The Ralll Page\Y Volume XXV Number 1
The Ramaz Upper School
The Bet Midrash Program: Success or Snafu? by Jtrtmy Stern h was hailed as:,, new and great educa1ional opportunity. It would bring Ramu up to par in Talmudic learning with other Yeshiva High Schools. preparing studenu for • year of study in Israel. Above all. it would inspire students. 1hrough use of the traditional chavruta style. to enjoy siudying Talmudic and rabbinic texts. But something in the elaborate plans the school undcnook went wrong. From day one of ots in stitution. 1hc Bet Midrash pro gram has not succeeded in its aims. with nearly every p:ir ticipan1 voicing negative feelings atx>ut ii. The Bet Midra.sh idea was first brought out into the open during the last school )'C3t. After rumors of • schedule change 1ha1 would keep students in school until 5:20 in the afternoon, R3bbi Look.stein scru a lcnc:r 10 the p:u-ents de.sent,.. ing and justifying a r3dic3.I 0'3ns• formarion ofdae school day. Jn I.he letter. \he rabbi made public lhc school's decision to add four extra periods to the schedule. ln 1he junior grade. these periods would be appended to the Honors Tai• mud classes, rcsu1ting in :,, .. Bc1 Midrash" program. Twice in 1he six-day schedule. s1udcnts would engage in independent ctuvrut3 study during three successive p e r i od s of Talmud. Rabbi Looks1ein explained the need for such long durations of class, saying at a RamPagc press con• fcn:ncc held last year that Bc1 Midrash lcaming was only pos-
he Material irl age 5 rap-up age 6
Students Opt for Reform With Election of New G.O.
by Ariane Mandt! No movies. No audience par• 1icipation. No singing. These were tJ1c rules implemented this yc:ir regarding 1hc G.0 clcc1ion assembly Ycl II d1dn"1 Slop the jokes from rolling. Tht curnnt G.O. (from ltO): Jason Goldberg, Btn Lcb,.ohl, The ckcuon assembly took Perry Smilh, Ari Tuchman , and E•le Dabah. place on Thursday. May 28. Bn:11 Zuckerman 100k 1hc opportunity 10 1hank Mr. Kennclh Rochlin. 1hc new D1rcc1or of Student Ac• 11v111cs. and called him "a fncnd 10 all." He also rc3d cxcerp1s from 1hc G.O. cons111u11on concerning elected posi11ons prior 10 every forced to wc.ir lighl clothing in 01her speech. by Ariane Mandel 1he harsh winter. The first candidate 10 speak . . It w3s incrcd1blt." expressed was frcshm3n Charles Fagm, who On Sunday. April 26. 1992. fif. ont ju. m or. "On the March. look teen Ram3Z students and one ran for the posi1ion of treasurer. Ramaz teacher boarded El•AI ing ahead and behind you. all )OU He made the audience laugh by night 30().4. This was no ordinary could sec for miles and miles were saying. "l may be small. bu1 l"m trip. These students were on lhcir the blue March of the L1vingjack tough. Young enough 10 care and way to Wars.1w, Poland 10 pay cts. The Nazis have failed. The old enough to dare." Some or his homage to the six million Jc"' ish March was proof that the nation of pr oposals for bcncnng the G 0. included wnncn mmutcs to stu• souls who perished dunng the Jsr:acl is Mill aJive and flourish• Holocaust These were the 1992 mg." dents as "'ell as parents on SFAC "The here place "'. the �alny of meeungs. and guaranteed com panicipanu m The Marc:h of the lhe Hvlocau•I hit me::� mos1 wu-munication between srudenrs aml Ltving:-Thc two.week tour included Majdanck," related ano1her sru - G.0. officers. Ben L,bwohl. another fr,sh visits to the remains of some of the den,. There lay piles of hair. major concentration camps and shocs, glasses. and clothing. m:in. took a more humorous ap ghenos. Five thousand teenagers While walking through the b:u-- proach 10 his speech. Ben marched the 1hrce kilomcler lrCk racks one coold view names and asserted 1hat muffins could 001 from the labor camps of addresses of the inmates C31Vcd solve all of our problems but 1f . Auschwitz 10 1he death camps of into the beds. Nail marks were elected. he could. The contenders for secretary Biri:.enau, yet this lime they come dug deep into the walls of the gas ofZyklon chambers and remnants wen: Jason Goldberg and Debbie out alive. The Death March, cx ealtcd during the Holocaust. was B stained the ceilings a deep. Lefkowitz. Jason promised to change 1he G.0."s image. and a march of the same distance from gloomy blue. wori. hard with much determina which few remained alive.while (continu,d on pag, 6) tion if clcc1cd. Debbie Lcfl.owitz
March of the Living: "It was Incredible!"
then spoke. citing several tdcas she had concerning lhe S1udent government Among them were a student complaint box and a stu• dent coun to bringJusticc lO unfair punishments 1mplcrnenced by the adm1nis1ra11on. Jonathan Rosenfeld promised 10 iniU3.tc inter..school 3Cllv11ies and improve the nutritional vaJue of 1hc candy machines 1f clcc1cd junior vicc•prtSidcnt Before his speech. he handed ou1 roses 10 many students as a promotional gimmick. He ended with a quo1e from tlie famed Dr. Ruth. saying . . You don'1 have to be cxpcnenccd to be an cxpcn." Evie Dabah countered this closing remark in her speech by saying th:u the G.O. couldn't funcuon w1thou1 someone with previous experience. Havrng served on the G.O. as freshman and sophomore class president. she made clear 1hat she w115 well qualified . lf elected. Evie pmmi�. 0ilbc11 facellously, to m· stall hot chocolalc and 1cc cream truJchincf. The speeches for scn.ior vice president proved 10 be quite inrcr• esting and entertaining. Ari Tuchm3n, former junior clan president. spoke to the school on 3 personal level. withoul a formal written speech. Ari went so far as to dee Ian: 1hc tic rule absurd. argu ing tha1 1f a student can control himself in May without a tic, wtw changes during the winter and (conlinu�d on page 6}
Crime Wave Washes Over Ramaz
(conlinu,d on pag, 4)
Inside This Issue:
June 1992 / Sivan 5752
by Uri Heilman Theft in Ramaz has always been a problem. bu1 for the first time in ycaB. 1he school is taking steps to try 10 curb the crimes within its walls. Most studenu in Ramaz have had something stolen from them at one time or anolher during their high school career. Although the school cducalcs stu• dents to be honest and moral people. the 1cachers arc nol al ways successful in their en deavors. Accordingly. 1he school has chosen to try to prevent the thefts. 'Jbcre were signs put up in the boys' and girls" locker rooms 1hat . say, . Students may not apnicipale in gym without a lock ." This hns always been policy. bu1 uniii l01ely it was not strictly enforced. S1udents an: no loogcr allowed 10 hang their coats in the coot room in the lobby, and the school urges
students not to leave any valuables 1herc or anywhere else. for that matter. Mr. Miller said, ''It's probably only one or 1wo kids who arc doing all the stealing, and it's almost impossible 10 caich them." He also expressed his opinion 1hat robbery in Ramaz is more vandalism than thefl. He was referring 10 the oulbreak of theft from 1hc candy machines earlier 1his ycor. Only aflcr repealed thn:au by the administr.uion to 1akc the machines away if the 1hef1 continued, did the vandals stop at lcmpting 10 rob the ma.chines. Teachers as well as students have complained or stolen books. ahhough moSI of Che time the books wen: la1er found to be jusl misplaced. Open closcu in the classrooms have been raided, as well a.s coot pockets in the coal room. Students who arc not on hot lunch oflcn lake the school's lunch wi1hou1 paying for it. Food hu been 1ak c n from lhc
refrigerator in the coat room, and that. two-way radios were stolen, items from the Lost and Found in addi1ion to 3 fax machine. The 1ha1 have been 1aken wrongfully. administr.1.tion is mystified as to Things have been taken from how the thic vcs were able to steal the SAC, and Mr. Rochlin of1en a fax machine unnoticed, but 1hinks tha1 the privilege of stu "where there's a will there's a dents .. h:inging out'" lherc is way," staled Mr. Miller. He said abused. Many times s1udents 1h01 in all probability the thieves have come to him with complaints of 1hc cquipmcn1 wen: part of the abou1 thcfl, ond he n:fcrs them 10 janitorial staff that was dismissed Dr. Shudofsky. Ahhough no a few mon1hs ago. They mighl money has been 1aken from the have taken the machinery out of SAC. people h3'e gone in10 the spi1c for the school, and might no1 desks there and l3ken 1hings have known that it was insured. without returning them. Seth Gribctz advises s1udcnts When asked if hc had any ideas to simply not leave their belong on how to curb theft in R:unaz Mr. ings unwatched. One student Miller said. "You can'1 have an agreed wilh him. but added. "the assembly 10 yell at people for fact is we shouldn't have a prob s1ealing. lt"s only a small group of lem like this in our school. You people doing it.· would lhin.k that in a Jewish S1Udents h3.vc not been the school people would be more only ones suspcc1cd of robbing the though1ful. but the oucsidc world school. A liulc while ago some Slill gets in10 our school. h really equipment was stolen from the is a shame." video room after school, including several video cameras. Before
