Volume 78, Issue 2 (November 2015) - The Rampage by The Rampage

The Rampage The Newspaper of the Ramaz Upper School

New York • Volume 78 • Issue 2 • November 2015 • Kislev 5776 • the-rampage.org

Ramaz Responds to the Situation in Israel

Gabriel Klapholz ’17

The increasing violence and tensions in Israel have not gone unanswered in the Ramaz community. Recently, Ramaz seniors and juniors heard an important speaker from the Israeli army, Colonel Bentzi Gruber. Although Col. Gruber was invited many months ago, his talk coincidentally overlapped with a very problematic time in the state of Israel. In the last few weeks, terror attacks against Israeli civilians have increased significantly, sparking fear among Israelis and the worldwide Jewish community that the instability and violence will keep on escalating. Col. Gruber is the Vice Commander of Division 252, an IDF armored division of 20,000 soldiers. His organization, “Ethics in the Field,” is a non-profit that aims to reveal the truth about Israeli counter-terrorism policies, rejecting politically charged myths about how Israel protects its citizens. Col. Gruber discussed the meaning of collateral damage. He said that Israeli soldiers have

only eight seconds to make a decision whether to fire on an out-of-place civilian, who they think may be a terrorist, before

ist target if they are certain that civilians will die in the strike. Perhaps the most powerful part of Gruber’s talk was

ambulances, and smile before committing acts of religious martyrdom. Overall, Gruber’s talk presented the Israeli mil-

serious damage is done. According to Gruber, the Israeli army provides each soldier with a system on how to make these quick decisions. He also stated that Israel will not fire on a terror-

his revealing videos that provided undeniable evidence for certain terrorist phenomena. He showed a video of how Palestinian terrorists use children as human shields, hide out in UN

itary dilemma of dealing with the collateral damage resulting from eliminating terrorists. Later that day, the middle and upper school students met in the new KJ sanc-

tuary to hear an address from Rabbi Lookstein and daven Mincha (which was led by Benjamin Shiff ’16.). Among other things, Rabbi Lookstein encouraged the students to remain aware of the situation in Israel, to call their relatives and friends currently living there, to pray for the continued safety of Israel, and to give charity to help the cause. He informed the students that KJ is creating a fund for the children of Eitan and Na’ama Henkin, whom were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in a drive-by shooting in front of their four children. “I think [the program at KJ] was necessary because it made the entire school aware of what is going on in Israel and how serious the situation is,” said Netanel Kamel ’18. “The get-together was important because we, along with many other schools, got to pray for Israel while being united.” The speech at KJ was a way for Ramaz students to feel part of a larger network and community that cares for Israel.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Fall Musical

Tess Solomon ’16 In mid-October, the fall musical abruptly changed from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The cast had been preparing for the production for several weeks when Mr. Miller decided that the show could not, in fact, go on. A Funny Thing Happened is a comedy musical that takes place in ancient Rome. Pseudolus, a slave, tries to gain his freedom by wooing a lovely neighbor’s courtesan, Phila, for his master Hero. The plot includes a pimp and several showgirls, while the two main characters are explicitly virgins. The New York Times wrote of

a Broadway production that it is “smart” and “buoyant,” but also “cheeky” and “brazen.” Mr. Miller said that the production was inappropriate, and “not just for a Jewish institution. Students and parents would have been uncomfortable with the premise. I was initially hesitant about approving the play, but if the students and faculty advisor want to put on a certain production, I try to accommodate them. But when it got time to make the changes I would have had to make, I realized it couldn’t be done.” Reading through it and taking out the more explicitly inappropriate parts “was my

intention,” said Mr. Miller. “As I read through it, though, I realized it’s not just an issue of rewriting.” Max Deutsch ’16, a cast member of the canceled play, said, “It’s not an easy thing to spend three weeks learning and getting excited about a play to then have to make a huge transition to a new play, new lines, new songs, new characters.” Mr. Miller agreed that he waited too long before pulling the plug. The situation raises more far-reaching questions than the ones about just this one play. Mr. Miller spoke about some of the prior Ramaz theater productions, such as Brighton

