Volume 3, Issue 7 (March 1971) - The Rampage

Vol. Ill - No. 7

Jewish Students Seek United Voice

On Sunday, 'March 14, a meeting or Jewish high school students from all over New York took place in lower Manhattan. It was orgarnzcd by the American Z1omst Youth Foundation. The purpose of the conference was to give Jewish high school students a uruted voice. Stu­ dents from public schools such as Stuyvesant, Clmton and Bronx Sci­ ence as well as from yeshivas such as B.T.A. R.J.J. and Ramaz ntt.c.ndcd.

Ramaz was represented by Diane Comet, Marcia Mc1slm and Marc Schulman.

Jonathan Braun, the head of the Ne,1,,• York Union of Jewish Students, which represents Jews on New York college campuses, addressed the meeting. He emphasized that this was the first such gathering of Jewish youth.

Delegates from various schools gave an account of the problems fac­ Ccntinucd on Page 4

Sophomores Make Big Splash in Tea The annual Sophomore Tea was presented on Tuesday, March 9. The program followed the traditional pat­ tern of songs, dances -and skits. Re­ freshments were served to an audi­ ence which was composed of parents of the students and members of other classes.

The musical numbers highlighted the talents of certain individuals.

Ehud Havazelet, the winner of last year's talent show, opened and closed the show with his guitar playing. One of the original songs which he sang and played dealt with the theme of Soviet Jewry. Ben Zander performed "Rhapsody in Blue" on the piano and later accompanied vocalist Diane Osen. Several folk dances were pre­ sented, one of which was chorea-

March, 1971

A Free Publication

5-Doy Seminar Held in Monsey Students Hear Rabbis

From February 25 to March 2 the Monsey Pork Hotel 111 Monscy, New York was populnted with 158 students from Ramaz nnd the Yeshiva of Flatbush, The students were pnrticipnnts m the first Yeshivn University Torah Leadership Scmmar for yeshiva stu• dents. The Seminar was arranged by the Youth Bureau of Yeshiva Uni­ versity. Mr. Joel Paul was the or­ gamzer of the Seminar and recruited the approximately twenty college students who served as counselors.

About ten rabbis from the metro• politan area gave lectures, which were followed by discussions. Rabbi Robert H1rt, of Yeshiva University, spoke on various topics, including HGod is Ahvc," "Shabbat in the Messianic Age," "Jewish Attitudes Towards Marriage" and "Good and Evil."

Rabbi Av1 Weiss. of Bnai Jeshurun Congregation 111 Monsey, spoke on "What Kmd o Jewish Defense do We Require?," Soviet Jewry, and "Response to the New Morality.'' in which he presented Martin Buber's "I and Thou" concept and its relation to modern sexual mores. Rabbi Moses Tendlcr of Yeshiva University lectured on "The Halachic Process" and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, o! the Lincoln Square Synagogue in M3n• Continued on Page 4 graphed by Ruth Lachman.

Each of the two participatmg: classes performed a skit. Class IVy enacted a scene from "The Odd Couple,'' and Class IVx presented "The Perils and Trials of Jane Clay."

The latter, a courtroom spoof, was staged by Michael Andron, a grad­ uate of Ramaz.

Rabbi Moskowitz acted as 1\.1.C. for the show and Rabbi Haskel Look­ stein entertained the parents with n few quips and anecdotes.

Sophomore Tea. - left to right: l\llchael Richman, Arthur Gribetz, Gllatt Ankori, Ron Cohen and Joel Comet In "The Perils and Trials of Jane Clay."

.._,..,�.,­

Seminar - Top row, left to right: Students give 1\lr. Buchwald a "high": Supervisors: Jerry Schwartz, Joel Paul, Rena Kurz, David Gitler. Bottom row, left to right: Rabbi Hirt; Jlabbl Samuel Rubenstein teachlng tefillin repair; Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.