June i992 / Sivan 5752
The RamPage
Editorials Where's the Beef in G.O. Politics? Bag•ls. donuts. ski trips. chagiggot, candy machines .••.•Tu·o wttks ago the student� were gi\·en the opportunity to evaluate the G.O.'s accomplishm<nls. Ullimat,ly the results or the election ind I• cato that Ramaz studonts connot be dazzled by sprlnkltd donuts anymore. However, what changes can possibly be expected lo arrive hand in hand with the new G.O:! The winning candidates Sttmed to havo bttn picked for their humor and not for the loyalty that thoyhn• shown to the studont go,·ernment in the past. Humor apptartd to be mislaken for competence, while the loyalty was .-.gardtd by the students as self-sening and sycophantic. Loyally to th• G.O. moant loyally to the administration, and this theory took many votes away rrom former G.O. members. Most students ad• milled that, at this point, they won, •"· art that the G.O. is poworl,ss and the election was a far«. It is no longer a way for lhe students to projttt their voice� it is not even a popularity contest. It is a comedy routine and the administration is laughing at us. The administration kttps th• G.O. busy with parties, food, and trips and tends to the important issues by it.stir. The administration is throw. ing the students a bone or, in this case. a donut. Last year donuts won, awarded in uchange for longer day. Will tho now G.O. provide more substantial comestibles to gin us the energy to com• plot• tho day mon, producth·oly? Bon Apolito!
And Thou Shalt Fear the Lord... Public embarras.sment is nol the proper way to disdpline stu• dents who do not adhere to the accepted standard of behavior during davening. \Vhile outrage is ajustifuable and proper emotion• al response to th• lack of n,spoct by some students for the prayors of others, acting on these emotions will not cure the problem. U students are belligerent toward Lhe enforced religious requirements of the school, then a punishment that is worse than the crime will only increase their antipathy. If Ramaz truly wants a minyan that will consist sololy of people who roally want to be thert, thtn th• administration should make attendance of davening optional and rely on the Judaic studies curriculum to instill the students with the Yir'at Hashem that will make them want to be there.
EDITORS-IN•CHIEF Rena A. Davis • Uri Heilman • Jeremy Siem
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Leora Klein
EDITORIAL EDITORS Sabrina Marl:. • JtsSica Puuerman
FEATURES EDITORS Renee FISMWI • Ariane Mandel
MANAGING EDITOR SarahZiucr
SPORTS EDITOR Rena Sichel
OPED EDITOR David Ishofsky
FACULTY ADVISER Mr. Alben Goetz
Letters to the Editor A Kinder. Gentler Davening To 1he Eduor.;, I am gra1eful 10 Jeremy Srem for pointing out lhe debate amongst students concerning Tcf filn nt Ramaz. I agree with his st:uemcn[ saying lhal lhe atmos phere during davening is harsh. and lhcrcforc no1 conducive to the bringing of a student closer to prayer. The school is in a difficult posi1ion because ii wishes to SCI an example of hnlachic practice for students. while a1 the same lime maintaining order. It 1s my belief 1ha1 when students are young it is impor1ant 10 leach them how 10 davcn. and important 10 give them daily affirmation in the hope that davcning becomes a habi1. How ever. as a letter in the past issue noted, students in the Ramaz Upper School are inrelligenl and sophisticated thinkers. If then, as young aduhs who have been brought up 10 davcn have now reached a poinl where. for whatever reason. 1hey do not wish lo davcn on a daily basis, or do not wish to daven at all. the school will only discourage davcning by forcing it, and cause more dissaus fact1on and rebellion. I recomcnd 1ha1 a discussion take place between the students and the administration in an at� tempi 10 work out 1hc following points: the pros and cons of the current s1ructure of davcning, ways 10 make prayer more mean ingful to those who do nol deem it as such. and the possibility of stu• dents spending davening time in discussion: workmg on a tzcdakah project, or doing somedung which brings them closer to davening. rather than alienating them by coercion. Teenagers do not respond well lo being forced 10 do things thal feel wrong to them. People in general respond best when they have some power and input into imponant decisions that affect their lives. Name Withheld
Have a Great Summer!
Student Spoaks Out Against Spraker To the Ed11ors. A shon 1ime ago. under the guise of a crusade by Ramaz's Ad ministration 10 probe the problem of morali1y•-or lack 1hereof• wi1hin the Ramaz student mass, 1ha1 mass was accorded the dubious privilege of playing audience to Mr. Dennis Prager, self-appointed practitioner of morals and modem-day Moses. The effort was. indeed, a wcll mcaning. even necessary one. However. it soon became apparent that 1hc diatribe inscnbcd within Mr. Pragcr·s slone tablets was a linlc more 1han subtle (and, some times. not-so-subtle) tapestry of sdf-promotion, hypocrisy, and ethical pin•thc-tail-on•thc• donkey. While advocating a standardized code of tolerance and love for fellow humans and for God. Dennis 1he Menace him self apparently docs nol deem him.self above taking numerous cheap shots at environmentalists. animal•rights-ac1iv1sts, blacks, homosexuals and others who do not mecl his lofty ideal of en lightenment. It is an enligh1en mcnt that threatens 10 plunge us all into the dark. Panicularly offensive was Mr. Prager·s treatment of intellcc1uals, whom he brands "1he J'OO( of all political evils." No. Mr. Prager, lhe initiators of poll1ical leaders arc not and have not been the intellectuals. Rather, they
have been the demagogues and the blind, blinding orators whose virulent preachings and teachings are given al the expense of under dogs and scapcgoalS. h is rhe brainwashcrs-whcthcr from 1hc Holocaust or from Hollywood who are 1he true enemies of values and ethics. But Mr. Prager was wise not to confront che issue of brainwashers; he confronts one every time he looks in a nmror. All this constituted a most un• settling revelation for at least one speclalor 1ha1 day. And I believe that I have a righ1..to know if 1his is. indeed. what R31l1az thinks of morals and values. Would our school like 10 sec the Principles of Prager instilled in its students? How arc we to justify Mr. Prager and his visit? The answer is a simple one-we cannoL The principles of in tolerance, pride and prejudice preached by Mr. Prager cannot be rationalized. especially nol by the religio-cthical ethos that he ant! Ramaz claim to embrace. I. per sonally, extend to anyone within this school to prove to me how Pragerism is compatible with the Judaic moral code. Until then. 1f this is indeed the true definition of morality, 1"11 take immorality any day. Unfonunately. 11 seems that Mr. Prager has beaten me to 1L H,lan Warshaw. Form Ill
School Fail.s to Inspire ReUgi0n in Students To lhe Editor... The approach most commonly taken at Ramaz to instill in us religious beliefs has been to create a sense of respect for the laws of Judaism. If we deviate from or rebel against these laws, we should feel afraid that we arc going 10 be punished. Therefore. in order to maintain a sense of relationship with God, Ramaz has tried to build in us a need to stick to rules and 10 respect authority. Freud dismisses religion as an in fantile stale of replacing a parental influence with God. God replaces the parent who instructs and gives a code of law to develop lhe child. A simple discourse of request and compliance is set up. Religion
docs not have 10 be as shallow as Freud makes it out to be. It is possible to transcend this infanhlc relationship with JudaJsm. We, as adolescents. arc grow• ing up and breaking free from in fancy. We constantly s1rive to improve ourselves as individuals, competent to ac1 freely without the literal moral constraints of our parents. We wan1 to be confidcnl in our own moral maturity and to be able 10 develop it further with the knowledge that we have col• lectcd for the pasl 18 years of our lives. For these reasons, we arc prone to rebel against authority or at least find conflict with infantile (continutd on pogt 5 )
Ramshackles by Scott Miller
The RamPage
June 1992 / Sivan 5752
Page3
Freshmen Embark·bn Seminar by Ben Lc,bwohl "Herc we 3rc at Seminar. Semi nar '92." This refrain was repeated many times in unison by over 200 freshmen from the yeshivas of Fla1bush and Ramaz from April 2 10 April 5. The loca
lion was the Tamimcnt Hotel in Pennsylvania. The event was Freshmen Seminar. On Seminar.