Beach Memoirs, 13 the Musical, Pippin, Into the Woods, and A Chorus Line. “Everything,” he says, “is [about] boy/girl [relationships]. It’s the standard premise of drama, particularly those put on in high schools.” In choosing a play, “I try to be respectful of feelings; we’re a very open school. It’s something I’m proud of. We need our productions to reflect the values of the school and also be artistically authentic.” The cast is concerned that choosing only school appropri-

ate plays opens up other problems. “Censorship determining which productions we can put on makes it extremely difficult for us to find a play that appeals to the kids,” Deutsch

said. “The drama department needs new recruits, because the vast majority of this musical is seniors. We need to put on a continued on page 3

Inside this issue...

Everyone’s talking—except the teacher? Ms. Litwack tests out the Harkness method page 4 To recycle or not to recycle? That is not a question A review of the new recycling policy page 7 Ramaz’s resident DJ Bennett Schwartz ’19 impresses students with his mixing skills page 8 New faces on the varsity basketball team Two notable seniors enter the fray page 12

News 2

Elianna Schwartz ’17 It was a long morning for the junior class on Wednesday, the 14th of October. Immediately following davening, the juniors raced to their assigned classrooms to begin the long, rigorous, and exhausting PSAT. For many, this was the first step into the world of standardized testing and all things college related, a door that most are not eager to open. “After we took the PSAT, it really hit me that we have begun the long process of standardized testing and still have a long way to go!” said Shelli Cohen ’17. Every junior class takes the PSAT in school and ultimately has to decide whether they want to stick with the SAT or take the ACT, which has become very popular in recent years. This year, there’s a new twist: the old SAT is being replaced with a new, refreshed version, and the PSAT taken this year reflected that. The final old version of the SAT will be given this January, but that marks the end of one era and the beginning of another; starting in March, only the new SAT will be offered. The Class of 2017 serves as the “guinea pig” with the new SAT. No one knows too much about the test, and as a result, many are resorting to the ACT. Another way to avoid the new and unfamiliar test is to take the ‘old’

Jasmine Levine ’17 On Thursday, October 8th, Ramaz students displayed their sixty-five eclectic clubs at the annual Club Fair. Like every year, the environment was filled with energy and enthusiasm as student leaders eagerly presented their

clubs. Delicious churros were offered as a culinary treat, and the percussion ensemble was present to provide some background music. Students of all years were eager to explore what club fair had to offer. While the number sixty-five seems quite large for the number of clubs in our school, it’s actually only seven more clubs than the numberoffered last year. One difference from prior years, though, is the number of underclassmen who have developed their own clubs. Dov Pianko confirmed, “We have many sophomores who are in leadership positions in clubs. Some of these clubs were suggested in

The Rampage

November 2015/Kislev 5776

Juniors Take the New PSAT SAT before the switch is made. Some precocious students dedicated sophomore year and the summer to catch the SAT before the change. For Matthew Harris ’17, the PSAT was a waste of time, as he said, “I already took the old SAT so this test didn’t really apply to me.” Other students went into the test having already begun studying for the ACT, so for them too, this PSAT was just for the experience. Julia Krevat ’17 said, “I’m well into my preparation for the ACT, so this test didn’t mean much to me.” On the other hand, for Michael Weisberg ’17, who has been preparing for the ACT since July, the PSAT was a game changer. After he took the test and thought about it seriously, he said, “I saw taking the PSAT as pointless. However, after taking the test, I found that I really liked the format of the new SAT. In my eyes, this new SAT is practically an easier version of the ACT. Forty-eight hours ago there was no doubt in my mind that I would be taking the ACT. Now, I’m really torn.” For most, though, the PSAT was just a chance to get their feet wet. Yaffa Korsngold ’17 said, “This was my first encounter with the SAT and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I still don’t know if I’m going to take the SAT or the ACT though. I’m going

to wait and see which practice test I get a higher score on.” A lot of students are following suit; Rachel Wahba ’17 said, “ I thought the PSAT was very helpful and informative to students like me who are still contemplating between the ACT and SAT.” The juniors will be taking the ACT in school on October 22, so this way, they’ll be able to compare their results on both tests. The new SAT is becoming more similar to the ACT—with an optional essay, no penalty for guessing answers, and no tedious vocabulary. Of course, every student is different, so the strengths and weaknesses of each vary. Nancy Toussie ’17 said, “ I found the reading comprehension section to be the most difficult because the stories weren’t interesting so they were harder to read. Also, a lot of questions were follow-ups of the one before it so if you didn’t know the answer to one question, you may not have been able to get the next. The test was long and some sections I couldn’t even finish with extended time”. While Jonah Sobel ’17 said, “I don’t think it was as bad as people make it out to be, except for the math sections- those were difficult under the time pressure.”