Judaic Studies: Evaluations and Pro1wsals

by Victor In a recent poll Rmnaz students gave their sugccstions as to how the Judaic studies might be 1mp1ovcd Tn o?aerlo supplement these findings several editors of The Ram Page con­ ducted a round-tlble discussion on the same topic, in wh1ch one random­ Jy selected member of each class p:irtic1pated. The participnnts were: Gil Karson, Illx; Miriam Wrob­ lewski, Illy; Rebecca Green, IVx; David Orwasher, IVy; Diane Comet, Vx: Stanhy Herman, Vy; Gail Linden, Vix; and Sonia Taitz. Vly. The students' proposals for change fall into four major categories: hir­ ing better teachers; redefining the goals of the Judaic studies; a student role in planning courses; the use of modern teaching methods.

The students voiced various com• plaints about the present Judaic studies faculty. The consensus was that many teachers arc either not dedi• cated enough or are lacking certain qualities necessary for good teach­ ing. The students explained that many members of the Judaic studies faculty have been at Ramaz much longer thnn the secular studies teachers. As a result they tend to be inUcx1blc in their teaching methods and fmd 1t difI1cull to overcome their pedagogical inertia. Many teachers do not use lesson plans and frequently enter the class room un­ prepared. Some teachers do not even try to be interesting and often pur­ posely omit "relevant topics like sex."

In speaking of the teachers' in• tolerance for non-orthodox view• points, the students recalled th;.tt cerlain teachers take offense when Biblical commentators arc criticized.

Some Judaic stuci1es teachers arc con-

Schonfeld s1dered unquah�:cd to teach at Ha­ maz because th�y do not speak He• btc,v properly Mos: students feel that all classes m Judaica should be conducted or.ly in Hebrew.

The Judaic studies teachers were asked to express their views on Jewish education at Ramaz. Mr. Ephraim Buchwald said that he chose tcachmg as a profession be• cause as a student he had had many bad teachers. He believes that teach• ers should strive to instill in the1r students a love for Judaica. Like the students, he cha:gcd thnt many Ra• maz teachers show that they are not committed to this goal by not pre­ paring adequntely for their lessons.

He added, however, that this is m part due to the dearth of pubhshed materials in the field of Jewish edu­ cation.

He suggested as a. solution to this problem the establishment of a cen• tcr for the collection and publication of textbooks and other materials for Jewish education.

Rabbi Snmuel Klein said that teachers should be enthusiastic, and m addition should respect nnd try to understand students• problems in an open-minded fashion.

The students asserted that Ramaz must emphasize living Judaism rather than Jewish scholarship. One said that the purpose of Jewish education should be to teach "who you are, where you are, and why you are here." But the students claimed that they arc not even motivated to read about Judaism on their own. It wris suggested that the methods used at the recent Torah Leadership Seminar become an intcgrnl part of the JuContinued on Page -I

Page 2

March, 1971

THE RAM PAGE

Teaching a Lesson

The Rom's Horn:

The Seminar ExJJerience

The birch rod and the dunce cap moy be cone, but d1sc1phnary mca• surcs nt most schools continue to be archaic and 1llog1cnl. Ramaz 1s no cxccpl1on

by Debby Mark involved in the phlloso­ The pendulum of puni\lve action aga111st cutl111g hns lrnd1t1onal1y s,1, ung The idea of 3 Tornh LcadcrSh1p mtlmntcly from one sctr-dcfcnlmg extreme to the other First, there 1s the tnkc-onc­ Scmmar for yeshiva students was ph1cnl d1scuss1ons which continued day-off-gct another-seven-free system. The latest example of this ptuloso• greeted with skepticism and mdiffc r- Jon,:? nfler the sessions were over. phy 1s the recent notice which wos served on "the entire Ramnz family." cnce by manr students. I myself hnd The flvc-doy program at Monscy The whole m1shpachn was warned thnt unexcused absences will be puu1shccl many missivmgs even as I boarded was ns much an exper!ence for the by a week's suspension, followmg n personal conrcrcncc between n member the bus. The ide:i of rc-chonnchng leaders as 1l was for the students. or the admmlstratlon and the parents. Ev1dcnlly the ndmmistrators believe my thoughts 111 the course of r,vc The lecturers were hard put to dispel that a student who has cut one day of school tn order to extend h1s Floridn days seemed absurd. However, I the negative altitudes toward Juda­ vacation w1Jl only learn his lesson 1( he 1s forced to stay nnothcr week totally underestimated the potential of ism with which they were conunder that hot sun. (Perhaps the educators' ull1matc aun 1s to give the an experience such as the Semmnr. fronted. student sunstroke.)

