other students are feeling content with this year’s G.O. and their progress. Zoe Brisman ‘26 reaffirmed her vote for this year’s team, insisting that “So far, it has been ‘promises made, promises kept,’ and hopefully, it will continue that way for the rest of the year.”
New Chessed Opportunities at Ramaz
A core aspect of Ramaz’s mission is to give back to the community and actively participate in chessed. As explained in the first line of Ramaz’s Mission Statement, Ramaz has “A commitment to menschlichkeit, reflecting fineness of character, respect for others, integrity, and the centrality of chesed in all its manifestations.” This year, Dr. Nancy Block, serving as the new Director of Chessed at Ramaz, is already adding more opportunities for students to participate in chessed. Some of these additions include days of service for each grade. The freshman grade already went apple picking, donating fifty crates of apples with challah and honey to families in need for Rosh Hashanah. Sophomores went to Lifetown
to help kids with disabilities learn life skills in a comfortable and developmentally appropriate way. Juniors will learn about food insecurity and how it relates to helping families in need. Seniors will participate in the Daniella Moffson Day of Service, allowing seniors to express and reflect the values learned at Ramaz in settings outside of Ramaz as they prepare to graduate. According to Dr. Block, “chessed takes [students] out of that bubble of themselves to help somebody else.” She explained that chessed is not separate from Ramaz’s educational mission but actually “frames the academic experience.” In her view, this can be seen when, for example, students advocate on social issues like healthcare, im-
migration and poverty because it also shows how chessed can help in these areas. Chessed is not just taking place in Ramaz’s halls, but also extends outside the school. For example, students deliver food to food pantries around the city. Ramaz also offers virtual ways to do chessed, like Zooming with teens with special needs and the elderly members of the community. Given the devastating situation in Israel, there are now many chessed opportunities for Ramaz students to help and support Israel. Each week, students sell challah in the lobby to raise money for the IDF. There have CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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also been drives and collections, including a toiletry drive for Israelis and a toy and craft drive for Israeli children whose schools are closed. Ramaz students have also been going to Israel rallies and putting up hostage posters around the city.
Dr. Block says an important goal this year is to have more initiatives that allow clubs to do chessed and generally appeal to students’ existing interests. As an example, she cited the chess and basketball teams organizing different chess and basketball tournaments to help people in need.
“Chessed is about providing kids with tools so they appreciate what is a need and how [they are] going to take those life lessons with [them] beyond Ramaz,” she said.
Gad El Baz
MORIEL WEITZNER ‘24
On November 6, 2023, Gad Elbaz surprised the Ramaz student body with a performance only a few hours before a rally on Central Park West where he would be performing. Elbaz is an acclaimed, Israeli-Jewish singer, best known for his song “Hashem Melech.” Prior to his performance in the Upper School auditorium, Elbaz participated in an exclusive interview with The Rampage editors-in-chief. Editors-in-chief: Where were you when you heard the news regarding the October 7 massacre? What was your initial reaction? Gad Elbaz: I was in Israel with my wife and kids. I live in Miami, so I was being hosted by my sister along with my mom and my other sisters. Since we keep Shabbat, we initially only heard bits and pieces of what was going on…We started to get nervous. After two hours, we heard that hostages had been taken. Then one of my sisters said, “You know our sister is in Ofakim,” and there’s a house there where hostages were taken…After Shabbat,
there was no one answering the phone for three hours… After three hours, we managed to find out where she was…she picked up the phone and we knew she was fine. E: We’ve all grown up listening to your music. Can you tell us how you’re using your connection to music for this cause? GE: First of all, I’m a son of a celebrity. My father was a singer and a famous rockstar in Israel…I don’t know anything besides creating music and trying to bring people together…I became religious at the age of 18 and a half, and that’s when I decided to dedicate my life to Hashem and uniting the Jewish people…I’m the first religious singer to do duets with rappers and bring pop music to the Jewish world…I’m doing a mega-event on November 19 in Miami, and a lot of organizations are uniting for this cause. E: Can you talk a little bit about your connection to the land of Israel?
