The Ram Page. Volume XXVII Number 4
February 1995/Adarl 5755
Principal Approves Women's Reading
School Juggles Faculty for Second Semester
by RamPage Starr As second semester began, students walked into their clas• ses expecting to find their regular teachers. However. many of them were surprised to find so many teachers missing. T hree new teachers began teaching while others returned from leave or switched class assignments. The changes were largely a result of illness. but also due to overcrowding. The only brand new per• manent teacher was Rabbi Avi Schreiber. He will be teaching one half of the newly split Form III and Form IV Honors Talmud classes, which were divided because their respec· tivc enrollments of 30 or more proved lo be unworkable. He is currently finishing his smicha program at Yeshiva Uni'."Crsi1y :iftcr extensive study there and in Yeshivat
Gush Etzion. The Rabbi, who is from Woodmere, com mented that he hopes to pursue a career in Jewish education, and the students and faculty at Ramaz seem to make this a promising place I() start. Rabbi Goldmintz mentioned that the school intended to hire him at the beginning of the year, but,
Ten years ago Conservative women began to read Torah.
together with Rabbi Schreiber, decided to wait until the second semester. Rabbi Mayer Moskowitz, the outgoing Judaic Studies Headmaster of the Lower School. will be assuming a share of the departing Ms. Prebor's classes. Students have remarked that they enjoy seeing the Rabbi again, albeit in the halls of a different The Ramaz building. remainder of Ms. Prebor's classes will be Uken by Rabbis
the displacement of those who had substituted for them. Mr. Dick returned from a health-related leave on the first day of the semester. While his students were glad that he has recovered, many feel that it is unfair to switch teachers again, especially after they had just started gelling used to Mr. Wray's methods. Manhew Rosenberg(III) commented that "its hard to get adjusted to s_o many new teachers. I came back and found out I had both Rabbi Schreiber arid M,. Goldmintz and Gordon. • Rabbi Laufer, who had Dick." covered Ms. Prebor's classes Many students are also still during the lane, part of the first adjusting to the absence of Ms. semester is currently visiting Rosalie Weinstein, who went his old community in on health leave in late Decem Venezuela and will then teach ber and was replaced by Ms. Dr. Marcia Horowitz. at Aatbush. Students are also being Clementson 's students also forced to adjust to the return of have to weather the final week veteran faculty members and
bl Erin L<lb On December 2 R a b b i Lookstein declared that par ticipants in the Women's Tefilah Group will be allowed to read from the Torah should a reading fall on a Tuesday, the day the group meets. The decision was the result of a November 30 meeting of the administration. Judaic Studies faculty, and Dr. Honig, the faculty adviser of the Women's Tefilah Group, the purpose of which was to ascer tain the faculty's opinions on the matter. The meeting was originally intended only for the rabbis, but Ms. Gribetz told Rabbi Lookstein that she felt this was unfair, and he agreed. The decision was not an no1r1nccd to students in order to ensure, as Rabbi Lookstein stated, that it stay "a relatively minor issue." Though student awareness was kept low, the memo lO the attending faculty explaining lhe p�K was quick ly leaked bolh lo sources out side the school and to .numerous $tudents.
The memo stated that "I am ruling that the Torah be read al the Women's Tefilah Group at Ramaz when Torah reading is mandated on a Tuesday." The reasoning was stated explicit ly: first, the women·s reading the Torah is halachically per• missable according to Rabbi Soloveichik. Second, it is practiced at Kehilath Jeshurun, the school's sponsoring con• gregation. Third. it is practiced at every other women ·s tefilah group under Orthodox auspices. Last. Ramaz·s young women feel very strongly that they need it. This ruling was qualified in a December 12 meeting of Rabbi Lookstein, Ms. Gribetz, Dr. Lehman, and the leaders of the Women's Tefilah Group, Debra Kobrin. Rachel Lerner, and Cecily Marbach." They dis• cussed the procedure for future Torah readings. R a b b i Look.stein mand:ucd thal lhc brachah ··La• Asok bidivrci Torah" be said along with the other Birkot HaTorah recited (continued on page 6)
(continued on page 6)
Ski Scandals Cause Cancellation by Mindy Eisenberg
This past December the ad· ministration decided that Ramaz will not hold its annual ski trip. Although neither the
ski trip nor its cancellation were announced, students learned of the decision because of the absence of applications
Inside this Issue: Nuns vage4 Dougie's page 8
for the February trip. Students sought explanations, both for the cancellation and the fact that it was not announced. Mr. Miller said that the trip
was canceled as a result of be· havior unbefitting yeshiva stu• dents on a school-sponsored trip. He said that such behavior was an unavoidable side-effect of the relaxed atmosphere of the ski trip. The administration became convinced of this after a continued pallern of illegal and non•halachic behavior cul• minated last year in the confis cation of marijuana, leading to one student being denied a diploma. The administration also maintains that there arc no educational benefits to the ski trip. As Mr. Miller put ii. "the ski trip is noU,lng more than fun. and the school docs not have a responsibility to create lhcsc kinds or acrivilics when 1hc consequences arc so dro�-
tic," He added that the school is waiting for the GO to find an activity which can provide the morale boost associated with the ski trip, but nOl the behavior. GO President Ben Lebwohl stated that the GO did not have a fair opponunity 10 do so, as it was informed of the cancella tion 100 late to plan a replace ment activity. He noted that if 1he administration informed students when it made the decision, the GO could have proposed an alternative ac tivity in lime. Mr. Miller also believes that the ski trip and substance abuse are directly related. On other school-sponsored aclivities such as seminars and shab batonim, the selling of the trip is entirely different, he ex plained. On the ski trip, how ever, where Torah and mitzvot (continued on page 5)
"" •· 'The grnup �rc:ht!t in the Negev for (ts Jewish Identity:
Rothchild Leads Ten-Day Israel Teen Tour by Dan Hechlng "Are you Jewish but unaf• filiatcd?" "Arc you ready for an ad· venture?" So began nyers that an nounced a ten-day trip to Israel for unaffiliated Jewish junior.; and seniors in New York City. The allure was that it cost just $475, as it was subsidized by the Cooper Fellows Israel Programs. n,e trip took place from December 22 to January 2 and was organized chieny by Rabbi Rothchild. Because of the Oyer.;, which Rabbi Rothchild paid students ut Ramuz and other prep schools to distribute, nnd ads in
Jewish paper.;, a large number of applicants were anracted. Rabbi Rothchild explained that "while it may seem silly to look for unaffiliated Jews with ads in Jewish papers, it isn't. Many of the applicants applied be cause their grandparents saw the ads and informed their grandchildren of the oppor• tunity." After interviewing finalists, 26 applicants were ac cepted: two of them, however, proved unable to aucnd, due to health and logistical problems respectively. (co111in11c,I 0111u1gr 8)
February 1995 /Adar I 5755
Thc RamPagc
Pagc 2
Letters
Editorials Silence Hurts Ramaz Wltilc we ore nol qunUficd lo halacltica lly addresslhc issue r of lhc psak in rn,·or o women reading Torah, we helicvc lhal if Ramnz is to nU1inlain ils moral integrity nnd its position or lcadersltip in the Orthodox world, it is imptrativc lhat "' abandon our poliey oracting based on fear for our reputalion and instead begin acting wilh only the value of our actions in ntind. The message sent by the gagrule placedon the schoo l 's decision is that the decision itself is a con«ssion, as opposed lo an lnlerprelntion or halaeha. The gag rule has led lo more embarrassment lhan the psak itself. The yesltivn ltigh school comrnunily knows about the Ramaz decision and draws the conclusion lhnt our liheral policies have .:realed the atmos phere that foreed the psak. If we had been open about our opinions, the less progressive schools we are attempting to placate ought hove seen the reasonability or the psak and understood that we are not separating ourse lves from mainstream Orthodoxy. 0ur refusal lo clarify our beliefs is also costing us respc,ct among the synagogues with whom we allied ourselves in allowing women to read Torah. How can they trust an institu tion whkh does not preach what it practices? The lack or uniform religious standards for both Kehilath Jeshurun and Ramaz regarding the acknowledgement of women's righl to read Torah, like Ramaz's ban on women wearing lefiilin, is either blalanl hypo.:risy or a lacil implication that KJ has departed from the aegis or Orthodoxy. BeyGnd the issue or our repulation, it is improper lhat lhc school conceals information that directly pertains to students. Students have heard or the psak by word or moulh, and the absence or an official statement makes them feel as if Ihey are not the focus or Ramaz, but politic.al loots. From a pure ly educational st a ndpoint, the gag rule is denying studcnls lhe opportunily to learn the workings or a currtnl•day psak, thus pole ntlally impeding Iheir growth as fulUrt leaders lhcnisel vcs. Ir Rnmaz wishes to dispel any doubts aboul our abiliiy lo lead • morally, reli giously, and polilicaUy - we musl rclurn lo lhe principled mode or action thal led to such lriumphs as our rtfusal lo pull oul or the Israel Day parade two ye.ars ag o.