It would be a shame !or Ramaz The highlights of the Seminar There arc vnr1at1ons of the system outlln('d �bovc. One of them in­ were the discussion groups led by not to carry on where the Scmmar volves the teacher who 1s so oulrnged that a student thanks his tlass too bnlhant, charismatic young rabbis. lclt off The techniques employed in boring to attend that he promptly bars the student Crom his class tor two The1r enthusiasm for the subJccl the Torah Leadership program should days. The lucky student oHers a prayer of thanksgiving and wonders what matter w.1s contagious; nobody had be 111corp0ratcd mlo our dmly cur­ he will do when the two days arc up. Then there 1s the pe<fagogue who 1s Lo be urged to attend the sessions. nculum. If more students were ex­ upset when a student comes to class five minutc.s late. After all, he has The rabbis' sinccnty, patience and posed to a scmmar-hkc experience, missed some very important work. Therefore, the teacher mokcs him miss apparent respect for the students, tos would have a better un­ the rest o! the class. That ought to show the student how 11nportant class gether with the relaxing 1nCormahty, Ram:nitc o! what Judaism is all d mg n l er time 1s!

S a d provided a refreshing change for all.

The other d1sc1phnary extreme mvolvcs the avo1d-lcnrnmg-bccause-you­ Many of the former skeptics became 1 about. don't-likc--1t•we'll•g1ve-you-so-much-you'll-bc-s1ck-of-1l philosophy_ This tech­ nique was best dcsc.ribcd by Charles Silberman as quoted m the February issue of The Ram Pare: "\Vhat we're m eC!cct snying to them ls that learn­ ing is so unpleasant that the worst thing we can do Is to give them more of it " Teachers favoring this system have been known to threaten students with extra reading, ns If this sort oC assignment were n form of torture. No covered an class? Is a Ramnz student wonder many people come awny Crom school seeing reading as a chore, Mis-Guidance primonly interested in meeting other It is lime that the faculty ::md the administration abandon these silty, Dear Sirs: yeshiva kids? fruitless measures Suspensions only cheapen the value of class hmc in a In the FebrJary issue o( The Ram The activities of the G.0. this year student's eyes and cause him to miss add1llonal work. Extra assignments Page 1t was stated that "1t would be been pnmanly social 111 nature. only instill 111 him a dislike for lcarnmg. The real solution to cutting of necessary to write another letter to have As for the battle over the dress code, classes and "goofing oil" lies in lhe classroom 1tsclf. A teacher must make his spell out the ineptitude of the college [ can hardly believe that the lore­ lesson so interesting and stimulating that a student wlll feel he is missmg advisers _ . ." I would hkc to com­ most problem in the minds of Ramaz something if he docs not attend. (We have come across a few teachers who plete that task. students is their attire. Unfortunate­ have succeeded in this respect.) The pupils must be made to (eel that learn­ The guidance counselors at Ramaz ly. there arc m�my imJ)Ortant prob­ mg is a privilege, not a punishment. A student who absents himse-lf from pay no ottcnlion to thC' ma}oritv or l{'mS to be solved I thmk we must class depnvcs himself of one of thC' cn..,1csl pk·.1s11n.•s 111 l1fo-J('arn111g We­ thC" students They seem mtcrc:-stcd first concentrate on hberatmg our only in those who arc ehg1ble for Ivy minds from the oppressive atmos­ cannot thmk of a greater pumshmcnt League colleges. ·'Do what you want'' phere pervading o:.1r school before is a common response to inqu1rles we can worry about hberatmg our about colleges lackmg prestige.

The guidance counselors arc un­ bodies from uncomfortable clothing.