GE: I was born in Israel and I only moved to the United States seven years ago, but I’ve gone back and forth since I was 21. My connection to Israel is in my blood––it’s in my veins. There are so many different types of Israelis––so many beautiful cultures that came from so many beautiful places around the world…We’ve been uniting, and over time, segregation won’t exist. But unfortunately, this year has been the worst year in the history of Israel. Everything was fine financially, but we’ve had the biggest separation between the secular, religious, left, and right. The politics were so severe that I think Hashem is telling us that this cannot happen again. In the wake of the October 7 massacre, Gad Elbaz started an organization called AICU, which stands for Am Yisrael Chai United. Elbaz shared that the purpose of his organization is to help people truly “see and feel what’s going on in Israel.” Elbaz has since been collecting funds for Israeli families to be donated directly from his foundation.
Nakh Yomi (Interview Ms. Kelman)
GRACE KOLLANDER ’25
GK: What exactly is Nach Yomit? MS. K: Nakh Yomi is a worldwide daily learning initiative. Similar to daf yomi, where people learn one daf of Talmud a day, in nakh yomi, people learn one chapter of - Nevi’im and Ketuvim - a day. Ramaz just launched our program that started after sukkot, and will continue
for the next four years! Our pace is one perek per every school day (so none on weekends/breaks). At this rate, and with 742 prakim, the freshman will finish right before their senior graduation! GK: How many students and faculty are part of Nach
Yomit? MS. K: Nakh Yomi is open to the whole school, but it is primarily for the freshman and there are certain perks that only the freshman can get. Each freshman gets a punch card with 10 spots. Every day, they can ask a CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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Nakh Yomi (Interview Ms. Kelman) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
faculty member a question on that day’s perek, and perek and everyone is literally on the same page. The GK: When do you do the Nach Yomit everyday and if they get it right, they get a signature. Once they fill whole grade is doing this project together and builds where? the punch card, they have homeroom privileges. a community of Torah. MS. K: Up to you - you can do it whenever you want! You can do it on your commute to school, in the eleGK: Why did you decide to do Nach yomit- where GK: When will you complete it? How long does it vator (as it slowly stops on every floor) or whenever did the idea come from? take to finish? Do you have a plan for how you will it works for you. Students should try to finish it by MS. K: It started the week after we came back from celebrate once you finish? the end of the day, since if they want to get a question Sukkot. MS. K: The first cycle will finish in June 2027 - right for the perek (and a signature for their punchcard) before the freshmen graduate. We plan on a big si- they need to get it before they leave school that day. GK: When did it start? yum at graduation. In addition, there will be siyuMS.K: The idea is twofold: normally, in school we fo- mum throughout the year as we finish each sefer GK: What do you think the importance of Nach cus on the depth on Tanakh - learning “b’iyun” and (stay tuned for our first siyum of Sefer Yehoshua Yomit is? analyzing texts through commentaries. This pro- coming up the week of Thanksgiving!) MS. K: I think it’s important because learning Torah gram allows us to also see the breadth of Tanakh and is important, because being a literate Jew means beto become familiar with every single book in Tana- GK: What are you up to now? ing familiar with our most fundamental texts, and kh. We are also building a community of Torah - stu- MS. K We’re in the teen prakim of Yehoshua. because the words of Tanakh are shockingly relevant dents can talk to any Judaic faculty about that day’s to our lives and have so much to teach us.