Not,: Robbi UHJkst,in r,sponds in a uttu to th, Editor.
E-mail Enthusiasm E - mail was rcccn lly Int roduced to intc reslcd up pc,rclassmcn a nd· racully. We applaud Ramaz's gcslure lo bring us inlo l hc age ortechnology and appreciate lhc hehi nd thc-sccnes work lhat went on in order lo bring e-mail lo us. Once ag;,in, Rarnaz has proved lhal ii real ly dots slr ive to lnlcgra lc us inlo the real world. We urge the st udents to take advanlage of tltis i nnovalion bul to lake eare in doi ng so. Before obla in ing an e-mail login, every user signs a stal,mcnl agreeing to ethical behavior and certain gujdcH nes, and is thus bound to "use the computer facilities legally, t lhieally, and in accordance with lhe pri n• ciples espoused by Ramaz." Wltile \\C ask lhe admi nis1 ralion to keep in mind the di fference s bet ween cu rious a nd malicious lnfraclions, "• remind students thal lhc school has shown ils trust by givi ng us Ihis p ri vilege. Lei 's nol have ii lnkcn nwny.
The Ram Pagetf
Tattle Tales To 1he Editors: I am writing in response lo an incident that occu r red recent ly involving 1hc com puter sys1cm. I was called 10 iask for allowing another user 10 use a school computer 10 playa game from afloppy disk, and nol reporting 1his ··abuse .. 10 lhe system opcra1ors. As a user of Ramaz 's com• pulcr system, I was forced 10 sign a con1 rac11 ha1 dclinealed a code of compulcr clhics and slipulaled lhal I would repor1 f any breaches o secutity 10 lhc r system operators, even i it meanl 1ha1 I would have 10 ·•1um in .. olhcr s1uden1s who violate lhc ethics code. This clause in lhc contracl disturbs me 1remendously. Flrsl, I objccl lo lhe foci 1ha1 sys1<m operators arc s1uden1S. They are placed in a posi1ion 1ha1 allows 1hem privileges no1 generally available 10 SIUdenlS. U1ili1ies such as "peck :· which allows lhc user 10 invade lhe screens of other usen, shou ld only be •vailabic 10 Mr. Ber ma n, no1 10 studcnlS, These programs invade lhe privacy of other user s, and it is completely in3pprop riate to a llow students 1o· use 1hcm. Whi le I reahze that certain devices are neces sary 10 insure lhc fact thal the system is secure and not used for illegal or unc1hical pur poses, these utilit ies should on ly be used by c•pable educators. Secondly. I object 10 1he fact 1hat I am forced 10 · sell my 10 lhe com puler depart· mcnt in payment for computer pnvi lcges. I find ii unlhl nkable 1ha1 I should be forced 10 join a compulcr KG B •nd subject other students to scrutiny. While I unde rstand th•I 1his system works for 1hc su per• vi sors. who accomplish their system sccunty pr cc.sut ions with little or no c�tra work, 1 t places 1hc users ,n 1he rather uncomfon•ble pos 1 1 ion of having 10 spy on others.
sour·
f
Must We Preach What We Practice? To the Editors: Wi1h regard 10 your editorial on lhc so-called ··gag rule:· regarding 1he new policy or having 1he Ramaz women 's 1efiiah group read 1he Torah on 1hose Tuesddyswhen 1he Torah would be normally read, lei me say lhal 1here is no gag rule whatsoever. There was simply a desire on my part 10 pul lhe p ractice inlo effccl wi1hou1 making a big noise aboul ii. Thal's not a gag rule; 1ha1 •s jus1 not blaring ii from lhc moun• 1ain lops.
I see no logical cndpoi nl 10 lhis process of holding ail SIU· denlS accountable 10 report on olhcrs. If a user plays a game wilh sound in lhe lib rary, do we hold everyone in lhe library ac counLable because lhcy heard 1hc audio and did no1 !alee ac1ion? Is !here a difference b e· 1ween action 1hat is damaging to the computers and action 1ha1 is simply harmless bu1 in appropriate? Now lhal all juniors and seniors arc allowed to open in• lemet system accounls. I sug gest 1ha1 we so lve these <lhical proble ms with the compu ler systems and the contr.lcts 1h31 govern them immediately. A standard must be set before the system is flooded with abuses and i magined abu ses. •nd before more people are ca lled 10 wk for ostensi bly contribut• ing 10 a collapse of sys1cm security while no1 comm ilti ng ar ty offenses lhcmseivcs. Vair Hakak (VI) The Ra mPagc "ckomes your signed lcllcrs and op ed contrib utions. On OC· casion, names " ill be wilhheld upon request. You can send us e-mail al RamPagc @ Ramaz.PVT.K1 2.NY.US.
There ,s a 101 o sens111v11y about 1his issue bo1h in Ramaz f and ou1Side o ii. I have no question bul lhal 1he practice we have instituted is a correct one. bul one need not naun1 ii and in that way be insensit ive 10 1he opinions of 1hose who migh1 nol agree wilh lhc prac• tice. There is an old adage 1ha1 nol everylhing 1ha1 one thinks mus1 one say; nol everylhing one says musl be w riuen down; nol everything 1ha1 is wriucn down musl be published; and nol everylhing 1ha1 is published mus1 be read. Very cordially you.rs, Rabbi Haskel Lookslein Un -Mode U.N. l To 1he Edilors: Re: "Clean Up lhe Clubs" (Op-ed, Vo l. XX VII, No. 3) There arc a number of mis concep1 ions I feel I should clear up concerning 1hc Model U.N. ICalTI, Firsl, lhc article re•ds lhal ··1en males and 1en females tried out iasl spring" bul ·•nine males and one fe male were chosen:· In reality. how ever, twelve males and seven fema les tr ied out. and ni ne males and one female we re chosen. An i m po r1an1 detail omiucd in the article concerns five of lhc ma les and lhcir dedica tion ro the tea m: they did more work than O\hcrs trying out in order to co mplete lhe 1ryou1 a week early (much hke early acuon ,n appl) ing 10 col leges) and were there fore ac• ccplcd. Second. 1hc brief paragraph menlloning Model U.N. ,s en tirely dev oid of in 1rod uc1ory 3nd conclud i n g sentences. B.ised on its location. I was in• chned IO think lhal 11 IS a <econd <Aa mpic of· ·some team, do no1 C\'en h:i\'e lryout.s. " Since lhat cannot be the in1cn1 of the para graph. I guessed tho1 ii was a pn.'C ursor 10 lhc ncxl p•ragraph (contin utd on pag� 4)
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The JlamPage
February 1995 / Adar I 5755
Pagel
Opinion
Goto Health!