There 1s a defm1te need for de­ The outstanding lectures ot the Rabbis Hirt, Riskin and We!ss at the able to furnish appropriate inform­ Torah Leadership Se.m111ar raise questions about the makeup of the present ation about specific colleges nnd bates, clubs and seminars concen­ American rabbmate. It does not seem proper that spiritual leaders or this fields or interest. Their knowledge trahng on particular issues. G.0. as­ cnliber bear the same title as Lhetr less talented and less efCective colleagues. of Jewish life on campus is Inade­ sembltcs should be more frequent Some d1slinctlon should be created to dlfferentint<-- between those rabbis who quate and outdated. They give stu­ nnd have a wider scope.

I don't consider myseli intellect­ have the nb1llty lo inspire and lead others nnd lhose who have simply dents little If any assistance In fill­ ing out applications . ually lull11led in Ramaz. I don't feel completed the requirements for s'mfcha.

IL is those students who are not that the issues on my mind are being One jarring note which disturbed the atmosphere or the Seminar was at the top of the class who need col, dealt with or even presented to the the enforcement of picayune disciplinary measures. In order to make future lege gmdance most. Yet these ore the admmistration. The G.0. can be im­ very students who are neglected. proved only after the proper goals Seminars more pleasant, rules such as these should be dispensed with.

This problem 1s hardly the fault are set. These goals should be in­ of the guidance counselors them­ tellectual as well as social. selves. They have not been pr0Ces­ Nomml Nadlch s1onally trained as counselors and arc Class Vy trying to fulfill their guidance duties on a part-time basis. The school would do well Lo invest in a full. published by the students of Ramoz High School Ineffective Seminars time counselor who is an expert in 125 E. 85th SI., New York, N.Y. 10028 - HA 7-1000 his field and is attuned to the con­ Dear Sirs: The various seminars were sup­ stantly changing college admissions Editors In Chld posed to bring new life Into the situatior..

Victor Schonleld Richard Gribetz dying Judaic studies by allowing Another Senior Editorial Board more discussions and creative re­ C.,py Editor . .....................................Rena Halpern search. Last year a few of these G.O.: Wrong Priorities courses News Editor ...... .. ... ....................., ....Sheba Ginzberg seemed lo succeed. But the Fe3ture Editor ................................. ....Judy Schacter Dear Sirs: effectiveness of the seminar classes Jewish Affairs Editor ........................, .. , , Adam Henschel The !unction ol a high school G.O. has gradually all but disappeared.

Sports Editor , ....................................., ..David Sable ( especially in a school whose stu­ Instead or creative research there are CUiture Edltor ....... _._ .•..., •......_ .............Daphne Me.rkin dents arc supposedly of :i high in­ only long-term homework assign­ Advertising ?\bnae-er ....._ .__ •......................Ronnie Mann tellectual caliber) should not be to ments; instead of discussions there Faculty Adviser ........ _._.. .. .. _._ __._...........Miss M. Bock sponsor social events (basketball are tests. The seminars have become Contributors this issue ._. _. • _ _ _ Wendy Apfel, Marc Eiseman, games, weekends, dances, etc.) to the a holiday for teacher and student Leslie Hclpnn, Marc Schulman exclusion of any intellectual activi­ alike. One or two students do all the Photocraphcrs this Issue _ ....• .... _ ..__ .....Michael Ferstcnd1g, ties. ls the Ramaz curriculum so work and the rest o! the class copies Jeremy Hyman comprehensive that there arc no it. Teachers hold class very rarely .. Carolyn Weiss areas of interest other than those Typbt this Issue ..._. _._.. .•... _•..•..__ ._ Continued on Pare 3

J!etter6 lo lhe {:Jitor

Afterthoughts

The 'Ram Poo;e

MDrch, 1971

500,000 Meals And Still Going Strong

THE RAM PAGE

City Planning

Pa e 3

In Form I

by Kenny Eckstein

by Richard Grlbeh A new teachmg method has been At 12:12 every d ay, as the bell introduced m the seventh grade so­ nngs signaling the end o( the fifth cial �tud1cs class. A course designed pcrJod, about 150 students race down­ by the Macmillan Company, entitled stairs lo the third !Joor. Their goal "Geography oC C1t1es," has been in­ is lo gel their hot lunch as quickly stituted by Mrs. Muriel Bcrmar, as possible with a minimum of stand­ to allow students to apply textbook mg on line. To this end they grab facts to a practical situation. trays and silverware. push and shove In previous years, this subJect was each other for five or ten minutes taught in the trad itional manner: and finally receive their food with reading. memonzahon, regurgitation. hardly a glance or a thank you di­ Mrs. Bermar found this method to be rected towards the women behind unstimulating, and the:-cforc suggest­ the counter. ed the new system to Dr. Petluck.