Club Fair the middle of their freshmen year and were approved for this year. I am happy to know that many students are passionate about so many different topics and can find ways to actualize their passions with other like-minded students.” Dov thinks the most unique club in his mind is the 3D printing club: “I’m always amazed at their work.” When asked if he would make any changes to the way club fair is run in the coming years, Dov said, “Honestly, one of my favorite parts about club fair is how student-run it has become. I like the informal nature and ambience of the whole event. Of course, I would be open to any comments and suggestions.” While seniors, juniors and sophomores fully explored the vast array of clubs at the fair, for many freshman, the many offerings were actually quite intimidating. Several freshmen commented that they didn’t know where to go first, and they felt uncertain that they’d have the time to participate in all the clubs they found interesting. Others, however, took the fair in stride. Natalie Kahn ’19 said, “I liked [the club fair] because it was very festive, fun, and informal. I wished that there was a little more room for each club because it was a little cramped. I signed up for lots of clubs, like Rampage, Arabic club,

Rise Magazine, Mock Trial, and Debate.” Jamie Doft ’18 commented that attending the club fair as a sophomore was more fun than it had been for him as a freshman. “I enjoyed the fair a lot! I specifically enjoyed that there were so many options to choose from,” he said. “I signed up for four clubs in total. If I could think of anything to change about the event, I would try to make it more organized and in a bigger space. Most of the new clubs were crammed into one table. My favorite club at Club Fair was definitely BIC [Business Investment Club].” Molly Blaustein ’17 was strongly influenced by the club offerings, eagerly saying, “Club fair was a very exciting experience for me. My favorite clubs were the cooking club and the American Sign Language club, because one day I hope to start a cooking show that is completely in Sign Language. I especially loved the churros and aspire to make them like that one day.” Anabelle Ritz ’16 pointed out that the club fair had many new clubs, specifically a large offering of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) clubs this year.

For others, like Jonah, the math section with no calculator proved to be the hardest as it is both time consuming and not something for which we are well trained. But both tests, the new SAT and ACT, have their upsides and downsides for every student. It’s just a matter of finding the better fit for each student. Rachel Whaba ’17 said, “I thought it was good to take this test because the majority of people haven’t sat down to take a full timed test and this PSAT got to show the students how everything works under real time constraints and real rules”. Overall, the current juniors are doing what every student has done or will need to do sooner or later. There is a long road ahead, and the PSAT was only the very first step, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!

November 2015/ Kislev 5776

The-rampage.org

News 3

SophoMORE Fun on the Shabbaton

Abigail Huebner ’18 The sophomores had been looking forward to the Shabbaton, already tired from their first full weeks of school and their history test. They were introduced to the Shabbaton’s theme, “heroes”, with a short video telling explaining that anyone can be a hero, and then they set off to begin the weekend’s activities. The Shabbaton kicked off with a trip to the Jersey Shore Arena, where the sophomores ice skated and played laser tag. After dropping their bags off the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, the sophomores took a quick trip outside to the beach, where some of them—already missing summer and beaches—took hundreds of pictures. The sophomores then had a few hours of free time to prepare for Shabbat, and many more pictures were (of course) taken. By the time Pre-Shabbat Ruach began, the whole administration, along with many teachers, had already arrived. Mr. Miller, Dr. Koplon, Rabbi Stochel, Rabbi Grossman, and teachers, along