by Yael Shachcr
In an issue of the RamPaee published last year, an article entitled "Why Do Ram:iz Girls Hate Gym?" uncovered many of the shortcomings of the Ramaz girls' gym program. Unfortunately. nothing has been done to rectify the situa tion and the girls gym program as a whole is still quite weak. The senior girls' c l asses present a special problem. as they are the most poorly at tended and the least productive of all classes. and something must be done. During a recent locker room discussion. senior Tobi Oppen heimer remarked. "Gym is a joke. Half the senior girls arc exempt from gym class and all the others just don ·1 come... The idea of having class ex emplions makes all senior girls view gym as a class to get out of. rather than one 10 enjoy. Although scnioritis is often faulted. it is also a school policy that is 10 blame. Ex empting members of sports teams from coming to gym cuts auendance in half. If the l:Jngu:age department ex• empted members of the French Honor Society. the French
Conversation Circle, and Le Chambon from French. how important would that class seem? With the best athletes missing, gym's significance decreases on the eyes of the stu dents. Another reason for low at tendance is that gym is given only a single period each week. Even these few classes can be skipped and made up for later by running around the gym for a few minutes during another period. For those few who do allend, the gym program does not help to keep the girls in shape be-
Mini-Minyans-The Silent Solution by Evnn llochbrri;
ln December l suffered through one of the worst davcnings of my hfe. The rabbis who were present waited for live nunutcs 10 begin d,vening before finally gi, ing up their futile bid for order. When the chazan beg•n. he could barely be heard above the voices of almost every student in the R,maz Upper School. Usually. students have the common decency to pause their discussion during Shmoneh Esrci or prayers for the sick, but such basic cour tesy is no longer practiced in our school. Fonun,tely. davening ended at 8:30. so people could continue their conversations without the annoying disturbances of the rabbis' picas for quiet. The facl that so few students davcn marks Ramaz's failure to nchcive ils pur• pose of raising knowledgeable ,nd practic ing Jews. A basic mistake in the school's policy is that students do not have 10 davcn as long as they sit quietly. Ramaz is • Jewish school and prayer is an essential part of Judaism. On fast d,ys Students cannot cat in the building. Though few students wear 1zitzi1. they are pan of the dress code. Preludes merely obligates Students to JI· tend davening and lo be t�re on time. fl should also require students to daven. Still, a change in offici•I policy will do very little to improve the situation. To rectify the davening problem, the school should learn from the one completely suc ccssfuJ minyan--1.hc Hashkama Minyan. In lhc. Hashkama Minyall. even though there is frequently no f acully member present, no one talks during davcning and
He may be alonr, but he's not talking.
almost everyone prays. The students themselves have created an atmosphere where talking will not be tolerated so there is nothing to do but pray. h ,s, howC\'Cr, unr�listic to expect this type or a1mos• phcre in a minyan with over 300 students. The main davening should be divided into
at least Si:\ smaller mmyanim. These minyanim could occupy any classroom all that would be needed is a few more sifrei Torah and mechi1zo1. The division of students should be ran dom. so that as many friends as possible can be separated. This intentional avoidance of grouping would help insure that talking will be limited. JI is a fact that in a smaller minyan it is easier 10 silence the few "bad eggs" who disturb davening. Faculty members in charge of these minyanim will loom larger in , sm•ller room. They also should follow through on their threats to punish students who do not pray. If the faculty adviser notices th•t a stu dent is talking or not davcning on a consis tent basis. the student should be forced 10 spend at least an hour discussing davcning with • school rabbi. If the student is not dJvcning he obviously h•s • philosophical reason as to why, and such a discussion might be productive. If the motive is not b•scd on a reason,blc belief. furthcr recal citrance by the student should wn.rrnnt serious disciplinary action. There are Jdded benefits 10 smaller m1nyanim. They give more students a chance to Jc,d dJvening. and students. both male and female, can give divrci Torah. For years. the administration has resisted breaking up the m,in mmy•n be cause they feel that It is beauti�u\ to davcn as a whole. \Vhilc this is a wonderful idea. it is better for most �1Uden1s ro di1vcn a.pan 1han for all students to talk 1oge1her.
cause no exercise is actually girls even receive extra credit Under the currenl sys1em. done. Between the small num for simply changing into the seniors nrc the only stu ber of classes and the amount sneakers and a Ramaz gym dents in the school who do nol take health. Ironically, they of time lost to changing. it is shin. Since I do not believe that need it most because of tltc impossible 10 get a good game going. Even if students rush. Ramaz will ever be able to health dangers they will be ex there are usually not enough develop a comprehensive posed 10 when they leave girls present to play a real physical education program home. that incorporates exercise. Currently, seniors arc re• game. Frequently, senior girls who sports, nutrition. and health in quired to allcnd four he,lth lec do go 10 gym class find the gym a class that meets for just 40 tures. The two lectures this dark and empty. The girls arc minutes once a week, it would semester h,ve focused on drug allowed 10 sign their names to be best if senior girls' gym •busc and smoking. If the get credit for being in class. would be replaced by health senior girls had health clJss. they could discuss these and Then they can leave. Some classes.
G.O. Letter January 1995 The first semes1cr has come 10 a close and the GO. while proud of its accomplishments so far and of its active commit· Ices, is planning various at• 1ivi1ics and proposals for the second half of the year. Much lies in store between now and June. and we ,re looking for ward 10 working with the stu faculty. and den ts. administration in discussing and implementing our ideao. Below arc several items of interest thJI the GO is working on. Please read on and tell us what you think of the uems listed. or other ideas thnt you think could improve student life at Ramaz.
other lopics in a more in1ima1e selling, and on a regula.r basis. Allcnd,nce should be man datory, regardless of sports team membership. The cl•ss would help provide girls with much needed infor mation during a period which was pre viously unproductive. Health classes would be a good idea for the boys. too, though get ting them to give up their lone gym period might prove con siderably more difficult.
Ramchops I. Third Quarter "crunch tion with the goal of improving time:" Every year, March 1he s1rcssful si1ua1ion in March; seems to be a particularly 10 truly solve the problem, stressful month for students; though, we must concentrate the average number of quizzes •lso on Marches to come. 2. Class evaluation sheets: and tests per week mull iplies to an almost unbearable level. To facililate communication The crunch is one of lite most between students and leachcrs. frustrating problems facing the the GO is working on con student body. There is no structing a brief questionnaire quick fix that can eliminJle it; that teachers may distribute to many factors contribute to the their classes. On these evalua difficulty, including the short tion sheets students will be able length of the quaner. uncoor to exprcss to their teachers their dinated scheduling of tests and opinions of syllabi, homework. quizzes, the teachers' need for quizzes and tests, difficulty grades for the cvalu,tion sheet, level. and enjoyment of the and the overall altitude (on the course. We pl•n to bring the part of both teachers and stu• mailer up for discussion at dents) toward testing nnd SFAC. and, if implemented. we quizzing. The GO is pursuing hope teachers will tnkc nda dialogue with the administra-
van1,ge of this educauonal op ponunity. 3. Purim Chagiga: Adar Aleph will soon turn into Adar Bet, the month of "Marbim B'simcha." It is time 10 start thinking about the program ming of our annu•I chagigJ. Come to us if you would like 10 work behind the scenes. We hope that we can help make the new semester the beSI one yet. Speak your mind to us so that we c•n work for you. Ben Lcbwohl, Pres/ Ariel Simon, SVP Josh Zable, JVP Steven Maber, Sec. Rachel Fnrbinrz. Treas.