Gerta l\l'.asuras and Bertha Meyer In the Ramaz kitchen.

Accordingly, the school year was This ls the general melee witnessed divided into two parts. During the by the d edicated ladies who cook job: 1t allows them to spend time In She has watched the price of a first half, the students learned about and serve lunch for hungry Ramaz thetr own homes with the ir fam1hes. pound of flounder rise from 45r to tlu.· development of cities from books. students. One woman in particular, However, preparing and serv ing Sl 15. Each roll now costs I0r. The maps, and aerial photographs. They known to most students merely as ;i.mount o( mont'y spent each month Gerta, has watched this scene repeat the food arc not the only tasks which on food and paper goods has increas­ lc>arned basic principles of city struc­ ture by drawing their own conclu­ itself for nearly 29 years For almost must be p erformed. Gerta plans the ed so greatly that Gerta sometimes a third of a century she has been menus herseJ! and orders the neces­ wonders how the school manages. sions from these materials. The sec­ sary foodstuffs.

She attends meetings ond part of the year is being devoted giving out hard-boiled eggs and slic­ Although she does not think money ing American cheese for C\vcr 500,000 of the Jewish Education Committee is being saved by using paper plates to application of these principles. The where different ideas for menus :uc class was given bas ic information individual meals. That's a lot o! discussed. She told me that although and plastic utensils, Gerta pointed about a real, untdcnt1l1ed city: na­ cheese! she 1s not a dietitian by profession. out that there is much less washmg tural resources, terrain, climate, and In a recent conversation with experience has taught her much to be done now and everything Is so on The students were divided into Gerta. whose last name is Masuras, about calorics and balanced meals. much neater. two committees, Each group received she told me a little about her exThrough the years, the kitchen a board and a set of colored pieces Gerta likes to make what the stu­ perlences at and feelings about dents hke to eat. Therefore, pizza is stall has been located in different representing dif!erent types of build­ Ramaz. her Cavontc meal. She regrets that places. Until 1964 the gym was used ings: commercial, public, residential, The kitchen staff consists of flvc she can never prepare meat rr.eals at as a lunchroom and the kitchen was etc. Each committee is now con­ women including Gerta. Bertha Ramaz because that would allow located to the right of the double structing a C'ity according to the Meyer, Bernice Lowenlells, Lotte much more room for crcahv1ty and <loors as one walks m. This writer knowledge the students have ac­ Mannasse and Minam Burnside have sn t1staclton than does the grilling o( can rcmC'mber those r.ithl'r cramped lWir('d nbout city development m been at Rama2. (or pcriOds ranging cheese. and hectic years when the tal>lc::. gcne.rnl and the ::.p('ctflc 1n(ormat1on from one to fl!t�n years.

Gerta is open to any culinary had to be set up and removed every they have received about their pro­ A typical day for Gerta and the suggestions, and has frequently dis­ Day, The women used to wheel carts jected communJty. Records are kept others starts before 8 a.m. This year, continued making dishes which have around m order to dole out the food. o! every step in the development.

When the new buiJding (the whole After each stace o! the project, the their first task is to make breakfast received adverse comments. One for the minyan-g oers. The remainder nine-year-old never enJoyed eating eastern wing) was being constructed, two committees compare results. The of the morning is devoted to the sp inach. He waited 28 years until the kitchen crew took up temporary students are asked to explain why preparation o! food and the steeling he was principal of Ramaz and then 1 csidcncc in the social hall where they constructed certain parts o! of nerves for those two periods of asked Gerta to remove the odious trays and waiting lines were first their city the way they did. concentrated pandemonium during vc_ttetable from the menu. She com­ introduced. Gerta feels that trays Students arc grndcd according to which the upper nnd lower schools plied with Rabbi Haskel Look­ Dre much nicer than settings. their individual work and the man­ Finally, at the en d ol 1965 when ner In which they present it. Few arc served. The most pleasant time ste.in's wishes.