MAYA PUTERMAN ’25
Get To Know Rabbi Broth
of accounting at YU, I fell asleep. I was like, “It’s so boring”. I was bored. I did poorly on tests. I couldn’t pay attention because everything was moving so slowly, and that was in the honors class. It was really frustrating, so after like two days, I had to switch gears, and I went into data analytics as a major just because I thought it was fun. I took an intro class on data analytics. It was a lot of fun. In the YU business school, many of your core requirements overlap, so everyone needs to take Introduction to Data Analytics, everyone needs to take Introduction to Accounting, and everyone needs to take Marketing 101. As I was playing the field in the business school, data analytics caught my eye; it was a lot of fun. But then, after that year in YU, I worked in Moshava Ennismore in Canada as division head. I was also RC: Alright, can you tell us a little about yourself? a counselor at Camp Stone for two summers before Where did you grow up? Where did you go to high that. I went on to be a division head in Moshava Ennismore and eventually came back to Camp Stone school? Where did you go to college? to be a division head, too. Through the role of being a division head, I was like, “Oh, there’s something B: Yeah, I grew up mostly in Silver Spring, Maryland. fun about being logistical, being organized, figuring My father’s a doctor, so he moved around for med- things out, being creative, and also trying to teach ical school and residency fellowships. But we were morals and lessons.” So that propelled my career in in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, before that, so that’s why education with a hopeful future in administration. I’m a Philadelphia sports fan.But I grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and went to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington for high school. Then, after 12th grade, RC: This being your first year, how did you decide to graduating from the school of Greater Washington, I make the switch from Frisch to Ramaz? Why did you went to Gush for two years. It was a great, phenom- choose Ramaz? enal time. I came back afterward to YU, majored in data analyt- B: ics, and minored in management. I should have been It was kind of simple. As I was applying to differa double major, but I was missing one general elec- ent places and jobs, I was talking to a bunch of tive, and I’m still bitter about it. They were like, “Oh, other schools. I did a couple of model lessons here just take a photography class,” and I was like, “Why?” and there, so as I was doing that and applying, evAnyway, that’s my major and minor: data analyt- ery school I applied to said, “We don’t know yet if ics and management. After I finished YU, I did Se- we have room.” This is in, like, February or March. I mikhah for the past three years. Last year, in addition spoke to my mentors in Jewish education. I spoke to to Semikhah, I was in the Frisch Kollel, so I did a Rabbaim of mine. I spoke to other teachers and peolittle bit of learning and a little bit of teaching with ple that I respect in the industry. They’re like, “Februthe 11th graders there. Yeah, and I also had a rabbin- ary, March, you should start applying, doing model ic internship last year at the Riverdale Jewish Center. lessons,” and schools are like, “Oh, come give model lessons, “ and then when I was like, “Alright, what’s RC: Did you always know you wanted to become a the deal?”, they said, “I don’t know yet.” Ramaz didn’t teacher, or at some point, did you want to become a say that. Ramaz was like, “We have room.” I thought to myself, “Well, I’m not waiting around until April.” data analyst, and how did you make that switch? So it was the efficiency and, you know, structure and organization of Ramaz that brought me here. It’s nice, B: It’s a great story. In Israel, I assumed I liked math. meaning I could have waited to see what other offers Math is my subject. It’s great, like basic algebra and there were, but there’s something nice about going to trig stuff. Nothing more than calculus. But because I an institution that knows what they need and want like math, I thought I was going to go into account- and is willing to say that. ing. Good, solid job. Not a big deal. But on Day two RC: When you were coming into Ramaz, did you
have any expectations about what it would be like, and how has your experience been so far? B: It’s certainly been fun. The one thing is that no matter how much you prepare during the summer before you know anyone, it’s not going to help you for the students you have. I’m teaching two and a half gemara classes this year, you know, both to 10th grade and then to the Mechina ninth graders. So, I learned through the Gemara; I read through the Gemara and knew how I wanted to structure it and the types of activities I wanted to do with it. But the preparation doesn’t prepare you for the kids in your class. It just doesn’t, so you go in, and you have no idea who’s the character who sits and focuses, who’s rigorous at taking notes, who can talk, leave the class for five minutes, and still know everything. I knew I wasn’t going to be prepared for that, and I wasn’t, so the first couple of weeks, I started adjusting to it. My philosophy over the summer was to learn as much as I could to better adapt later. The more information you know, the more you can play around with it and toy with it. So it’s been good so far to see. RC: So, you teach multiple Germara classes and the 12th-grade Dvar Torah class? B: Yeah, and ninth-grade JLT, so there are five classes. RC: As a Judaic studies teacher, do you have a favorite story from the Tanach that you could share with us? B: It’s a great question. I really like my Bar Mitzvah parashah, Bereshit, and analyzing the Cain and Hevel story, not even creation, but Cain and Hevel. Right, they got up in the field, and then Cain went and killed him. They’re standing in the field, and then he killed him. What went from A to B? It’s like a solid story. I’ve heard many interpretations of it, and they all sound great, so it’s hard to know. RC: Finally, what is a fun fact about yourself or a hobby you like doing outside school? B: Well, a fun fact is my mother, myself, and my sisterin-law all share a birthday: October 14. I was the best birthday present my mother ever had, and then my brother married a girl whose birthday is also October 14. So, it’s going to be an easy one to remember. If you want another fun fact, I won the science fair in 12th grade. It was a project on caffeine. I’ll leave it at that and keep it a little bit cryptic for you, but I did win a science fair in twelfth grade.