Congratulations to Ms. Caroll Goldberg a n d t h e Chorus, Darid, and Dance Troupe on their stellar per
formance at the Annual Din ner Dance. Mazel Tov to Ms. 8ralovt on her marriage to Ales/tr Rodrigue: and to Dr. lc/1man on her marriage to Ari Klapholz.. Michtllt Mui/tr (YI) h,s
the been the recent occup,nl of many a spotlight. She was interviewed for Austrnlian TV, had a cameo appearance opposite Brooke Shielils in Gremt, and was sighted in the studio audience of a recent episode of I.Are Nlglor with David lc1terma11
TheRamPage
Pagc4
February 1995 / Adar I 5755
Ms. Garfinkle Goes to Catholic School
by C«ily Marboch The connection between Ms. Gorfinkle, nuns, and the Bronx has not always been readily apparent. But it be came clear on November 15, when the head of the math and computer departments visited a single-sex Catholic school on behalf of the Middle States Evaluation and Accreditation Commiuee. Ms. Gorfinkle, who was chosen 10 go by the administration, was not able to reveal the school's name re. cause of Middle States' demand for confidentiality. The Middle Slltes Commit tee sent 1en evalultors to the Catholic school. fewer than the
7 :-
Math and computrr chalrporson Alain< Cornnklt.
women were highly capable. rising 10 the challenge of the situation. 1be nuns auributed their ability 10 faith in God's assistance. Often Ms. Gorfinklc saw teachers stay late 10 talk to and help students. According 10 Ms. Gorfinkle, one.reason why the teachers are so helpful is that the girls themselves arc motivated. �he did note. how ever. that the underlying threat of detention, which can inter fere with jobs as well, often serves 10 further push the stu dents. Another positive aspect of the school is the resource room that each depa nmenl has. which enables students 10 drop by and get help from teachers. This is more efficient th:m having student assistance
Indeed, most of the girls observe classes. and 10 get an inside view of the school. Ms. have jobs after school and on Gorfinkle said she wondered if weekends. One girl described she could accwately evaluate a 10 Ms. Gorfinkle how she high school in only three days; works from six to ten o'clcxk however. after spending from every school night and even Much Ms. to seven in the morning until longer on the weekends. Ms. Gorfinkle's disap 14 "ho ,,isitcd Ramaz. These eleven at night each day in the Gorfinkle commented that pointment, the teachers and administrators. Bronx school, she felt she un• "while Ramaz kids gel college nuns were not deck who inciuded four nuns as well dcrstood the school's workings support. these girls get social ed out in their os other parochial school and the altitudes of the stu support." Despite the troubles facing habits. teachers like Ms. Gorfinkle, dents. were chosen in pan because Originally established for students, Ms. Gorfinkle centrally located. '1nese small their backgrounds were similar I rish Catholics. the school remarked that she felt an air of details make the school very 10 those of the population of the began to enroll many Hispanics satisfaction in the halls. The effective," said Ms. Gorfinklc. Still, the school has major Bronx school. They divided a.nd African-Americans as the girls acted and looked present themselves into various com demographics of its neighbor able in their uniforms. The physical problems due lo lack miuees of three people each hood changed. Most of the school was clean and the furni of funds. Ms. Gorf1nkle noticed that the building was and cvalu:ucd different aspects girls come from lower and mid ttlfe unvandalized.
Most of the girls come from tough neighborhoods and consider school a refuge.
of the school. Ms. Gorfinktc
chaired 1he committees that cvalualed the Malh and Health curricula. and she served on the committee on supervision as well. Ms. Gorfinkle's job. in the three days that she was there, was to evaluate the J:Urriculum,
dle income homes in tough
neighborhoods and consider the school a refuge. Ms. Gor finkle stated that "these girls have different problems than Ramaz students do. They have to worry about jobs aftcr school and saving up money."
The nuns in the school act as
old and despcr.llely in need of
teachers, counselors, and a paint job and new furnish friends 10 the students. Much ings. The 3ncient radiators 10 Ms. Gorfinkle's disappoint made loud banging noises as ment, the nuns were not decked they slowly produced heat. out in their habits; however, a The gym was also deteriorat few did wear white head scar ing. In addition. the school ves. For the most part. Ms. lacks calculators and new Gorfinkle thought that these books and cannot afford class
trips. There is no s1udent ac cess to copy machines and until last year there were no com puters for student use. The hbrary has few books and even fewer 01 h c r r eference materials. 1ne school cannot fund teachers' auending con ferences that would help to bet ter their teaching styles. One reason for the financial problems is that fewer and fewer females are becoming nuns. Formerly, all teachers in Catholic schools were nuns. The nuns took vows of poverty and would ask 10 be paid the minimum required for sus tenance. Today, teachers out side the sister h o od arc employed in Catholic schools and must be paid competitive wages. Ms. Gorfinkle also found problems with the school's cur riculum and teachers. She thought that many teachers, particularly of math, '"taught 100 much out of the book" and dido ·1 integrate ideas. She also though that a health curriculum that consisted of two classes per week during the junior year was inadequate, especially be cause the girls there ci:icounter more substance and sexual abuse in their neighborhoods and homes than Ramaz stu dents do. Overall. Ms. Gorfinklc thinks that the school is an "ex• cel\ent place" and hopes that it will conunue 10 prosper. She feels that she rained much from her experience and wel comed her unoquc opportunity.