1he freshmen of Ramaz and Flat bush had a chance 10 have fun with friends, meet some new people, play ball, and have a fulfilling religious experience.
Basketball was no1 the only ac tivily tha1 whipped 1he freshmen into shape. Following almost every meal massive dancing transpired in a small subsection of
the dining room called "the Pit." The girls danced sophisticated, choreographed arrangcmcn1s tailored to each individual song, while the boys prcfcrTCd the more elementary "�t·s Run Around in a Circle Haphazardly" dance. The dancing was highly energetic at all times, and the dancers hardly
showed any signs of fatigue, even in a post•brcakfast hora.. Several
limes during the seminar. the freshmen had the pleasure of watching the robotic yet str.tngely graceful dancing of Rabbi Bicncn fcld. Every day at Seminar had its share or sessions. The sessions consisted or lessons written by the head seminar advisers, including Ramaz's Jon Novich and Vcrcd Dror. Led by faculty from Ramaz and Aatbu.sb., the lessons were given on morality, God's presence, prayer, and other topics. One panicular session, on a Thursday night, immediately grabbed the ottcntion of the fresh-
men by showing a five minute video dcpictmg popuh1r culture. The video nashcd glimpses of Michael Jordan. HnMibal "Can nibal" Lcctor. Wayne and Garth, and Queen's "Bohemian Rhap sody." When the video was over, the rrcshmen separated into groups and discussed the euphoria relt by everyone moments earlier. The session dealt with the concept of real happiness. For example. olthough Michael Jordan makes million of dollars, is worshipped by millions, :ind is probably more popular than the Pope, ho's not truly happy. (At press-time. no freshmen could recall exoclly why this is so.) The values of the ses sions. however, will never be for. gotten. The freshmen all enjoyed the different ports of Seminar. Marc Creizman said, "The best aspect of seminar WB.S meeting new and ex citing people whom I will never f o rget." Of course, More neglected to mention that on Scminor he fell into a lake. thereby meeting new and exciting fish. One senior adviser's favorite pan of Seminar was when he got back a1 his annoying Seminarians by calling them all night on the phone. When the tired freshmen took the phone off the hook and went 10 sleep, the adviser snuck into the room, hung up 1hc phone, and continued to call them. The adviser felt that the best part of 1his whole story was that the next day was the bcginnmg or Daylight Savmgs lime. so those poor fresh men tud only 1wenfy minutes of steep. The magic of Seminar was that everyone came out of it with memories. whether it was an en counter with aquatic creatures. or just dancing until someone gets injured.
Begin Memorial Sparks Controversy by Dani Bencl A dispute has broken out over the memorial service held for Menachcm Begin at Ramaz on Tuesday Apnl 7. thirty days after his deouh. Many s1udents and some faculty ques1ioned the school's decision to eulogize such a controversial man. "I believe that Begin's his1ory 35 a man connected with the lrgun, an organization that used terrorist tacucs lO combat the British. and that is something that caMot be overlooked. I do not want lO con done terrorism." said one student Yet. Rabb, l.ooks1ein ·s speech during the assembly painred Begin's activities with the Jrgun in a different light. He felt that Begin was a true freedom fighter who resisted the British so that "no longer would a Jew suffer from subjugation and oppression without response. The British would be foughl and woold be driven from the land." "Inde pendence was not negotiable," declared Rabbi l.ookstcin. He continued by questioning whc1hcr tho stotc of Israel would have been es1ablished withoot the "heroism" of Menachcm Begin. Key military acrions were taken by Begin along with the lrgun, such as the bombing of the King David llotcl and the Akko jail break. "If (Begin's) actions helped es tablish 1he stale of Israel, then the
ends jus1ify the means." stated one sophomore. In accordance with this, some felt that the Palestinians who arc now fighting the Israelis could easily use the same argument, and in that way their sttuggJe would be justified. Furthermore. Begin coupled his mrntant activities with his own religiosity. During his political career, he made the caring of kosher food manda1ory on all Is raeli missions all over the world. as well as mandating tha1 all those in the missions obey the laws of ShabbaL Yet many students fell that religiosity is not a necessary at tribute in selecting who should be memorialized. "The contribu tions lhat a person makes 10 Israel. Judaism, and humanity are more important Lhan his or her given religious orientation," fell one freshman. Nonetheless, some sludents preferred to remain detached from lhc controversy. One remarked that "we shouldn'I eulogize anyone because it's a controver• sial statcmcn1. Why should we have 10 take the stance in the Jewish community concerning who is nnd who is not worthy?" Most agree that Mcnochim Begin should have been memorialized and that he walked on the correct side of lhe line lhat scp.1ra1� terrorist from freedom fighter.
Ramchops Ramchops were a regular fea ture of The RamPagc a number of years ago. The "chops" arc bits of news contributed by RamPagc staff members for which, unfor tunately, enough space did not exist.
Kudos to tht AUK team, on
�;_
Outgoing freshmen hanging around Ramu.
G. 0. Elections:
Rampage Sponsors First Ever Presidential Debate by Ariel Adcsnik On May 20, the day before G.0. elections were set to take place. The RamPagc sponsored the first G.O. presidential debate held at Ramaz. The debate be tween lhc then-Junior Vice Presi dent Seth Gribetz and the present Presidenl Perry Smith, was moderated by the cdttors-in-chicf of the RamPage. The debate not only brought to light some of the ideas and opinions of 1he can d1da1cs, but al50 the issue of what a G.O. presidential or other cam• paign docs or should consist The debate began with the pre• dictable question of "why do you feel yoo arc qualified to be presi dent?" The replies given were as predictoblc as 1he question. based on the slant of each candidate's campaign: Gribctz. as an incum bent. stressed 1hc need for CX· periencc in the workings of government, while Smilh. as what could be called an "outsider," cm• phasized the need for a new perspective on the G.O. Both basically agreed that their main purpose as president would be to achieve greater student advocacy lhan is available now. Queries concerning a number of other generic issues were also included, namely. what exactly the role of the G.O. is, and to what degree the canWdates were satisfied with the current condition or Ramaz. Smith and Gribetz both responded that the G.O. is the students'voicc and a tool used in the improve• mcnt of the academic side of the students' lives and that the school 1s excellent but never perfect. Once the fonnaJities were con cluded, lhe candidates were able to demonstrate differences in their attitudes and opinions concerning a variety of issues. The question of how 10 respond to an ogenda of the 3dminis1ra1ion which would be anathem• 10 the majority of the studen1 body (the present quan dary being the doubling-up of finals) proved definitive of the candidate ·s respective attiludes and perspectives. Gribetz's idea wo.s to involve the p3rcnt body while Smith favored 1he more direct proposal of having the G.O. review the problem ond then talk to lhe administration. The other
their stellar pcrformancco In the Spring tournamenL The two tea�-one Frosh and one Var sity�ompcted in the Absolutely Useless Knowledge contest, placing in th• top ten In several categories. Those i.nvolvtd in tht produc tion or Little Shop of Horrors deserve hearty congntulations on thtlr performance. The musical exhibited the wide range or talent in the studtnt body. Star> Ari Gold, Danielle Upbin, Noah Simblist, Noah Leibowitz, and Jon Novich all shined under the direction of Mr. Kenneth Rochlin. Or course, it could never have taken place without backup from stage crew, choreog• rapher Sharona Rubenstein, and musical consultant and Ramaz p-nt Mr. Weiss.