November 2023/Kislev 5783 LIDSEY CHUBACK ‘25
The Rampage
every hostage must return home, and all terrorism they are for their safety. He said he will not abandon must end. He said that we, as Jewish- American (as us now after he protected us for 22 years on the poculture comes before everything and we must be lice force, and that he will stand with us. proud to be Jewish above all else) children can be the ones to cause real change and lighten up this dark period. Jews with their mission of chessed have been changing the world, and we must continue to solve our problems in peaceful, humanitarian ways, as you cannot solve hate with more hate. He then suggested three ways to do so: changing the direction of social media, having real discussions about the real issues going on, especially on college campuses, and celebrating each other by having events where you can learn from others about other cultures. We should try our best to take this painful moment and repurpose it to educate others. He closed by promising that we will not need to live in a city where we have to take off our kippahs before going out into the streets or onto the subway, and neither will any other culture have to hide who
An Interview with Yaakov Katz
On December 1st, Yaakov Katz, former Editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, came to speak to the Junior grade in the library. Featured prominently as a contributor/writer in mainstream media sources such as CNN and The Hill, Katz is one of the leading figures in educating wider audiences on the Israeli military strategy and the current situation in Gaza. Through his conversation and later Q and A session, Katz referenced the title of theTaylor Swift song “Death By A Thousand Cuts” as being analogous to the psychological warfare used by Hamas in their inhumane mistreatment of the hostages, and detailed the military issues and political issues that the Israeli forces must deal with as they tread their way into part two of the current conflict.
out there.
The Rampage sat down with Katz to better understand how teens of today should approach the current media cycle and why he felt it was important to speak to the Juniors.
SS: Do you recommend students not follow/post about the current conflict at all on social media? YK: It’s not realistic to say don’t look at social media. I think that we should just be aware of what we are seeing on social media. If it is more provocative it will catch more likes and more clicks. Just because it’s viral doesn’t mean that it is genuine or reliable. And therefore people should be wary and vigilant of what they are doing with information they are getting on social media. How can students gain a nuanced perspective on the conflict if they are only consuming pro-Israel/Zionist news sources? Can they solely rely
SS: Why did you come to Ramaz today? Why is it important to share the type of information you spoke about with a teen audience? YK: I came because my niece goes to school here and my brother asked me to speak. I also think it is important that young people know the facts and know what is happening so they can be better equipped to deal with the fake news and misinformation that’s
GIANNA GOLDFARB ‘25
Features 7
Mayor Adams Comes To Vist
On November 21st, the Ramaz Middle School held their annual Thanks-for-Giving award ceremony, an event which, as explained by current eighth grader Lila Sisskind, honors someone who has caused a significant change in our community. This year, the award went to Mayor Eric Adams to thank him for all of his work defending the Jews of New York City. Mayor Adams was welcomed to the ceremony by the entire middle school, as well as the fourth grade, singing him in with the Star Spangled Banner. A short introduction from Mr. Cannon explained the different things the Mayor has done to earn him this award, such as ensuring police were stationed outside our schools after the events of October 7th, and that his commitment to always doing what is right is what made them choose him for the Thanksfor-Giving award. Mayor Adams then gave a powerful, rallying speech which at its core relayed the message that
SARAH SILVERMAN ‘24
S S : What message do you have for today’s media consumers trying to better understand what is going on? YK: Don’t believe what you read or hear. Two: Go search and read/ consume media from more than just one source Three: Definitely don’t just rely on social media; it can be beneficial, interesting and entertaining, but that is not a reliable source of information. And even in the more reliable mainstream media, you also have to be cautious since some will position a story one way and others will position a story a different way. And that’s why those who truly want to learn should consume more than one source.