Letters to the Editor (conr,nu�dfrom pog� 2) to win, we have a rcsponsib1hly 10 our school to choose the ap and IIS recommendation that plicants who would bring new members should be ac greater glory to Ramaz. I hope that I have cleared up cepted based on a tryout "with a concerned and active faculty any misconceptions that the ar adviser present." While it is ticle created. true that Dr. Jucovy did not at Jonathan Gruenhul (VI) tend the tryouts, there was nothing anyone could do at �,c end of last year 10 convince him that he should. Shalom Al Yisrael The placement of the para To the Editors: graphs also implies that the My father brought me a captains' personal prejudices cause qualified applicants 10 be copy of the November 1994 cut. In the case of Model U.N.• edition of The RamPage on hos however, Yeshiva University's most recent visit to fc;racl. I hm11 on par11c1pants causes would like to express my feel qualified applicant< to be cut; it ings about the paper as a whole 1s lhe captains' dccismn which and about what I read in one of the applocants would work anicle in particular. I was extremely glad lo sec bc,1 as a member of 1hc team. Mo<I astounding, however, the high standard of rcponong as lhc 1mphcat1on that impar- and the marvelous layout 1,ality in choo,mg new mem throughout the paper. In addibers os the only faor way to 1100. I was glad 10 receive a d1stonguo,h among qualified Ii Ille taste of Rama, and to be appll�nls. Such an iMinua- able lo keep up with goings-on. 1100 1s bafn1ng because no on I would hke to compliment st11u11on would ll11nk about the student body for organi11ng reJectong <1ual1fie<l applicants the prayer vigil for Nachshon without cvalua11ng rccomrncn Wachsman. Recnll1ng thot dattons and other subjcc1ivc horrifying week 10 October. I dJ1a. If our goal is for Romnz remember feeling ns if I were
watching a horror film on television and wanting to switch 1hc cho.nnel wilh a broken remote control. The channel would not change. Unlike people living in the U.S.. we in Israel did not have news about the outcome of his ordeal before Shabbat. It was, as you can probably imagine, one of the most tense Shabbatol I have ever experienced. The overall feeling in Israel, as it often is in tense times, was one of strong unity as a nation. Those who understand Israeli politics will rcali,e the strength of this sense of unity, which brought together the ofi-frac tiou< parties in the Knesset. I was extremely pleased 10 read 1ha1 the Ramaz community demonstrated its solidarity with Israel and the world Jewish commuo11y. Until one actually loves here, one docs not rcali1.e how alone the Js. racli community is during such tragedies nnd how important all solidarity effort< are. Yi<har Kochncheml W11h gratitude, Shnlom lloll, '94 Yc<hivat llnr E11lon
(conlinucd on pa�t 6)
February 1995 I Adar I 5755
PageS
The RamPage
Harassment Incident Raises Security Concerns by Orit Carmiol On Tuesday, November 8, two Ramaz freshmen were vic tims of harassment in the vicinity of Ramaz that might have resulted in tragedy. Freshmen Steven Smilh and Benjy Shammah were walking home together after school when Benjy thought that he noticed two men following them. After a few blocks, Benjy and Steven took refuge in a diner on 83rd Street and Lexington Avenue. The two men followed them inside. The men immediately ap proached Steven and accused him of beating up !heir brother and told him that they would stab him in revenge. Steven repeatedly denied their accusa tion and asked them to leave him alone. However. they con tinued to badger him. After fif. teen minutes. 1he men felt that they might arouse the suspicion of others at the diner. so they left before any action could be 1aken against them. One man in the diner did, in fact, take notice of the situation and
called the police. When the of ficers arrived forty-five minutes later, the two men were long gone. Three days later, Steven and Benjy went to the local police precinct 10 file a report, after Mr. Miller repeatedly asked them to do so. Mr. Miller felt the need for this because it was "an important issue 1hat needed to be addressed" at a school meeting with the police. The importance of filing a report, he explained, was because the police precinct allocates man power in di ffcrcnl areas depending on the need. "They do not record an even! unless there is a file report, and if a complaint number is not as signed, they cannot find pat terns that may help catch the criminals." The two men who harassed the Ramaz students have not yet been found, and to this Steven replied, ··r don't ever want them to be found." "It was scary," expressed Steven. "From experience. we (continued on page 7)
Ski Scandals Cause Cancellations (continu.edfrom pag� J)
are not the focal points, inap• propriatc behavior is more
prevalent.
However, the numerous violations of tzniut and shmirut negiah at seminars and retreats have led some to conjecture that it is hotels that are the prob lem. They believe that the privacy of rooms, along with their proximity to one another and the inability of faculty to monitor each room, leads to be havior problems. They at• tribute the lack of substance abuse at other activities to the jam-packed indoor schedule at seminars and retreats. Addressing the issue of sub stance abuse, Mr. Miller claims that he "is not so naive" as to
"The school should not be so worried about its reputau tion." deny that it is a growing prob lem among the student body. He admiued that the school has onen tried to stop !he recurring problems, but "there are al ways going 10 be students who will smoke and take drugs. As much as we try to stop them, there is only so much we can do." He added rhat "students have the right to do as they please In their own homes, but the school cannot sponsor an activity where such behavior takes place."
Mr. Rochlin agrees that the decision was valid from the viewpoint of an administrator; however, he secs the ski trip from a different perspective. Based on the comments he heard from other skiers at the site, he feels that last year's ski trip was "truly a kiddush Hashem." He also claims that the ski trip provides a unique opportunity for students from all grades 10 bond in a friendly atmosphere, and so he admits his disappointment at the can cellation. He feels the struc• ture of the lrip might have been altered instead, and a one-<lay trip is currently under con sideration. Mr. Rochlin's primary com plaint is that "whal happened last year is still affecting the entire school" in a negative way. He also commented that he secs no relationship between substance abuse and the ski trip, and he fails to see how cancellation will alleviate the problem. Dr. Warshall, who has served as a chaperon on the trip, was also dismayed. "I think it's sad tlrnt the trip has been canceled because of the actions of a few students." she said. However, Dr. Warshall remnrkcd that "[she] can un derstand the administration's reluctance to be placed in a position where there might be a reoccurrence," She con siders substance abuse a grow ing problem that the school musl deal with.
Lucy Coh,n(II) and Ellzaboth Heyman(II) •r\Joy th< wit and wbdom ofad•l�r Ell Gurock(V).
Gribetz Revamps Adviser System by David Damas! around role models-tl1e ad Despile cries of ··unfair" visers were admirable, but that from many of those who had they did not keep the atmos been sophomore and junior ad phere in davening up to par. visers for junior high school Ms. Gribetz also expressed an students, a new method of interest in increasing the num choosing advisers was intro ber of people who have the op duced, and those students who portunity to be advisers. were advisers last year are in Despite these reasons, at eligible. least one of the seniors who had Due primarily to decorum been a junior high adviser felt problems in the junior high that the school was being "dis minyan last year, this ye:ir's loyal" 10 last ycar·s advisers. junior high advisers were not Senior Evan Hochberg picked by teachers as they had remarked that ··the problem did been in the past. Instead, they not stem from 1he advisers were >elected from a pool of themselves, but rather from the applicants by Ms. Bene! and failure of the junior high facul Mr. Rochltn, the freshman ty leadership to prepare or train form advisers, and approved by the adviser.;." the administration. Each ap Other former advisers plicant was required to fill out seemed to share this feeling. In a questionnaire. The question addition, junior Elissa Klein naire, similar to the one used to haus said that the junior high "... the problem did students will lose out by this not stem from the new process. because they themsel don't have the experience of advisers past advisers. She added ves, but ratherfrom the she "used to be very close the failure o the that to the seventh graders, and faculty..." now" she never even secs selec1 advisers for Freshman them. Junior Jesse Rodin Orientation, presented the ap added that now the students plicants with several scenarios "will definitely not listen to the in which students from the advisers, since they arc new" junior high required guidance. and haven't had over a year to Students who were picked to forge relationships. be advisers last year arc not According to Ms. Gribetz, allowed to advise this year as the old system of choosing ad well. Ms. Gribetz, who is the visers was nol efficient. The Headmistress in charge of the teachers responsible for choos junior high, <aid that, on the ing advisers showed favoritism whole, last year's advisers and frequently overlooked were competent, but Hwhen qualified students. Students some are good and some arc who were chosen did n o t not, it is unpleasant to single necessarily want lo be advisers. out those who are not." She Under the new system, only said that in most of their people who want to be adviser.; capacities-running Orienta will be picked. Ms. Gribctz tion, Shabbatonim, and feels that this is a definite im Chagigot, as well as being all- provement, as "motivated
Many students were angered at the adminis1ration 's decision. They could not un derstand why, as Alexandra Joseph (IV) said, "!he whole school should be punished for a mistake Iha! only a few people made." She added that "there is no rc:ison to cancel the ski trip, as students have al ready learned from last year's incident." G.O. Treasurer Rachel Far binrz (VI) commented, "It's a shame that the ski trip has lo be seen in a negntlvc light just be cause of a few isolnlcd incl-
people do a belier job." Ms. Gribctz cauuously added that "last year's advisers were good people. but they wcren 'I properly guided by the facul ty." 1l1cse faculty included many who were themselves new 10 lhcir positions, such as Rabbi Rothchild and Ms. Gribctz herself. Last year's sophomores and juniors were not taught how to advise properly, and as a result "the
Accordi11g to Ms. Gribetz "as long as their was no Head mistress no 011e cared about the Junior High."