issue discussed in detail was the main high school minyan and the constant controversy over the con duct of bo1h its leaders and mem bers. Smith took a lcft-of-<:cntcr posi1ion in suggesting that a change in lcodership could solve Until Spring '92, no stud,nl in some of the more urgent problems Ramaz realized what physics encountered during davening, teac h e r Mr. Blceh already while Gnbc12 took an apparently knew: a combination of wind neutral pos111on that davening is speed and initial velocity can cyond the Jurisdiction of che G.O. send a small coin with enough From wh:u was seen. heard. and force lo break a window. It understood a1 chc debacc, it Sttms that some Ramaz student, seemed that the clcct1ons had una:"'·are or the �ible conse boiled down IO lhe cJassu;: COO· qaeac u , , burltd tlle sra-.-en fron1a1ion between 1he Young image of our 16th President Tunes and the Old Guard. from the terrace on the third While 11 was first a forum on noor. The projtdilc damaged the issues. the debate also spurred some neighboring property, discussion about the nature of the resulting in restriction or aettSS G.O. campoigns at Ramaz. The to the popular outdoor lounge. candidates can usually hide be hind crowd-pleasing rhetoric and It did not talu much ctnbra modem 1echnology at lhe regular tion to come to the conclusion G.O. assembly and rely on 1hosc that this year's Celebration of tactics to help get him or her the Arts was a sutttssful event elected. but the advent of an issue. Students presented a large oriented deb.ite would elimi nate spectrum of "pieces, ranging that possibility. The purpose of from "The Bell." an harmonic forcing candidates to take stances Interpretation ol the ubiquitous on curren1 and general issues school bell, to "Feta Cheese," a would be to help students vote ob s·tory about Seussesque Blue jectively instead or just picking Bellied Blow Pops. Masten--or their friends or the mos1 entenain Ceremony Zcv Eigcn and Amy ing candidate. KeUner deserve credit for imbu The delxue, though. was not a ing the whole program with cure-all. as it only reached lhe their lightheancd aod ttnsion twenty-odd people who attended brcaking spunk. it. To remedy this, proposals to expand the debate too full-ncdged Tht annual Shak�1ptart assembly during school hours, competition took place svual and to include candid:ucs for the weeks ago. The rivalry wa.s 01her offices were discussed fien:c, and the judges had sveb among the RamPage staff. a hard time picking the winner These plans were not without that a tie was called betwt,,n detractors. however. Some stu Michael Nachmaoi and Danielle dents believed that raising the Upbin. In rttognition of their level of the campaign would be a performance, they each fruitless exercise since the offices rectind a complete tditlon of at stake have very limited powers Shakcspc-'s works. and that the officers, despite any differences between lhem. cannot Ram� con/ronttd racism change anything. "I voted for the both In lhe school and out person who gave the funniest whe.n an a...embly was held oa speech because the president can't June 10, 1992. The program do much anyway. Believe me. I departed from tradition, as It know." It seems that the only way was run primarUy by stu to disprove that theory is for the dents. The assembly continued G.O. officers themselves to raise In the classroom, In which the studeni.s· consciousness and teacher> lead dlscu.ssJons about for them to fulfill their numerous the plagut or racbm. campaign promises.
Page 4
June 1992 / Sivan 5752
The RamPuge
Bet Midrash Fails the Course (contlnuedfrompage 1)
Sophomore, Briam Major and.Jason Mayer using Wordptrftct, one of the many innovations In the library.
Age of Technology Reaches Library by David lshofsky The Rnmaz library has ac quired. over the past year. three new computers whose benefits range from word processing to ac• ccss to a public electronic bulletin board. The Ramaz library says that it i.s trying to keep up with modem technology in order to give the studenlS easier access to more information and fos1cr answers 10 more questions. One of the 1wo computers on the front desk has a modem which allows Ramaz to hook up to Classm:ue. Lc:uning Link, and the Metropolitan lntcr•Llbr.uy Loan Coopcr.itivc SyStem. (M.LLC.S). Classmate, for which the school pays 15 doU:lf'S for every hour of use. lets student search dalabucs and n:-tric-vc enlJrc 1c.,1s ofsevc.ra/ newspapers. magazines and jour• nals. Lcan11ng Link. a pan of WNET. shows 3 schedule of Channel Thinecn 's programming to help the libnry tape programs of i n t e r e s t to students and tC:J.chers. WNET also has a bul letlll board, whose access codes Ramaz possesses. Through M.1.C.LC.S. , group of school libraries give each other lists of their inventoncs and access to aJI of their b ooks. Because the Ramaz library has no more shelf
space, this program is especially useful. The other computer on the front desk is connected to a Com pact Disk Read Only Memory. (CD ROM). for wh,ch Rwn:u: has three compact disks. It has an eleclIOnic version of Academic American Encyclopedias, SJ.R.S.. ond Rcsoorcc One: Pro qucs1. Compact disks m3ke it cheaper omd easier to store, occes.s, and update information. The compact disk of Electronic En cyclopedia hllS an entire set of Academic American on it The S.J.R.S. compact disk condenses all of the books in the set thal the library already owns in print, oJong with the rest of the sel. This program provides infonnation on science and social issues and is up,Jatcd c,,cry few nion1hs. 1l1r third program. Resource One: Proquesr. is an rndex to peri odicals that prints out titles. :J.uthoN, and abstracts of aniclcs, and 1s updated every two months. Students can use the library's new microfiche machine 10 withdraw some of the articles ol> tained from Proqucst, but the ilr· ticIes that Ramaz does not have on film will have to be looked up in the actual periodical. Proquest
sible in the context of three con tiguous Talmud periods. Nevertheless. doubts Y.erc ar ticulated. Many students and parents were suspicious of the plan. feeling that it was Ramaz 's attempt to kctp itself in line with the rightward trend in Onhodoxy. Other,; objected on the grounds that the school was adding more classes when students were al ready burdened with enough work. On the whole, however, most were willing to sec how the program would function. What, then, went wrong with the Bet Midrash program1 For the most pan, the failure can be seen in lhe discontent voiced by lhe members of lhe two classes that took part in the plan. "It is a waste of umc," noted one student, "I don't feel like I'm learning anything." "The ad• ministration 1s fooling itself if ii thinks thar we like what's gotng on," added the: same student Not surprisingly, lhe rale of attrition from the. program was unusually high for a class, with many stu dents seeking either to transfer be tween the two sections or to leave the program altogether, BOlh op11ons were made ra1hcrd1fficult by the Administration. Students objected to the Bet Midrash program for various reasons. First. the Talmud depan mcnt introduced re:gular bekiut quizzes on material ostensibly nol laugh! in class. (lronically. the bekiul quizzes ended up nol ac complishing their purpose, as 1he teachers resoncd 10 leaching the material in class.) For most stu dents, the problem wa.s not in dtf• ficully; the ex:umna11ons were on neither complex gem:not nor :m cilla.ry commcnlaries. Students did complain.however, aboul the sheer stress of having to be con cerned about more quizzes in an already wing junior year. A second is.sue was the col lapse of the actual chavruta period. Every "B" day, par ticipants in Bet Midrash were in•
(continued on page 6)
Juniors Retreat into Depression by Uri Heilman When approximately a hundred juniors boarded the buses on the way to Junior Retreat on February 28. the atmosphere was one of happiness and excitement in anticipation of the weekend ahead. When those same juniors boarded the buses ro return from Tamiment, Pennsylvanu1, there was an aur.1 of sadness, of depres• s1on. Michael Nachmani, Alyssa Bcnovitz, and Maya Kaplan planned, organized, and con dueled 1he rc1rca1. Allhough many juniors fell they did o "grea1 job," but nonetheless the grade was dcpres.sed during the re1rca1. The goal of rhe weekend was 10 "fonn a cohe:,1\'C unit of the class. so before grnduauon everyone gor a chance to uneract w11h cach other," said Michael Nachmani. ·nien why, the question was asked, was everyone depressed? Michael (ch th111 it was mostly the girls. Tnc boys were 1n1erJctmg.