Gerta orders the food herself and the third-floor lunchroom was com­ tests are given. comes at about l :30 when the wom­ rn arc able to leave for the day. This !eels that Mr. Shudo!sky has con­ pleted, Gerta and her colleagues Mrs. Berma: fl"'Cls that this new Contlnutd on PaKe 4 mode of learning benefits everyone is one of the big ndvantages o! the fidence in her judgment and thrift. concerned because it removes com­ mnrs will become worthwhile. Stu• he says that Rabbi Kahanc can know petition between students. In addi­ tion, the student's aim m his work is dents wall no longer want to cut little about Ramaz students since he classes. {In Mr. Buchwald's class has never been inside Ramaz. Some­ his own satisfaction rather than his Continued Crom Pa.(e 2 there was almost perf�t attendance) how, Rabbi Kahanc comes very close success on an examination. The stu­ and then only to hand out more as• The semmar classes in their present to the truth when he says that Ramaz dents are also learning to work \,nth s1gnments. form arc certainly no better than students are "fat, happy, sat1sf1ed and each other.

The only real attempt to make the The seventh graders arc m comapathetic." regular formal classes. seminar svstem work has come from pletc agreement with their teacher.

David Sable Only Ramaz a students few belong Macluhe­ senior h1s in Mr. Buch�vald One student stated that the project Class VJy to Zionist groups, A recent demonvet Hnyahadu.t (Jew ish philosophy) was successful because "instead of �tration 3t the Syrian mission to the u course. The students read assigned v i w d e articles dealing with modern halachic :isp,�: ,v ;i&o::S 1,��g'�°.,°; �:; e:��:�:� �:d ;�11��: !��!� ;t" ��:az Kahane d u of s��fense De�� (J ewish law) problems. These are it into practical use." and I !u1Jy realize that Rabbi Joseph campaign to shmulate mterest discussed m a relaxed atmosphere participat ion. The only ones \\1 ho did iron no Lookstem has done and cont i nues , no desks, no blackboards attend were the !cw members or the discipline. This is a new experienc-e to do his share (or Russian Jewry.

But his recent �ondemnataons o( Jewish Defense League, Betar and for Ramaz students: learning .

Olher ZiomSl groups. This holds true If all the seminars arc to be as Rabbi Meir Kahane's statements as f r many rallies. Ramaz students o effective as Mr. Buchwald's, cert.Din "neurotic, !ull of venom, and bulging would rather go to the movies than Clothing /or the c-hanges must be made. Written with irrcspcnsibility" S<.'rvc as an f ght for their fellow Jews. i homework must be done away wi th. example of the polarization of Amer Those who say that v10lence 1s to prefer who those by Jewry out 1can ven i g be must topics " EW WOMAN" Research counter-productive are often right. at the bcgmning of the term so that use nnme-callmg as a subslltute for But those who say that apathy is repQrts and discussions can begin logical arguments based on facts. c unter -productive are always right. as soon as possible. The formal class­ These same name-callers mamtam o With love of Israel, 1267 LEXINGTON AVENUE room must be abandoned. Testing thnt 1t ls Rabbi Kahane who is spl it• Warren Graham ting up the Jewish community. between 85th & 86th Streets sho uld be abolished.

Rabbi Lookstem is mistaken when Class Vy JC these changes arc made, the scm-

ofettm

MISS FIFI II

Page 4

THE RAM PAGE

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Judaic Studies

Continued from Page da1c studies program at Ramaz. espc­ c1al1y since the students feel that nt present Ramaz's reJigious viewpoint 1s undefmed. They agreed that 11nprovc-­ ment of the Judn1c studies curriculum requires changes 111 the lower school program as well.

The consensus m the poll and m the panel discussion was that stu• dents should be allowed a much gre:ltcr role m pl;rnnmg and SC'lc-c-t ing: coursc-s m the- Judaic studies Most students agreed that pressure from tests and marks in the Judaic studies should be elimmated. Some recommended thn� no homework be given in the Judaic studies.