quality of the davening was far below whal il should have been." Under the new plan, stu dents wilh siblings in 1he sevcntl1 and eighth grades arc not allowed 10 be advisers either, because, according to Ms. Gribetz, it "is not the heal thiest thing for a junior high student to have an older sibling around constantly:· Original ly, Ms. Gribetz was con templating switching advisers halfway through the year, but now she she is unsure whether there is a demand from other students. If this were to take place, students who were ad visers last year might b e eligible. According to Ms. Gribctz, "as long as there was no Head mistress, no one cared... about the junior high," but now that she is in charge, Forms I and II will be gelling the altention that they deserve.
dents. The ski trip has a very wryly offered that if the ski trip special atmosphere. I t is an op is canceled because of drug portunity for the students and use, then school ought to be faculty to interact without canceled if the administration having to worry aboul school ever catches the seniors who work." come back stoned from free Olher students voiced dif periods. Mr. Miller responded ferent reactions. Ilisa Schaffer that such an occurrence could (IV) said that "the school lend to a revocation of senior shouldn't be so worried about privileges. its reputation." Tai Aslrachan (IV) noted, "Even if there is no ski trip, there are still going to be kids taking drugs." Some studenL, lamented the school's lnck of action in com balling drug nbuse. Others
Page 6
February 1995 / Adar I 5755
TheRamPage
Women's Tefila Reads Torah on Asara B'Tevet (co11tin11('d from page J)
before and after aliyot in order to "differentiate the {women's) service from a traditional ser vice in which a minyan i s present," said Cecily Marbach. This bracha explains that the women·s goal in reading is to involve themselves in the le arni,lf of Torah. Rabbi Lookstcin also instructed them not to recite Oarchu. The first reading in the Women's Telillah Group took place on Tuesday, December I 3, Asara [l 'Tevet. Rachel Lerner, Chani Bloom, and Debra Kobrin served as the Senior heads C('cily Marbach, Debro Kobrin, and Rahel Lerner. readers, while Lauren Cohen(a bat-Kohen). Cecily Marbach (a Proponents of the ruling feel bat-Levi). and Dr. Lehman(a remarked, "People arc going 10 laugh at Ramaz." strongly that Ramaz women bat-Yisroel) received aliyot. Some of the faculty agreed must be involved. 11,ey said TI1ough the ::idministration maintained its official silence, with the psak. however. Ms. that reading the Torah connects many of the faculty strongly Gnbetz was particularly ex one with the Torah and tt 1s objected 10 the psak. One rabbi cited. In her opinion, "The Or therefore imperative that all thodox world is opening up a have this opportunity. Accord l1ttle... Ramaz should have been ing to Noam Milgram-El "Why must they doing this years ago." In addi cott(V), "If Judaism's goal is make new [mitzvot] tion to the special opportunity tikun olam, in this day and age up? T heir readillg that reading Torah affords not to do something to further from the Torah is women. she felt that another that goal is ndiculous." T hose in favor of the like having a Seder mam issue in the controversy was consistency. It only decision expressed dismay 011 Chanukah!" seemed right in a school like regarding the secrecy with decried it as perversion and Ramaz. to have a \Vomen's which the issue was handled, corruption of rituals which Tcfillah Group with Torah specifically the instructions to amounts to heresy Mrs. Taub reading. Weinstein remarked. "We have A female Judaic sludies "If Ramaz is em s i m p l y jumped on the tcact.er agreed and said that "If barrassed about bandwagon" of feminism. this is the way they [Ramaz this decisio11, why Others concurred in a less girls] feel that they can connect did make they extreme manner. Rabbi Gor with G-d, and it has been ac it? ..If they're doillg don expressed his opinion that cepted as Orthodox halacha, the psak is a "poor educational there should be nothing said this they should be proud of it." choice," while another teacher against this decision." The most vocal reactions called it . .a move toward Con from students were also nega the faculty to keep talk of the servatism." An additional concern tive. One junior girl found this controversy to a minimum. among faculty was the image decision "embarrassing" and Though sorr.e teachers ex• that Ramaz is presenting to its "ridiculous... [because] pressed their opinions students and 10 outsiders. women have so many other forthrightly, even those who Rabbi Rothchild felt that since mitzvot that they can do. Why disagreed with the psak, many, not a single other Orthodox must they make new ones up? including those who talked to Yeshiva allows women to read [Reading from the Torah] 1s their class, refused all student from the Torah. Ramaz is send like having a sedcr on inqu1r1es as part of the effort to ing Lhe message to its students Chanukah!" Others said that it ensure silence on the issue. One angry junior expressed that other views arc unimpor 1s time that Ramaz reassess its tant. He exclaimed, "Why religious outlook because we the feeling of many. "If Ramaz must we always be the arc diverging from the path of is embarrassed about this decision, why did they make 11? leader�?" Another dissen1er Orthodoxy." If they arc doing this. they
The Road to the Ruling
to read the Torah and therefore they were instructed to atten the main minyan's reading o the Torah on Chonukah. How ever, their persistence loo to Ute meeting thol resulled in RabbJ Look�tcin 's decision. The November 30 meetin was opened with presentations by Rahel Lcrntr and Del,J:a Kobrin, senior heods of the group. n,ey began by slJllin how painful iJ is to not be able 10 ,,xpress themselves religiously "in o manner which eonfonu.s to boU1 Orthodo balncha and !he mission of th:! sehool," and stated thot Tor rea,1.ine "is C(ln.sistent witl1 the Rarnaz outlook wllich gives men and women students the same curriculum 3nd en courages women 10 study Tai• mud." T h e y added that women's Torah reoding Is olso in accordance wilh tho pr:ac tiees of "acknowledged an recognized Orthodox institu tions to which many Ramo.z. students belong," namely Lin coln Square Synagogue, the S p a n i s h -Po Cl u g uesc Synagogue, the Hebrew In stitute of Rivenlole. and Rabb Lookstein's co ngrei;otion, Kehilalb Jesburun. The closed by �ying "that it see .lllllair/m:.Romu:1aa1J!ijl the value to want 10 leod Jewish commw1iliu...withOU1 determined group. The properly equipping us lo d<i 'OOICII would not bo allowed s o." E.L.
The Wom�n•s Tefillah Group has desired the oppor unity "to connect [wilh God], not just os an observer" since its inception in its current form 1990. The first leaders of the group, Danicli: Upbl11 '92 Abigail Lindenbaum '92, envisioned this and en uuged their followers to light with the administration who, at thal time, would hear notlling of it. Effort.s bcean in 1993 when Debra Kobrin broached the topic, of Torah reading in u meeting with Rnbbi Goldrnintz. She was immedi ately told thal ii was against &ehool policy. Cecily Mar• bach then opproach<d Rabbi Bakst but was turned awoy by similar cwms. Thc issue wos then foid to re.<t until tlie beginning of this year when group members realized u,01 both a doy of Chanukuh andA:.uruh B 'Tevel fell on Tuesday. Rahel Lerner said tlult •'ii was clear tha� there were people who would want to ead." Three weeks before Cbanuk>h the lelldcrs of the group brought their request to Rabbi BalcsL Jie agreed to mccj with Judaic,�1udies facul (i!ll'o •��biUr;v. 'Inc ,esults 1>f this small �ting wete asctl>ackfor the
should be proud of it." A Form VI male said that the lack of communication between ad• ministration and students was "sneaky" and ''the wrong way of handling the issue." Cecily Marbach, a head of the Women's Group, disagreed. She felt strongly that the school should keep its decision quiet in order to emphasize that "this is a religious statement, not n political one." The most positive rc:i.ctton to the psak came from the women in the telilah group. Cecily described the reading as
"one of the most meaningful services of my life" and another participaot called it " absolutely beautiful." Par ticipants also appreciated the opportunity 10 hear more than the distant mumble they are ac c u sto mcd to i n the main minyan. Debra Kobrin said with a smile, "I can now have the full Jewish expcriencc... the whole shebang!"