for the most pan due to a video hockey game in which they aJI took pan.. Another said that the reason why the boys were less depressed is because they arc sup posed 10 be "macho." bul they also had fights. Taphat Tawil .said lhal the things people learned abou1 their friends were things they did nol want to know, and because of 1hn1 many friendships were ruined. The grade also discovered tJ1a1 wlulc 1heir were many good friends within 1he class, !hey 1cnded to stay in their own groupc., or "cliques," as some liked 10 call them. TI11s fact was most evident when a person chose whom 10 sit with a1 meals, or whom to play tennis wi1h, or whom 10 calk with "Our grade is a die.gusting grade, and that ·s all there is to it!" declared one junior who did not w11n1 her name mentioned Maya Kaplan fell that the reason why so many were depressed wa.s due 101he pressures of social in1erJct1on as well as
academic meri1s. "The school works us too hard; 1here·s too much pressure." According to !he three leaders. their goo.I was only panially ac complished, and 1ha1 is why they decided to organh.c a follow-up. The follow-up never actually 1r.1nspired, and 1he three were un cert:un about what exactly 10 do for :i follow-up, TI1e is.sue was never pursued. The leaders tried 10 aclnevc their goal of "cohesiveness" 1hrough group ac11v111c:s. $uch as spons nc1iv11ics, nnd session) on friendship. Michael Nachma,11 complained tlmt "1he �chool only consented 10 give the juniors one dny off, so we had 10 make 11 on a Shabba1 " While some feel that 1he "s pirit of Shabbat" made Retreat more enjoyable, others feel lhat II wos o detr.ictor. Class president Ari Tuchmnn declared, "Re1reat solved oll of my socml problems." He was the only one.
troduced to a sugya, or topic. and instructed to spend fony minutes lo try to understand the subject. (Through the course of the year, only one session of the two "triple Talmuds" was consistenlly used for Bet M1drash; originally, there were supposed to be 1wo such classes), As noted above, it was claimed that three periods were needed for independent study since the administration felt tha1 two periods would not be ade quate for this type of learning. For most of the year. however. the third of the periods was not oscd. "It was convenient having a guaranteed free," remarked GO President Peny Smith. "Bui what was lhe point of lengthening the day for this?" There was also ram pant culling of the Bet Midrash periods. Many of lhe students who did remain revened to con versation and thus did no! cover the texts during the time alloued. One junior said 1ha1 the class "of fers a great opportunity to catch up on sleep." Funhcrmore. while frequent guest speakers were promised. only one outside rabbi was ever brought in for the Bet Midr.tsh period. The third issue --brought up mostly by !hose not in the program itself--was 1he system of grading adopted by one of the Bel Mtdrash classes and considered. bu1 ul1ima1cly rejected, by the other. In Rabbi Bienenreld's se:c11on, or "Honors Talmud B," the situauon deteriorated to such an exteni that the rabbi felt dras11c measures had to be taken. "S1uden1s were selected for the Bel Midra.sh pro gram to kam Torah L1shmah: Rabbi 81encnfcld said. The sys lem provided JUSl that oppor lunity. Bcgmnnmg JUSI before Pcsach, the system g::ive every student an automatic "A" avemge. All quizzes would be moot. so long as a cenain average was maintained. Students would be supplied with the questions and answers for the final examination. What would detract from one's
average would be lateness, talking out of tum, and absences not pre viously approved. The clan voted nearly unanimously for what was termed "the system." Students in the other Ta1mud clas ses objected. They thought it un f a i r 1 h a t a student in a class-especially an honors one could breeze through a semester with minimal work and effon. In addition. srudents outside of that class criticized lhe great number of fl:cc periods given to those in "the system." In print. students also had the c h a n c e to cri1icize t h e B e t Midrash program. A n aniclc ap pearing in the Hebrew language paper "Toses" criticized the pro gram, calling for changes in the system. In what was apparently a response 10 the Toses anicle, an Ed11orial published in 1he weekly "The Flame" decried what it termed "Bel Midrash bashing." The piece csscntiall y stated that 1here were those who actuaJly thought favorably about the pro gram. Reactions to the a.nicle belied its thesis. If, however, Bet Midrash has been t h e t a r g e t of studenl criticism. why do its pa.nicipants not vote with their feet and leave the program? TI1e majority of the students arc in the program-and plan 10 stay so for next year-for other considerations. Chiefly, 1hey arc aware that be.mg in non Bet Midrash Talmud would force 1hem 10 rake two more Judaic clas ses. meaning more homework and tesrs. And 1he reason fo,. most srudcnrs' staying in the program for senior ye:.ir is another schedule quirk: seniors must take two religious studies courses. Bet M1drash, smce it counts as 1wo courses, appeared more auractive as ii would r e s u l t in less homework and fewer finals and test. Thus. thllt the Bel Midrash is. in terms of numbers. s1rong is no indication of its success. "If I had 1hc opponunity no1 10 take (Bet
For the Sake of Leaming by David No,·lch With all of the homework. tests. team practices, and club rncc1ings, some Rruna.z students are still scumg aside extra Lime for Torah study. Two optional shiurim, M1shmar and Lunch and Learn, were designed 10 con venience students and 1c.ichcrs who do no1 nom1ally have 1ime 10 learn and lO elevate the level of rclig1osi1y at Rarnaz.. "Lunch and Learn." which firs1 began in September, is n progrJm 11ta1 combines teaming tJ1c: weekly Torah ponion with <!almg a 1rad111011al "Friday" lunch. The club has abou1 1wen1y membc� and has featured guest speakers, such as Rabbi Baksi. Rabbi Adler. Rabbi Rubin, and sophomore Shalom Hollz. In 1he future, secular studies teachers may lead the meellngs. Shalom Holtz. head of the Lunch and Learn progrnm, feels that the program has two pur-
poses. One is to te:1ch students how to teach Torah and the other is to make lunch into a more con structive use of time. Shalom hopes that students will expand on this idea of independent Torah study outside of s chool. Another shiur in Ramaz, Mish maT, meets every Thursd11y after school nnd discusses Jewish topics 1h11l arc relevant 10 today's society. lssue:s that have been dis cussed include women in 1hc rab binate, business ethics, and prohibitions agams1 charging in le:rcst Wld wa1cl11ng women sing. Taught by R:1bbi Adler, tJ1e club consists of about ten members. One of these members com mented that "Ramaz doesn't really provide a lot of ume to learn Torah." The foct that studen1s are lcaming Torah on their own initia tive, not for quizzes or 1csts but Lishm111h, shows the participants' strong commitment to learning Torah.