continued from page 1

with many of their families, all joined the sophomores on the Shabbaton. Shabbat began with a beautiful Kabalat Shabbat and Maariv. At dinner on Friday night, the students had a chance to bond with the faculty, as teachers and administrators spread themselves out among all of the tables. Dinner was followed by educational and interesting sessions explaining the difference between koach and gevurah (two forms of strength), and how these attributes contribute to being a hero. After a tish, the sophomores had free time to bond with each other until it was time to go to sleep. Class President Elana Shalamoff ’18 said, “Shabbaton is one of my favorite parts of the year because it’s an opportunity for us all to make new friends!” After davening the next morning, the sophomores had a Kiddush and then split into sessions for the annual sophomore dvar torah competition. Michael Gul ’18, this year’s winner, said, “It was a very meaningful teamwork experience and I really learned a lot in the process.” Lunch was followed by a Sephardic

Mincha. Rest time in the afternoon provided even more of an opportunity for grade bonding. As Shabbat drew to a close, the sophomores sang and danced together before packing up, eating some more food, and then heading back to the silver box on 78th street. Class president Netanel Kamel ’18 said, “This year, Shabbaton was even better than last year—our achdut [togetherness] was much stronger and our entire grade really came together to have a great Shabbat.

Fall Musical Changed

show that the students will like so they will hopefully want to join next year.” The show that was chosen to replace A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was not simply picked as a safe alternative, explained director Jason Robinson: “Joseph was the musical that I initially intended to direct this fall,” as it is his “all-time favorite” musical. He added, “Naturally, I was distressed when the possibility of not doing the show was presented to me. I had already put in two months of work on it. However, I did understand Mr. Miller’s feelings on the matter.

Could the timing have been better? Yes, of course. But, the bottom line is that some audience members, perhaps many, would’ve been made uncomfortable by Forum.” Aliza Oppenheim ’16, the assistant director, said, “Although switching shows was frustrating, every member of the cast really rose to the challenge and put fantastic effort, energy, enthusiasm into rehearsing for the new show. We gained some very talented new cast members and jumped into the rehearsal process right away. We are really excited about what we are putting on and can’t wait to show it to the rest of the

The cast for the new production is: Jack Hartstein, Max Deutsch, Ben Shiff, Aliza Oppenheim, Sariel Melamed, Sheli Fouzailoff, Malka Chu, Adina Weinberger, Lizzy Bier, Lillian Pravda, Rebecca Araten, Sarah Araten, Yoni Linder, and David Gad. Mr. Robinson praised their resiliency and their work-ethic: They are the most important people in this situation. Because of them, I look forward to every rehearsal.” Though there was some concern about the switch, many students remain confident. “I’m looking forward to the musical,” said Daniel Gutkind

Akiva Gold ’16 Over the past twenty years, October has become known as Breast Cancer Awareness month. This month has been marked with walks and other events to fund research, events to bring recognition to the terrible disease, and a proliferation of the color pink. On Friday, October 9th, Ramaz once again held an annual pink day. A few days before Pink Day, students were encouraged to wear pink clothes on the upcoming Friday. Thus, the whole school davening that kicked off Pink Day was awash with students sporting pink clothing. Among the colored apparel worn were pink shirts, pink skirts, pink socks and shoes, and even pink glasses and scarves. Sam Iofel ’17 said, “It was great to be able to see that so many people came together for the same cause. It was truly inspiring to see the unity of the whole school on such an issue, symbolizing on a broader level how all of us are united in the fight against breast cancer.” Additionally, Tzedakah that day was collected for

Sharsheret, the only non-profit supporting Jewish women in their fight against breast cancer, and during homeroom, all sorts of pink goodies were sold, with the funds made going to Sharsharet, However, Pink Day also took on a more serious tone. At the conclusion of the all school Tefillah, students heard from two powerful speakers about their experience with breast cancer awareness and the aforementioned Sharsheret. The first speaker was Jenny Tenenbaum ’09, a Ramaz alumna and sister of the late Rochelle Shoretz. Ms. Shoretz was the founder of Sharsheret, and beat breast cancer herself multiple times. However, this past year, Ms.