Faculty Juggled (co11t11111ed from page I)
of her health leave. Her classes were covered collectively by English department faculty. RamPage printed Divrci Torah, One change which has not something it no longer does, jarred students is Ms. probably because of the intro Nussbaum's return to the duction of Likrat Shabbnt. And library from her sabbatical. an editorial in I 986 claimed Students have, however, noted that "religious spirit [was) that it is sad that Ms. Stein slowly improving," and nn ar couldn't remain nlso. ticle in 1987 examined the Ms. Lassncr is also on a basis of Ramaz's philosophy three-week leave and will be regarding teaching Talmud 10 replaced by a teacher yet 10 be both genders. In 1990. the named. RamPage reported that the Sephar dic Minyan was flourishi n g and that the Women's Tcfilnh group had just been founded. It seems thnt Ramnz seems to hnvc grown more nwnre of its religious nature. nt lcnst.
RamPage Past Reveals Cheaters Who Prosper and Pray (conti,111edfrom page 4)
doubts. A 47% plurality iden students is appreciably belier tified themselves as "obser now than it was ten years ago." claimed that "chcaling is a can vant" as opposed to very, not He also said that "we like lo cer 1h01 is all too prevalent in very. or not observant. 48% have in Ramaz the largest Ramaz," and an article in 1993 percenl auended religious ser majority of students who arc detailed the cases of two vices on Shabbatot and interested in Shmirat Ha Ramaz juniors who were Chagim, and 46% observed Mitzvot" and that "I would cer caught stealing finals. One Kashrul strictly, while only tainly like to have three-fourths was demoted a grade and sub 32% of boys wore kippot out of the class observant coming sequently left the school, while side of school. Except for a in, because ...it is very impor the other foiled the subjects in decline in knshrut observance, tant that it be 'in' 10 be religious these figures were, again, al at Ramaz." which he cheated. Certain articles that have ap The same I 980 survey that most identical to those of 1969. questioned students about 11,e I 986 poll did not cx peared over the years have cheating also investigated nminc student religiosity, but stood as benchmarks of school religiou� ob�crvance. 62% the RnmPage did interview religiosity. In 1980. the neces firmly believed "in the Jewish Rabbi Lookstcin, in part on this sity of cheerleaders was concept oft he Divine Creator," question. The Rabbi said that debated, a question that seems and another 29% had some "the religious growth of the scllled today. In : 982, the
Skeewevif nignimoc: EssuiMurip Eht!
February 1995 / Ador I 5755
Page7
TheRomPage
Newt and the Jews: Prayer in School? by Ari •)-ledl•nder Within hours of the comple tion of the n e t w or k commentators' analysis of the Republicans' r e m a rkab l e sweep o f the '94 elections, Jewish mavens began asking the nge-old question of "Is it good for the Jews?" From Jer sey City 10 Jerusalem, Jewish columnists began to worry at length. N o w , if m i c r o s c o p i c analysis c a n help the Jews, couldn't "nanoscopic" analysis help Ramaz? In other words: were the '94 elections good for Ramaz? A survey of the upheaval in Washington sug gests that Ramaz has a real stake in the coming changes. The U.S. House of Repre The new Speaker Is sprudlng !ht Gospel. sentatives went Republican for the first time in over forty plied nationally. For all we and Rabbi Jacob Joseph High years. The Speaker of the know, the next I 5 minutes School. I 04th Congress is N e w t might belong to Ramaz. The New York gubernatorial Gingrich of Georgia. Mr. The U.S. Senate also went election produced a rift be· Gingrich has already promised Republican, leading 10 two im tween Mayor Giuliani and ponant changes in commit Governor Pataki, as the fonner Ramaz is a school tees. New York's own Al crossed pany lines and sup D' Amato will become Chair ported Cuomo while simul with "prayer that works," as Speaker man of the Banking Commi1- laneously criticizing Palaki. 1ee. Jesse Helms of North Pundits predict that the rift Gingrich puts it. Carolina. the new Foreign Af might lead 10 a reduction of the to take action in favor of school fairs chairman has drawn aid 1ha1 the stale gives the city, prayer, a subject quite familiar criticism from Jewish sources which could adversely affect 10 Ramaz students, by next for suggesting a review of the general environment of the summer. foreign aid and po1cn1ially a cul beautiful city that our school is Perhaps this is an oppor in the three billion dollars an situated in. tunity to have Congress bestow nually given lo Israel. In other cleclions in 1he Closer 10 home. George mctropolilan area. former upon Ramaz the starus of a school with, as Gingrich puts it, P•w.i won the race for gover Ramaz parenl Joseph Lieber ··prayer that works:· Our nor. He denied Governor man held on lo his Conne.c:1icu1 school might olso unwillingly Cuomo a fourth term and ended Senalc seal. while Lower advance Gingrich's arguments. twenty years ofDemocralic ad School parent Jerry Nadler When asked whether school ministralion. The most power earned a second term as the prayer might infringe on ful Democrat left in Albany is West Side's Congressman. minority rights, he might point Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, Frank Lau1enberg, former to the Sephardic and Hash Speaker of the S1a1e Assembly president of the UJA, was re k a m a minyanim :and the and an Orthodox Jew who is a elected Senator from New Jer Women's Telilah as examples graduate of Yeshiva College sey. of accommodation to be ap-
Security Concerns (continutd/ronr page 5)
1hough1 we knew what 10 do and what 10 say... afler this hap pened, I realized the danger I was in ... I could have really been stabbed." As a resull of 1his occur• rence, lhe issue of security in school has arisen. Some stu• dents tend to be more alert when walking alone outside of Ramaz. Coincidentally, a SFAC meeting addressed the issue of self-defense about a week after the incident. SFAC, lhe Student F a c ully A d ministration Commiuce, had put the issue on its agenda be· cause of a series of muggings of Dallon students. The SFAC meeting did not settle on a resolution, in large part because most people present fell that there was no need for one. Mr. Miller claimed that while we should deal with the harassment inci-
The police precint allocates manpower in different areas depending on need. dtnl and take ii seriously, we should not revise our entire policy because of one mugging that did not even take place. He said that the school already has a solid security S)lslem that includes occasional meetings with the police precinct and a nightly parent pa1rol. In the past, a community officer has come 10 talk to students, and a suggestion was made at the SFAC meeting 10 invite an of ficer again on a yearly basis. The fact that policemen a.re often seen standing right out-
side of Ramaz "can only help. Anyway, ii's a nice place 10 stand," said Mr. Miller. The police do occaisonally lead visitors to worry unnecessarily, though. In addition 10 these com ponents of Ramaz's safety pro gram. Ms. Cohen's seventh grade health class includes a comprehensive safety unit. n,e first-formers learn about s1tec1 safely, home safety (fire or poisoning, for example). and car or bike safely. Classes for older s1uden1S deal with the issue as it comes up, she said, but nobody who sat through a class in seventh grade would be in1cres1ed in sining through the same class two years taler. She suggested, though. that a safety lesson might become a regular pan of freshman orientation. Ms. Cohen also looked into the possibility of a self-defense program. However, she is nol qualified 10 teach it nnd, addi tionally. it is logistically impos sible. As an extra-curricular program. such a course would not work on a one•timc basis, she said, because ii "gives stu dents a false sense of cmpower mcn1," and there has not been sufficient interest for an ongo ing program. This is similar to the siluation of an after-school karate class 1ha1 was offered in the Lower School 10 help prep:ire studenlS who might be confronted. The class was con ccled due 10 a lack of interest. Indeed, Mr. Miller called school security a "dead issue."