June 1992 / Sivan 5752
Letters
The RamPage
Page S
(t·m11i1111rdfmn, {>O!(t' 2)
cons1r:ain1s as 11 means or cduc::11ion. Because of lhis conOict we will take one of lhrrc p.,lhs. One is to develop 1hc 1dcology im• posed on us into 11 personaI bc:hcf. 'The second 1s to rcbrl 3gainsl any• 1h1ng COMCC1cd wilh the rules for rebellion's sake alone. This c:an lead 10 a rejection of Juda.ism and God, not only at Ramaz but allogc thcr. The lhird and most p111folly unfonunatc course is to adhere to the laws of Judaism just for the sake of 1hcir being rules and benusc of 3 fear of being . punished for re belling against them.
R:una.z. seems d«idcd to take a ncccs.ury risk i n decidmi 10 t�ch studcnls 1ha1 one should obey J ewish law out of fear. This is 1hc most commonly l.lkcn course of .1c11on. Like others v.ho use this method. R:imu simply d1snusscs rebellion l1S 1hc 1mma1unty of lhc s1udcnts. Is 11 1h:11 s.1mc 1m molluri1y th.11 has ruclcd 1hc :agnos ric movement m Judil1sm or 1hc pas, 200 year, which hos n:belled :ag:ainst lilt- he3vy-hnnded cduca1ional methods of our ccachcrs7 For those or us lcrt in the Stllt?,C of genuine curlosuy--we ask qucs uons .1bou1 1hc b1uic ideals of Judaism an order 10 ulm our
Opinion:
Teachers Too Should Make the Grade by Jeremy Slern The 1opic of evalua11ons of teachers by students. first brought up in a SFAC mc-e1ing. has proven itself a conuovcrs1al issue. ln(re are lwo quest1. on.s: ts there :i need and might I.here be h3J"m done to those involved? The need of student cvalu:1t ions of leachcrs u castly dcmonsu·.ued. For an organil.l tion to funcuon effectively. there must be a sys1em of assessment. In a corporauon, for cumplc, employees arc Judged often 10 in su re competence. While teachers C31\ rcpon on how thc11 sludcnts arc failing. the converse 1s not presently .1v11l.1ble. Students sel dom have the opportwury to dis cuss lhc progress of lhe class with 1heir tcach<rs. More lh.,, lhc ad mini.nr.anon. studenu are ca1>3ble of pn>Yidlng valuable crilicisms of thctr counc.s and instructors based on 1hdr d.11ly classes. Further more. different perspectives of the course will cnc�gc consauc uvc change on the pan of the teachers. Just as an evaluation or a student engendc.rs better pcrfor-
m:mcc in 1hc classroom. construe live cnuc1sm leads IO improvc mc nt in IC'1Ch1ng. As 10 the possible problC'ms 1h111 might occur a.s a result or the evalua tions. 1hcre is a sound proposal thlll can 11111.fy 1111 �•des: anonymous. lc.achcr-rc:wl evalua tions. wnh students' p351 grades inchcatcd. Tlus son o( cv3luation would protccl 1hc student and teacher alike from any possible repercussions and pu1 the com ments in proper pcrspcc11vc, Ir a 1e:i.chcr rtec1vcs an cvaluo.tion that is overly cnt1cal, the md1ca1cd grades would reveal 1f the wri1cr had a vcndcna tha1 could insptre such a rcpon. In add1bon. as these reports would noc n:ach the ad m1mstrat1on. tcachcB would have no rear of scnous consequences. Student c v a lu111ons of teachers. done in lhe manner dcxribed above.arc aprogra,sivc measure that can only aid the in structor in teaching the course. The complete anonymity will foster fnnkness meonce1vablc otherwise. The adminstration should strongly consider mitiating this cvah.wory system for this and every other school yeu.
Opinion·
Rodney King: Beyond the Video
aflcr the nots bcean. That part of lhe tape ponnyed King as an in toxicated man violently attacking I believe lhll the acquittal of lhc polio:mcn accused of beating pohcc officers. Rodney King had just been dnving drunk m excess Rodney King is justified The of fars w� pronounced iMocc.n1 of 110 miles per hour in a n:siden of all bu1 one count on April 29, ual area of l.os Angeles. As lhc 1992. The vcrdic1 was received as police ancmpted to arrest him. he a call to anns for the African reacted violently and they at A m e ri can c o m m unuy of tempted 10 subdue him. The downlown l.os Angeles. Looting, police were making an am::st; this burning and bcaung continued for was noc a n.ndom beating. In court, every single blow that days. Screams of p-cJudice were heard all lhe way from lhc Bay hit Rodney Kins was justified by Area of l.os Angeles to lhc Bronx. a policeapcn. Theobjcdion that Ye� lhc lrUe pn,jud1cc falls on lhe the jury was biased is fallacious pan of the American people. not due lO the fact that on one counl, lhc jury was hung. Furthermore, on the King jurors. Well before the verdict in this the: decision was made not to put Rodney King on the v.itncss stand. uial was handed down, the 1.os Angeles police department was This decision, �ing to one juror, put tremendous doubt in the dcciaml guilly by lhc media. and minds of lhe jury as lo lhe in not by due pnx:ess of law. Over nocence of Kmg. They believed and over again America watched that Kina was noc put on lhc wit as che networks played the ness stand 10 defend himself for videotape of Rodney King being fear 1h11 he would say somelhing bca�n by lhc police. Those 8I deuunental to his cue. Another seconds orfootage were enough to detennining factor was lhat the cause the entire nalion to dis Olhcr occuponlS of King's car sub n:gard Lhc: pn:cept of "iMoc:cnl mitted Lhc:msclves peacefully 1 0 until pn:,ven guUI)'." Mosl people l hc police and n o1 bc11cn. did no1 ruliu:, !hough,!hot lhu bi1 lberc were over three monlh.t ol of footlge did no1 n:lau: lhc entire evidence prcscn�d 10 the jury and 1tory. Then:: was a segment cL judging innoccna: or guill based videotape lhol Lhc: public never on a segment of a videotape is saw until CNN aired it a few days crroncouJ. by Dani llfflcl
wen:
rebellious lcndencics. Mos1 limes we a.re left with grr.11 Talmudic quOlh, lns1cad of a simple ans"Acr of morality that we can 1dcn11fy with as ind1v1dual.s. we a� �hown thal the only way 1ha1 v.c should follow J udaism is 10 go . along wirh wh31 "1hc book says.. "Why" never comes into the qucs uon. So, as the administration d1s m1sscs our lac k of respect or rcbcl1 ion as "imnu11urity," maybe it should consider th3t it was 1hcy who imposed on us our 1mm.11ure ou1look on Judaism ;ind religion. Noah S1mbh,i, form VI
Madonna! cuhcr you love her or you hale her.
