The Rampage Ramaz Upper School
New York • Volume 77 • Issue II • October 2014 • Cheshvan 5775 • the-rampage.org
Mr. Shaviv to Leave Ramaz
Ramaz All-Stars
By Andrew Lobel ’15 On September 10, Jacob Doft, the Chairman of the Ramaz Board of Trustees, announced in an email to the Ramaz community that Paul Shaviv would be leaving Ramaz at the end of the 2014-2015 school year, coinciding with the conclusion of his contract. Mr. Shaviv has been the head of school since he was hired in 2012. He had previously served in a similar role for fourteen years at the Jewish Community High School (Tanenbaum CHAT) in Toronto. In the email to the community, Mr. Doft praised Mr. Shaviv, noting that he had “promptly and skillfully identified, addressed, and resolved many issues vital to the school’s future.” Mr. Doft noted in particular that “ Mr. Shaviv initiated and implemented many much-needed, far-reaching changes using a ‘whole school vision’ that increased the effectiveness and quality of Ramaz’s management and high quality educa-
tion we provide our children.” Mr. Shaviv’s appointment as Headmaster was a groundbreaking step in Ramaz history. He was the first person to
With respect to differences between Canadian and American students, Mr Shaviv revealed: “With no disrespect to my Canadian friends, the students at Ramaz were friendlier and more polite than their Canadian counterparts!” Leading Ramaz had other unexpected moments. Mr. Shaviv acknowledges that he never expected to make it into the New York Times while working as Head of School here. Mr. Shaviv said, “I will never forget what happened with our school and Rashid Khalidi.” Mr. Shaviv praised the GO and the students for acting in a way that was “mature, respectful, and extremely appropriate,” and is happy that the school was able to host an alternative program earlier this year with Mr. Ali Abu Awwad. Mr. Shaviv stated both with respect to the Khalidi episode in particular, and leading the school in general, “At times, this has been a very complex assignment, but I think we’ve Continued on Page 14
be appointed to a very senior leadership position who was not an internal appointment, and as Mr. Shaviv acknowledges, “that brought with it challenge and opportunity.” A highly experienced edcator and administrator, Mr. Shaviv’s tenure at Ramaz was his first in the United States.
By Olivia Hershkowitz ’15 What is The All Star project? The All Star project works to transform the lives of young people in poor communities and poor communities using the developmental power of performance in partnership with caring adults. Inside the All Star Project there are five different movements taking place based on the teenager’s aspirations. There is the All Star Talent Show Network, Development School for Youth, Castillo Theatre, Youth OnStage!, and Operation Conservation: Cops and Kids. In 2009, a group of dedicated Ramaz students joined forces with the All Star teenagers. The students formed a bond by working together twice a month, getting to know each other, and putting something extraordinary together. By the end, they produced an all student written show; a compilation of original written music, poetry, short essays, and some imagery on the theme of heroes. Additionally, they swapped roles in order to mix it up and start to make a change: the All Star teens sang in Hebrew and the former Ramaz students read Maya Angelou’s poetry. Now, four years later, Human Rights Activists, Chessed club volunteers, and Rami Yadid’s musical squad, are taking on the same task. The Ramaz students are working closely with 8 talented African American teens, along with Theatre Director Dan Friedman, from All Stars, every other Monday. Dan Friedman is the Artistic Director of the All Stars project and director of the Castillo Theatre and Youth OnStage! The theatre is a state of the art facility on 10th Avenue and 42nd street. It is much more than a theatre; it is a place where young Continued on page 7
Ali Abu Awwad Speaks at Ramaz By Gabriel Klapholz ’17 Last month, the Ramaz Politics Society (RamPo) invited Ali Abu Awwad to speak at Ramaz. Mr. Awwad spoke on behalf of an organization called Encounter, which works to bring Palestinians and Jews into closer contact with one another. Mr. Awwad spoke about his life as a Palestinian, his views on the rights of Palestinians and his opinion on the future of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Mr. Awwad was “born to a Palestinian refugee family” that was very involved in the political scene. As a
young adult, he spent four years in prison, where he went on a hunger strike and began to consider the advantages of nonviolent protest. Awwad spoke about life after prison and how he “saw Yasir Arafat make an agreement of recognition with Rabin. This was a time when we had hope,” he said. Awwad was later shot by an Israeli soldier and sent to Saudi Arabia for treatment. While in the hospital, he heard that his brother Yussef, a father of two, was killed by
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Israeli soldiers. Awwad said, “Not any amount of hate will bring [his brother] back.” He began to accept that in this bitter conflict, “there are no winners.” After meeting with a Jew who had lost his son amidst Arab-Israeli turmoil, Awwad saw, for the first time in his life, a Jew crying. “At that point, I changed my life,” he said. Awwad realized that “we must engage each other” and think about each other’s rights. He posed the question to the audience, “How can
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you normalize a relationship in an abnormal political situation?” He continued, “I am a normal human being and so are you, so why can’t we build a life over there?” When asked his opinion on Operation Protective Edge, Awwad said, “No one has the right to take another’s life… but I am not here to argue, I have many Israelis at home to do that with.” When asked for a realistic solution to the conflict, Awwad said, “The one state solution is ideal.” It Continued on page 5 Sports Update
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