Motion To Set The Agenda To YUNMUN

Yeshiva University National Model United Nations, otherwise known as YUNMUN, was the place to be on the first weekend of February for any yeshiva student across the country brave enough to enter into an intense game of Jewish Geography while simultaneously solving world hunger. From committees such as the World Health Organization tasked with solving ageism for the rising elderly population to the International Criminal Court assigned to trying an international war criminal, YUNMUN never fails to inspire their delegates to get creative with solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. Whether the answers came from surprise kumzits, a couple of games of Simon Says, or a vigorous competition of pickle bobbing, somehow, throughout the chaos, not only do the delegates leave with lifelong memories, but, they also successfully pass resolutions to solve the crucial issues at hand.

At the first moments, when hundreds of yeshiva delegates flood into the random hotel far into the depths of Connecticut, and when they nervously open the door to their committee rooms, the environment may feel stressful and competitive. It reality, the competition is anything but that. As the conference commences through the first two-hour committee session that feels like an eternity, to the sixth and the last session that goes until midnight, slowly, the demeanor of the strict and stern-faced committee chair loosens, and the games begin. Delegates motion for icebreakers that can range from stating unpopular options to sitting in a circle telling funny stories. Another delegate motions for a pushup competition that, if the committee gets lucky, will go through. Over time, these students, that have never met before and most likely don’t know each other’s names, become like a makeshift family for three days.

Ramaz, this year known as the confederation for the Philippines, worked months in advance under the guidance of Ms. Eson to construct resolutions and public speaking skills that will put Ramaz on the topic of every committee. While every one of the Ramaz delegates thrived over the three days, one stood out and represented the Philippines most memorably. As a first-time YUNMUN attendee, Janelle Ash ’26 came home with the sole honorable mention awarded to Ramaz. Through her outstanding performance, passionate speeches, and remarkably organized flashcards, Ash ’26 helped protect the world from atomic radiation in the committee of SPECPOL (Special Political and Decolonization). Having never gone to a Model UN conference before, her nerves were high, but when asked about her time there, it seemed anything but stressful. “I was pretty nervous before the conference because I didn’t know what to expect, but in the end, I loved my committee, the people, and the environment we had with all the jokes and shtick that kept happening,” said Ash ’26. Everyone who attends YUNMUN should realize that it is not only a Yeshiva University admissions event, but also a place for Jewish teens from across the world to grow as public speakers and, most importantly, have fun. From spontaneous crisis events that ranged from the world splitting apart, which the delegates could only solve with an intense game of color war, to solving the problem of the rising population of couch potatoes by going back to Amish ways and only allowing Red Bull, the chairs just want their delegates to enjoy their three days with these other. When asked about her favorite moment at the conference, Mussie Zalmanov ’24, another first-time delegate, answered, “It must have been when we made a duck shidduch profile for these two rubber ducks. Josephus Quakson and Jane Duck had a duck wedding.” Although not every committee goes to these lengths of shtick, many delegates leave with some form of happiness stemming from winning best delegate or honorable mention, being proud of the speeches they made, the people they met, or the pet goldfish they won, like one girl this year was lucky enough to be awarded.