on papers such as The Jerusalem Post? I think it is more accurate than what you are going to get from a palestinian source. Places such as Al Jeezra are pushing pro-Hamas propaganda. Every news organization comes from a point of origin and has a position it has taken. The Jerusalem Post is a good news source, but it also provides a specific prism. If someone really wants to understand the story, then it is true that there is value in getting it from other sources such as palestinian narratives. The problem is that because Gaza is controlled by a terrorist organization you can’t expect to really get any reliable information that comes out of there. They use misinformation and lies to spread more terror. In the absence of reliable news in that place, I think you have no alternative than to rely on the Israeli media.
The Gianna Report: I Can Hear the Bells – All the Time
For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for its own amusement, dear Ramaz population. It is not satisfied with merely dictating our entire day (when it starts, when it ends, and everything in between). It has decided that it must mess with us. Probably because we keep changing the schedule so much that the poor thing cannot keep up. Although, however justified it may be, it is like playing “Ding-Dong Ditch” with a psychopath. It keeps coming back and ringing. In Macbeth, our titular brooding and ambitious character, whose traits are rivaled only by the brooding and ambitious students at Ramaz, says in Act 2 Scene 1, “I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. / Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven or to hell.”. Even though it called him to murder Duncan, at least it only rang when it was supposed to. Ours chimes so much throughout the day, it’s like Tinkerbell is trying to communicate
with us. Each day sounds like Santa Claus is coming to town. It is putting our entire school through the wringer. Despite their long history of opposition on all things school related, teachers and students are coming together in agreement on this topic. Our sassy fifth floor fashionista (If you can’t guess who this is then A) I feel so sad for you and B) It’s obviously Mr. Deutsch. What other name could have possibly entered your mind? Dr. Rotenberg?! Ludicrous.) had quite a lot to say on the subject matter when asked. “If you can’t teach the bells to ring properly then how am I supposed to teach these spoiled teenage toilets? Bells are the most basic school function. Why can’t they get it right?! I did not fight under this flag [points to the wall opposite the windows in room 501] during our country’s revolution for simple school bells to not work. THIS IS AMERICA. Like this guy, the 50 bell-
per-day system is ridiculous. Even I am more punctual than the bell. And you can ask Ms. Newman how often I was late to her class last year. Members of our administration are literally wringing their hands in stress because they have no idea what to do. There has been talk about hiring a person to ring an actual bell over the loudspeaker instead of using the (extremely) faulty bell system, but nothing has been set yet. Potential candidates include a 19-year-old Parisian hunchback, a Chinese monk, and Mr. Elisha, our school’s prized percussionist. Unfortunately, there might not be enough money left in the budget for this. Not after it was all blown on a new tap-in system and portable chargers. They will probably need to raise the prices of the Ramaz skirts to make ends meet and fix this system. Until then, chaos will continue to reign and ring in the middle of class.
Memes 8
The Rampage
November 2023/Kislev 5783
Rampage Crossword #1 2023-2024 September Edition 1 2
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Down: 1. The lounge on the 4th floor is only for ______ 2. First person you see every day when you tap in 3. The word describing a certain grade means "wise fool" in Ancient Greek 6. New school theme 7. "Back to school _____"
Across: 4. Ramaz mascot 5. The people that have the power to veto this crossword 8. Nickname for the Rampage faculty advisor 9. Best dessert after lunch 10. One of our new English teachers shares this name with a famous one-handed 16th century writer 11. A new initiative the school is pushing for girls 12. Favorite R-rated movie of the summer 13. Policy promoting diversity in admissions that the Supreme Court overturned
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MEMES BY: GIANNA GOLDFARB ‘25