Madonna: What Does She Stand For? the s1crco1ypcs 1ha1 sexist men a11ach 10 women. She uomcaJly caJls her powtrful companies Boy by Ari Gold Toy Inc. and Slu1 Co. She con"Don·, go for ucond stantly twills around tr.ld1uonal btst rrspt<t yoursrlf .rxprrss renuninc roks She poses as a -- Madonna v1c11m1zcd Mmlyn Monroe, all yoursrU .. Madonna is arguably. the 1Mo«nt and vulncr.abk. but then most ramous woman alive 1oday. lums around 10 rcval her bullet She has been on the cover of prac- bra--hcrcoat of armor,clhng her• 11cally every magazine im• sclf a wamor. Older gcnerauons have said ag1nable. She 1s discussed everywhere from teenage chit- 1ha1 Madonn:i can'1 compare 10 chat to gradua1c-lcvel semiotic Manlyn Monroe. They arc right. d1sscna1ions. II is very unlikely As Madonna adamo.nlly st111cs, for someone to be ncutr.J.l about "Manlyn was a victtm•-l" m not " Madonna. Either you love her. or M:mlyn was swallowed up an a you hluc her. The people who hate man's world. but MadoMa never hernuyno1bchcanngMadonna's lets the men take control. In her message Whether u·s in her song, "Ell.press Yourself.'" she tells videos. her concens. the songs all girls not 10 scule for anythmg 1h21 she wntcs. or the films lhat bu1 being IJ"Catcd like a '"queen on she produces. M:ldonna's ult1ma1c a throne.· In her "Blond Amb1t1on an1st1c ,1atcment 1s that loving WorldTou.r,"thcwomen(Madon• yourself and.being horiesrwllli and hertwo bodcup singer,) younctrwm help you love others. run the show while the men grovel This message. whether conveyed at lhclr feel. In the song, "Material Girt," lhrough humor or controveny, remains the underlying lhcmc in Madonna sings about l h e a U of MadoMa"s artisuc expres- pleasures o r material wealth i n • ma.teriaJ world. Some people sions. Some women say lhai Madon- wer< outngcd by this song. They na has set women back. fifty years. said that 1tus portrayal 1s Just the kind of stereotype women have Yet ocher women c.all Madonna the ultinwe fcmim.st of our 1imc. been trying 10 get away from. She has been in control of her They failed to see lhat Madonna. career since she first began. was only parodying the greedy, Recently, Forbc's magazine moncy-hoogry, yupp ie generation named her "the world"s smancst of the cigh1ies. Contrary to the bu si nesswoman." One should lyrics, in lhc video Madonna di.s tl.ke notice that a.JI or lhc impormisses the men with the Oashy tant positions in the many com- cars, rancy suits and e.1tperu1vc panics she runs arc held by gifts and takC.s off with the one women. Madonna is an example wilh the dncd-up daisies and the of a woman who is s1rongly beat-up pick-up b'Uck. Another is.sue MadoMa ad willed, determined and powerful, but not ulwncd of her suuality. dresses IS homophobia. Madonna In hcrd�s.dcmcanor,musie,and " believes that thcrc IS a.n an ima and videos she $hows that it is alright an animus in everybody. If to love yours.cir and love your everyone learned 10 love and ac body and love being a woman. cq,t these upccu of themselves, She shows men that if they admire everyone would be more tolerant and desire the body and looks. of these qualities in others. In an lhcy have 10 take lhc brains and AIDS-ridden society, people an: itrcngth as well. ·isn't that what becoming more a n d more feminism is all about," says homophobic. Sponsors arc rdu.s Madonna. "cqualily for men and ing co ad,·crtisc thctr products on women? And aren't J in charge of television shows dealing with my life, doing lhe things I want to homosexuality. Madonna uprcs ses her interest in portrayrng dor Madonna often uses her own homoscxuaJs in a more positive oflbca1senscorhumor1oillustratc ligh1umuch ushccan. She reels her serious feminist views. thll people w i l l not sec Author Susan Faludi states in her homoscJ1.uality as something so book "Backlash: The Undcclar<d diSlanl and differ<nl 1f people are War AgainSI American Women," not alerted 10 its existence. "In (Madonna's) n:bellious send- Madonna focused a large pan or up of prim notions of feminine her documentary film 'Truth or proprle1y, she paraded her D•r<" on her cay dancer,. MTV 1cJ1.u alily a n d transformed banned the "Justify My Love" 'intimale apparel' into an e.1plicit video for lu bisc.itual conlent, yet ironic statement." Madonna MTV will continue to play videos wears a man's suit with her under- featuring violence and dcgnd a wcar poeldn1 through. mocking lion IO women. Madonna continues IO support the women who try 10 gain power by dressing like men. She boshes honcs l)': cqualily, and anti-hate in the video "Like a Pnycr." The
message of this video was com• plc1ely overlooked and ins1cad was seen by some as blas phemous. While it is uuc that Madonna 1s seen dancing in front of bunung crosses, lhe SIOI)' IS about overcoming racism and cell• rng 1hc truth. In the video. an Afncan-Amcrican m31\ is :IITCSled and 1mmcd1ately as.sumed lO have raped .a, girl while in reality he med to help her after she was annd:. cd b y a g a n g of b l a c k y ou th s. M.1donna is" wi1ncss to this injus tice and tells the court the truth. Dancing in front of burning cros ses symbohi.es MadoMa·s rebel hon agams1 the KKK and bigotry. Madonna revels in the use of outrageously extreme images to shock lhc vi e w e r. Having grabbed the v1cwer·s a1tcn1Jon. she hopes 10 bnng the viewer to some happy medium. It 1s sad that the only way Madonna can ,er lhe.s,c wues aa-oss is by causfog a commotion. In rbis respecr. soc1e1y created Madonna. It causes her 10 be conO'OversiaL h seems that if lhe message Madon- na wanu co convey were not delivered with conlroVeny then 11 would nor get the public recogni tion II nghtfuUy de.serves.. The most successful and im portanl aspect of Madonna's career is her music. She has con lin ued to wntc hit after hit and stay on top for nine years. One music cnric has said that Madonna's music Is as close to art .o.s pop music gcis and I.hat she has one of the most compcllmg voices or Ot.D' time. It is Madonna's positive honesty that makes her music so acccss1blc. She is always telling her audience that. "Everybody is a star. everyone 1s special in lhctr own way," and, "If a1 first you don'1 succcccL.gct up again and over: In "Love Mak.cs the World go Round," Madonna sings, "Don't judge a man till you've been sta.nthng in hi.s shoes. You know I.hat we're aU so quick. IO look away ·cause it's the easy llung 10 do.Madonna may have slarted off on her own quest for but now that she has achieved it. she has admitted d'l.ll her career has taken a new rum-her purpose is to keep pushing the envelope a little further in order to make people think 1wice about their ideal s. She says, •1 know I'm not lhc besl singer. I know I'm not the best dancer. I'm not interested in that. I'm ln1ercs1Cd in pushing people's bunons... And thaJ. is exactly what she hu done. Madonna tries 10 bn:ak lhrough old-fashioned do& muby becoming a spokcswoman for a more open•mindc.d. un biased. and l o v i n g socie1y.
ramc.