The use of modern and 111formal teaching methods was p;-oposcd by the majority of the students. How­ ever, these same students emphatical­ ly condemned the prcs<!nt seminar courses as ,vorse than the formal courses.

The students mamta!nctl thal busy work such as mcmonzat1on and com­ pulsory note-taking 1s a waste fo time. Fmal examinations, 1f they must be ;Jdm111istered, should conform to the course� and not vice versa.

Almost all of the proposals put forth with regard to specific courses were based on the students' desire !or "relevance to modern times."

Courses in Zionism. ant1-Sem1t1sm, comprirative reH:;:ion, Yiddish and contemporary Jewish problems should be offered to all classes.

Rabbi Meir Moskowitz expressed his view that students should have an important role in planning their education.

Mr. Levi Meier defended the study of Talmud. He explained that al­ though the Tnlmud may deal with obscure cases, its principles can be applied to modc:-n tunes. Mr. Me1er proposed that the pshat (literal m· tcrpretat1011) of the Torah be studied almost to the exclusion of the com­ menUlries.

Seniors should have more semmar courses, not as "burdens," but to en-

Improved 1 V. Closes Season

The R�maz J.V. won two and lost two of the la.st four games of the season. In addlt!on, Ramaz regis­ tered a Uve-point toss to M.T.A. in the league play-offs. The J.V. was de­ feated by HILi 64-38 Danny Tobin scored ten points while Captam David Orwasher contnbuted seven.

Mark Sh1fler's absence due to an mjury was particularly not1cet1blc m:: Ramaz was beaten badly off the bonrds and Jacked scoring punch.

Ramaz rebounded strongly from the HILi loss to beat R.J J. by a lopsided score of 72-36. The Rams d1spl:iycd nn cHect1vc full court press and had a balanced scoring attack.

Danny Tobm and David Onvasher

Seminar

Grade in School

Zip

Students' Conference

Continued from Paire 1 mg Jewish youth 111 thell' respective mst1tut1ons. The students from Hunter High School bemoaned the lack of a Hebrew language course.

The Clinton students described the combmation of fear and apathy which mtl1tat_cs against large turn. outs for Jewish events.

The conferees broke up mto three workshops and discussed mass dem• onstr.1.t1ons, Jc,, 1sh f1n.inci.1I �ind other resources and Jewish publica­ tions. The participants Ill the discus­ sion on demonstrations resolved that a moratonum day on behalf of Soviet Jewry should be organized.

After a new film on Soviet Jewry was shown. all the delegates gather­ ed together and approved var10us resolutions. One called for the form­ ation or a Federation of Jewish High School Students. This organization would try to present a umted front of Jewish youth. able them to enjoy learning. Mr. Meier cautioned, however, that too much discussion at the expense of studying texts will make it difficult for students to study Judaic-a on their own a!ter they graduate. He also proposed a new seminar which would deal with the relationships between Jewish philosophy and sec­ ular intellectual thought.

Rabbi Yehuda Eliach asserted that Talmud teaches logical thinking. He added. "Jewish studie:; in general, and particularly the Bible, are rel­ evant because the Jewish people can• not survive without them.''

Rabbi Klein stated that Jewish studies are essential to mamlain positive Jewish identification. Stu­ dents should study basic texts so as to be able to study on their own in the future.

Mrs. Edna Aphek would like to see smaller classes conducted 111 U1c style of an ulpan, but not at the expense or the traditional Hebrew curriculum.

Mr. Buchwald remarked that

March, 1971

continued front Page 1 hattan spoke on "A Jewish View o( Women's L1bcrat1on."

Chaplain Ira Bader spoke on "Consc1cnt1ous Objection as Viewed

by Jewish Lm•;." He noted thal "tt 1s better to seek conscient1ous ob• jcctor status rrom a Jewish stand­ point" than frot-:-:. a moral one alone.

In order to achieve this status a rchgi­ ous Jew must write an essay show­ ing how his personal rclig1ous up­ br111g1ng prevents him from fighting in any war, even one for Israel.

In the course of the weekend the students were entertained by Mr. Ephraim Buchwald on "Fun Night."