$pecia/ thanks to Sagie Kleinlerer ana Marianna El lenberg for their photography.
A Giant Success
Recently the junior and senior clossu partieipaied In 'Gianls and Dwarf,�g,une, nee "S.CrCI Sant•.� Ea,;h gave gifts 10 a ''randomly" assigned giant, while receiving Ji rom a randomly assigned �warf. P� pul:ir prosents wue Oo stuffed aniJ1lals, and caJ1dy. Some giants were more creauve ave unusu•I gift.$• here ore som<" of lhc highlights...
'
•A ticket to "The Nutcracker" balleL
*A Gift Certificate to Starbucks Coffee.
· •A voodoo doll. *A postcard featuring the Clinton fainlly., *A,subiray token "of[ihe dwarf's] affedio *A Jove poem written In Spanish, ·':'l'Hil!tII •Shoelaces. *A dead rose. •A doll of one or the Seven Dwarfs. .,.·•:r.ilM, •A penny taped beads up to the floc;ir foi: uck. *Cigarettes. *Pig decorations on a porcine lovlni �••• er. *Wine and cheese for Sbabbat. •Aday-by-day Golf calendar. ,..,Chopped meat In a heart shape given to a vegc1orl1111. The attached note read: "Eat yo heart out, giant!"
ntlfl'
VVANT. 'FO BRING TO YOU WHAT
VVE
Computer Club Creates R.O.M.-Page by Charlu Levine and Alc:t R.O.M. was completed Knusc during the summer, but due 10 Members of the compuler lechnical difficulties and a club recently published the in delay in administration ap augural issue of R.O.M., or proval, its publication was Read Only Magazine. which pushed off. Mr. Berman said was sent 10 the homes of all he was disappointed by the Ramaz students in an anempt delay but was pleased with the 10 educate both s1uden1s and issue nonetheless. He hopes to parents on current compu1er see a1 least one or two more rcla1ed issues. issues published this year. n,e issue included anicles One quirk of R.0.M. is 1ha1 on new hardware and software. it pays linle heed lo grammati and on 1cchnological advance cal convention. Michael ments in the computer industry. Novich, co-cdilOr of R.O.M, There were also explanations explained thal "grammar nrc of unintelligible computer jar not the most important nspcct" gon.
of a compuler publication, be cause most mainstream com puter publications do not use proper grammar either. The grammar did not affect reader response. however. Most parents and studenlS questioned said that they found the magazine 10 be informative and looked forward 10 the nexl ISSUC.
The idea of a computer oriented magazine originMed w11h Mr. Bcm,an and Michael Pnpilsky. Michncl Novich, co cdi1or w,o, Michael Papilsky, helped implement the idea.
Pages
Students Sing Solo
by Erin L<lb Ramaz s tudents have fonned both male and female a cappclla groups during the past two months. A cappella sing• ing, or singing without accom paniment, is often done in single-sex groups. The male group. the first to be estab lished. was put together by Yo sef Go ldman (V) and Michael Nov,ch (IV). It meets every Monday after school with Mr. Dayanim as its faculty adviser. Average attendance hovers around ten. The group. which remains unnamed, plans to perform both in and out of school. However, as Yoser Goldman explained, their real intention is ··10 experiment" and "just have fun." The group plans to arrange their own scores of various musical styles. The women's group was subsequently created through the joint effort of Sheri Beker (VI) and Karen Bcrcnthal (V). They put together a group of eighteen girls who meet every Thursday without the help of a faculty adviser. The group, "Allegrio;· Italian for joy. is composed of two divisions,
February 1995 I Adar I 5755
The RamPage
one of perfonners and one of non-performers. Titc female group, like the male one, hopes _10 sing "random songs.'' as Karen Berenthal said. It plans to explore everything from I 920's post-war songs to mup pct tunes. Through the internet, both Sheri and Michael involved themselves with CASA, the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America. They arc currently both acting ambas sadors of the New York region and are thus in charge or or g3nizing community events in volving a cappclla singing.
groups The "experime11t" ar,d "iust have fur,." Through their involvement in this organization. they plan to involve the Ramaz groups in performances. While neither of the groups have much cx.pericncc in unac companied singing, most members have strong, trained voices. Tiley arc all quite ex cited about their experimenta tion, but as Sheri said. "It's not as easy as it looks."
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Rabbi Rothchild rouses the crowd.
Rothchild Leads Israel Tour (continued from page I)
The trip started off well. though there were no immedi ate surprises. According to Rabbi Rothchild, a turning point occurred on lhe first Shabbat. The group was taken to the Slonimer Rebbe's tisch in Mea Shearim. There, he said. they were exhilarated by the devotion and ruach dis played by the chasidim, a feel ing intensified by the small size of th e room and the great num• ber or black coats packed into bleachers rising high on every wall. One boy came out saying, "This is Judaism. I've secn it all. lcan go home now." A second key point of the trip was the surprise spe.ech given to the group at Yeshivat Aish HaTorah. Unable to meet with the originally scheduled speaker, a friend of Rabbi
Roth child 's whom he described as tolerant, the group went to Aish HaTorah. There, a brash young man addressed the group in an insulting tone. He suggested that their trip amounted to nothing, as it would give them a warm, fuzzy feeling about Judaism. which they would mistake for a true Jewish identity. One of the groep ·s coun selors fumed at the suggestion. Some of the Fellows were noticeably disturbed, to o. However, despite their dislike or the speaker's insulting tone. many of the kids felt that they gained a better sense of the challenge they would face upon returning home. In addition to being proud of his accomplishment. Rabbi Rothchild said that the trip was very relaxing because he got to take a break from being a rabbi.
cident at the yeshiva. He said the best thing about his "vaca tion" was that his title didn't interfere with his relationships with the kids, whose company he said he enjoyed immensely. He also observed that no matter how many times one goes to Israel, it is always a new ex perience when traveling with those who have never visited before. Rabbi Rothchild added that he did learn something in Is rael. He always wondered who bought all of the eheop, kitschy mementos sold on the Midrachov and found out who. when, on the Inst day ofthe trip, he saw hid charges' luggage bristling with wooden camels and assorted tin trinkets. The Rabbi also beamed at his new found knowledge of teen slang, specifically the word "slammin'." One or the group ·s final ac tivities in Israel was a group discussion. Each person was
about how it related to what he or she had learned in Israel. Though Rabbi Rothchild had expected the activity would last only an hour or two. each per• son talked for ten or fifteen minutes in a very personal way and the group listened aucn tively for over five hours.
The Rabbi gai11ed knowledge of the word "slammi11'." This year was the fourth time the trip has been run, though the first time it has been run during the winter. For the past three yeors, the American Zionist Youth Foundation has taken seven or eight unaf filiated teens to Israel as part or an AZYF tour. Their costs were taken care of by CFIP. which was founded by Mr.Eli and Mrs. Harriet Cooper. a wealthy Jewish couple. Rabbi Rothchild explained that the Coopers were inspired by an
article in which a girl wrote that if she hadn·1 gone to Israel she probably would have remained unaffiliated and intermarried. This past fall, while working to expand the trip. the Coopers came in contact with Rabbi Rothchild's father, who had been working al AZYF. Since he had recently moved to Florida, Mr. Rothchild recom mended that his son run the expanded trip. as he had cxten• sive experience with unaf fi liated Jewis h teens al a summer camp in Australia. Though Rabbi Rothchild did not expect to be ready to have a trip this winter, Mr. Cooper wanted to start the program this year as he was afraid, because or his advanced age, that he might not sec the fruits or his labor. Mr. Cooper now says he is immensely satisfied with the results of this winter's trip an<\ is looking forward to next year.