Puge6
June 1992 / Sivan 5752
The RamPage
Ramaz's Basketball Teams Rebound by Ariel Adesnik L:t.s1 minute victories against HAFrR in the semi-fin:il game lllld Ffatbush in the championship game gave the girls' vorsity bas ketball team the Yeshiva League crown. Ramaz scored eleven con• sccutivc points in the third quancr of the scmifinaJs to take a founecn point lead, yet the lead was cut to two with I :52 left in the game. After a minute and a half of score• less suspense, Ramaz erupted with seven points to secure a place at Kingsborough College, the site of the fin:ils. The championship game which followed was close throughout, the score was tied at , 23 with under three minutes left to play. Judith Weiss then scored to give Ramaz the lead for good, and she was later named the game's most valuable player. Two more quick baskets secured the victory for the visiting team, and Ramu won the game. The junior varsity girls' victory was impressive. yet not panicufar ly suspenseful. In the champion ship game played at Ramaz, Rama.z dominated HAFrR. After overcoming a first quarter deficit, they coasted lo an easy vic1ory, and finished the post-sc:ison with a victory. The boys varsity learn reached the semifinals, but their hopes of reaching Madison Square Garden were dashed by Flatbush. In what was a fas1-paced game, Ao.1bush
March of The Living
moved a little faster aJ)d shot more accurately. They kept Ramaz at bay from stan to finish, although were later slaughtered by MTA in the championship game. The junior varsity boys were ousted from their tournament by MTA, although it took two over times to win iL The junior high school girls' team had a winning season but were elimim1ted in the f irst round of the playoffs. The boys' team finished 5-5 and did not make the The Ramaz buketball ttam practicing in the &J'ITL playoffs. A notable aspect of all the playoff games was the large f an turnout. At 1he junior varsity fina1, the varsity semifinal, ru,d the (cominuedfrom page I) girls' doubleheader, there were crowds of more than 150 people, autumn months. Ari ended his student body should try something ;ncluding students. p..1rcn1S, and facuhy, many of whom were speech by reveal mg "I can do new in lhe hope of enjoying it. Indeed, the final outcome was· forced 10 st and. At Flatbush. the more ir elected than. well, if not." In his speech, Mich:iel Nach Oen Lcbwohl for t�asurcr, Jason fan ollcndancc was overwhelm mani poked fun at his opponent by Goldberg for secretary. Evie ing, and there was barely enough room in the gymnasium for the cln1ming that he did a poor job as Dabah for J.V.P., Ari Tuchman for crowd at the last gnme ofthc boys' class president this past year. At S. V.P., and Perry Snuth for presi varsity. Before the game, there one point Tuchman proceeded to dent. Despite this, 1he entire student WilS a ccn:mony in which the gym walk off the sta ge. Amid ch uckles nasium was darkened and a spot from the nud1ence, Michael con body was not overjoyed. Many tinued talking and cxpl3ined d1a1 students think that the G.O. has no light was put on the players. All in all, the Ramnz teams' although he had never held any bcanng on wh.iU the administra pcrfonnnnccs this year were ou1- official G.O. positions, he felt that tion does. Junior Dora Somos1 s1andmg, but the outlook for next he could do a belier job than Tuch feels that "the G.O. is a purpose less organiza11on. The only y=·s basketball teams is yet 10 be man. Then Seth Gribelz, former people that benefit from it are detennined. freshman and sophomore class those who arc able to put their president and junior vice president positions in the G.O. on their col of the school, spoke. He decl ared lege application." himself qualified for the presiden Others havejust succumbed 10 tial position. His �pcecli was 1hc idea of accepting the G.O. the senous. with a large emph as is way 111s now. Michael Ellenberg, placed on his p3st accomplish another junior s:ud, "After three ments. He concluded with. years of general d1ssa11sfoction "Make your agenda my agenda.'' with the G.O., I have come lo real Perry Smith had run against ize that the government may no1 Seth last year for the position of fill some ofilS lofiiergoals.but we J.V.P and hod lost. Yet this year stall _get to see a play once in a Perry took a different stance, at while and cat frosh donuts daily." tempting to capture votes by com chemotherapy, she was able to p a ring the G,O. 10 a continue working at Ramaz. On donut--delicious, but lacking in May 21 she died, leaving only nutririon. "Man can not live by memories for those who knew donuts alone." Perry planned to her. She was admired for her work with the administration, not extreme good humor and her for it. Peny ended by reading p3.rt willingness to extend he�lf in of Dr. Seuss's Grun Eggs and all circumstances. Many agree Ham. The message was that the with Mr. Rochlin, who feels that "ooe of the lights of the school has been dimmed forever."
Students Elect New G.O.
Mrs. Gilda Silverman, Ramaz Secretary, Passes Away by Rena Davis The staff of the RamPage wishes to utend condolences to the family of Mrs. Gilda Silver man. Mn. Silverman wortc.cd at Ramaz for five years as a secretary. A year prior 10 her passing, she found out that she had cancer. While undergoing
Longtime Teachers Leave Ramaz by Craig Dushty und Rena Davis Several veteran Ramaz teachers have announced lheir retirements for next year. Rabbi Samuel Klein, Ms. Sydell Sher man and Mrs. Eleanor Shaw will all be leaving the school this year araer decades of leaching at Ramaz. Rabbi Klein, who began his career with Ramaz in 1962, has been with the school for 30 years. This 1s the longest any teacher, including Rabbi Bakst and Rabbi Lookstein, has been with the school. In his yea rs wi1h the school, the Rabbi ha., taught not only Talmud, but also Tanach, Dinim. Jewish History, and
Hebrew Langauge. As the school grew, and the Talmud dep:tnment became more speciali7.ed. Rabbi Klein conccn1nucd his leaching on Talmud. The Rabbi says that he derives great pleasure from fostering an enjoyment and ap-. precia1ion of TaJmud within his students. Rabbi Klein sucssed his belief that "the children arc the highest commodity of the Jewish people" and 1ha1 he was "honored to be entrusted with this precious commodity." After l2yearsofteachingmath here. Ms. Sherman also pl ans 10 leave Rnmaz. Her students know her to be relaxed when not 1each• ing. and she reminds her students that her sometimes strict altitude is just a facade, and 1hat deep
down she's very soft. Ms. Sher man, who taught at five schools before coming to R1unaz.: agrees with Rabb, Klein that "the kids an: 1hc number one aspect of the school." She went oo to describe 1he students as "more sophisti cated" than those in the previous schools in which she laught, and feels that the whole school pos· scses an "extraordinary atmos phere of learning." She spoke of her rewarding job as a tC3cher, exploining that she docs not only teach but al.so gels to learn from the studenls, and i.ii sad 10 be leav ing. Mrs. Eleanor Shaw, a Ramaz founh-grade teacher of 25 years, is leaving the school 1his summer. By her own count, she has 1aught
approximately thincen hundred students. Her fondest memories arc those of the trips to Sleepy Hollow ond the play she directed for the class of '93 when it was in her charge . Juniors Larry Solomon and Michael Nachmani decided that "she was the best teacher (they) ever had." M rs. Shaw "enjoyed ... watching (her students) change, physicolly and emotionally" over lhe course of a year, After the the death of her husband two yenrs ago, she "feels rc:idy for a new life." and plans to rcmnny this summer. The veteran teacher plans to "stay in touch wilh Ramaz through lhe year 2000, when (her) present fourth grade class graduates."
(continuedfrom page I) Shabbat in Wa,saw was beauti ful. Students spent the night danc ing through the streets, oblivious to the stares of numerous on lookers. Although Jewish pride was obviously present, anti-Semi tism sbU proved to he rampant., Polish citizens cursed and threw glass botdcs, conveying the mes sage that lhc Jews were not wel come. After Shabbal, the participants waued in Warsaw International Airport to board the El-Al night to Israel. Ruach in the airpon was widespread. The sheer joy of leaving the hell-on-earth of Maj danek and Auschwitz and going to their homeland. the land of Israel, was overwhelming. In Israel. the sad memories conunued. this time for the Jewish martyrs who died defending 1he Stale of Israel. On Yorn Ha Zikaron participants visited Binyanei HaUma and watched a memonal service for Israeli sol diers, visited Mt. Herzl. a military cemetery, and planted trees in the JNF forest. Yorn Ha• Atzmaut, Israeli Inde pendence Day, also proved that the nalion of Israel was s1iJI flounshmg. Junior Rena Sichel said, "The thousands of marchers alone showed 1hc great presence of Jewish youth around the world And lhis was only a fraction oflhe Jewish people." In a won:J. said anolhcr, the mp was "awcs.omc, in 1he full sense of the word.''
Wave of Technology Hits Library (contfourdfrom pagr 4)
also has "Disc Lir" which is the Twain series on American litera ture. which has litcr:uy criticisms and stories. After a librarian has shown o student how to load the COlllpilC( disks and USC the com puter, the student can lhen proceed without supervision. The tibrory's simple.,;t new computer is an IBM compatible which has the word processor WordPerfect, the WordPerfect tutorial, as well as several other programs, such as Print Shop and Multi Lingual Scribe. Defore using this computer, studcnlS must "sign in" on the list in lhe library office. Print Shop is used for making cards and signs, and Multi Lingu:il Scribe allows the user to type in Hebrew, Ar.tbic, French, and Spanish. Hebrew letters arc shown on the keyboard for eas ier use of this program. "The computers arc all very helpful" said junior Philip Singer, who often uses the word proces sor. l t isthebeliefofmanythatthe new technology in the library is a fitting response to students' needs.