Other activities included ice ska� ing, movies and a banquet which ,, as folio,� c-d by many hours of smg­ mg and dancing. Song and dance were a part of every meal. The stu­ dents spent their free time each afternoon swimming, playing !oot­ ball, touring Monscy and just relax­ ing.

During the Seminar, three Flat­ bush students and Kenny Eckstein and Marc Schulman of Ramaz partic­ ipated m a symposium on yeshiva education. The three Flatbush jun­ iors were more outspoken than the Ramaz representatives in expressing their dissatisfaction with their school.

They complained that their admin­ istration does not want to help the students. Recent disciplinary action taken by the administration against long-haired students and suspected marijuana users has increased the students' animosity towards the ad­ ministration. The Ramaz administra­ tion, on the other hand, was said to be "trying 1ls best to improve the school."

Ramaz has had a ·•wishy-washy" pol• tCy towards religious practice. One way to strengthen religious attitudes among the students would be to insti­ tute frequent shabbatonim (Sabbath get-togethers) with students and fac­ ulty.

There 1s ciJuse for optimism even if the Judaic studies are not im­ proved. The final consensus of the students' panel discussion was that they have learned much and will continue their Jewish education after Rnmaz m order to satis£y the curi­ osity Lhat has been aroused by the school.

had 14 and 13 points respectively Rogosin was the next victim of the J . V Led by the tough rebound· mg of Barry Mc1slin, Ramaz edged Rogosm 58-49.

In the last regular season game, Ramaz lost a close contest to Flat­ bush 54-51 David Orwasher, play­ ing a fine all-around came, led Ramaz with 19 points 1nclud111g ll for 14 from the foul line. Danny Tobin provided support with I 2 points.

In the play-off game agamst M.T. A., Ramaz fell short of victory by a score of 58-53. David Orwasher was high scorer with 18 points and Amit· Salomon spm·ked the club during the third quarter with key rebounds and points.

The J.V. finished the season with a 46 - record.

SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS JUNIOR: HIGH SCHOOL tit Pl"c. - 1re Smith, llr-Llqht Ruction, 2r,d Place - Stcv•n Schoon. Ev.,n Kotc l, llr -Hurrlc.tne Gen•r•tor HIGH SCHOOL Id Pleu - Alec Friedman, lllr-lon 0 y 2r,� ti:c ! �M•nh•II hnster, Borry M•hHn, Mlchol Nuh, lllr-Pl•nt Growth Oilluenu, 2nd Plac• - Daniel Burit,in, S•muel G•mor•n, IV1-Eleetric Lod: 2rid Pl•ce - 11:ob•rt Spltnr, IVy -El,ctronlc lock 3rd Place - Mlri•m Sobel, Illy -Heart HONORABLE MENTION

Steven l•rger, lly, Ronald Sche lnbuq, ly '---------------'

Gerta

Continue,l from Pa.,::c 3 moved to their present quarters.

Gerta thinks that the new kitchen is adequate and spacious but regrets thnt she was not consulted as to its design. One of the major disadvan­ tages is the absence of ventilation, which makes the kitchen unbearable on hot days. She also said that the students and teachers seem a bit too crowded.

Gerta was born in Germany near Frank.furl. She came lo America in 1929. She subsequently worked as a governess before coming to Ramaz.

During: the course of her 29 years nt Ramaz the number of people for whom Gerta must prepare meals has grown from 40 to 360. She hns seen teachers and students come and go.

Her memories arc pleasant ones.

Many child_ren who now go to Ramaz have parents whom Gerta served in years gone by. She has Ulught count­ less numbers of girls how to make and serve cocktail sandwiches for the Sophomore Teas. She has also worked with many different ladies who have long since left. Selma Wallach, who left ten years ago, was the first wom­ an to serve lunches at Ramaz. Most students remember Alice Stone who worked in Ramaz until last year, and there arc those who remember Mar­ tha Isenberg.

Gerta's future plans are unccrtam.

She doesn't know how many more years she will spend behind the lunch counter. However, the dedica­ tion with which she has served Ramaz has already indebted literally generations o( Jewish youngsters to her.