Shoretz passed away from complications from the disease. Ms. Tenenbaum spoke about Ms. Shoretz’s optimism in the face of danger and her reasons for founding Sharsheret, mainly in order to help Jewish women beat breast cancer, just as she did. She then introduced the second speaker, Dr. Karin Katz. Dr. Katz is a mother of Ramaz alumni, a local breast cancer radiologist, and was a dear friend of Rochelle Shoretz. She spoke eloquently about Ms. Shortez’s strength and power, and the power of Sharsheret, weaving an image of Ms. Shoretz and the charity she founded through a collection of quotes, anec-

school.”

Pink Day

’16. “Technicolor Dreamcoat is a great show, and I’m sure the cast will step up to the plate.” The musical will be presented on December 16.

dotes, and biblical stories. Additionally, both women also thanked Ramaz for its upcoming participation in the Sharsheret walk occurring the following Sunday. Hannah Benhamo ’16 said that the day gave her a “new appreciation for [Sharsheret] and the work it does in addressing the non-medical hardships of breast caner that often get overlooked.” Elizabeth Ritz ‘16 added that the day was so beautiful because it “showed how the community can really come together and rally behind a certain cause, and it showed how Ramaz can help make a difference in the world around it, not just within its own walls.”

News 4

The Rampage

Trump for President? Most Ramaz Students Say No

Natalie Kahn ’19 and Paola Mattout ’19

Although the United States presidential election is more than a year away, students at Ramaz can be heard frequently discussing the current slate of candidates for the 45th president. Some students don’t have preferences yet. They are either still undecided in their choice for president, like Ariella Linhart ’19, who says, “I’ll figure it out next November,” or are just not following the election at all. Predictably, the candidate generating the most controversy is Donald Trump. A billionaire real estate developer and landlord, Trump’s candidacy has created quite a stir due to both his lack of political correctness and lack of experience as a politician. Despite the numerous controversies surrounding Trump, he has performed remarkably well in the polls and is now considered a genuine contender, perhaps even the front-runner, for the Republican nomination.

Some Ramaz students have rallied around Donald Trump because he is pro-Israel and not focused on what is “politically correct”. Take Jake Amaltov ’19, who likes Donald Trump partly “because he says what is on his mind.” Others find his lack of a filter distasteful. “I am shocked and embarrassed for America that Donald Trump continues to lead in the polls and turn the presidential election into another episode of The Apprentice [a reality show hosted by Donald Trump where the winner gets to work for one of Trump’s businesses],” says Jake Lefkowitz ’17. “I just feel like [the election] is a joke now that Donald Trump is in it... they just support him because they don’t like the other candidates,” says Noa Attias ’18. Noah Brill ’18 observed that Donald Trump “dodges every question he’s asked... I haven’t taken him seriously since the moment he declared his candidacy.” One of Trump’s more provocative positions is his stance on immigration. Trump not only wants build a border wall, but to hunt down and deport illegal immigrants. “Donald Trump doesn’t know what he is talking about,” says Yonatan Weitzner ’19, who thinks these policies are unrealistic and harsh. Of course, for some students supporting a classic Democratic Party platform like Esther Katz ’19, Trump is a non-starter: “Donald Trump won’t give the minorities the equality that they deserve,” says Katz, regarding Trump’s opposition to gay marriage and immigration as well as his flippant comments about women. Ruth Levy ’17 echoed Katz’s sentiments: “Don’t get me started on Trump. He is a manifestation of America’s frustration with the lack of movement in politics. And he will single-handedly burn

November 2015/Kislev 5776

Ms. Litwack Encourages Student-Led Discussion

Gabriel Klapholz ’17 Teachers are often afraid to deviate from classical linear teaching methods, where the teacher lectures to the students, who then respond and comment. However, Ms. Litwack has recently brought a new learning method to Ramaz. In her eleventh grade classes, once a week, she has initiated the Harkness method, a form of student-led discussion where the teacher remains largely uninvolved and allows the students to develop their ideas with each other through conversation. Ms. Litwack heard about the Harkness method from her daughter’s honors English class at the Fieldston School. When she first heard about the method, Ms. Litwack was shocked, but she soon became very eager to learn more. According to Ms. Litwack, Phillips Exeter Academy developed the method when philanthropist Edward Harkness offered to give a sizeable contribution for the purposes of creating alternative ways to learn. Harkness felt that many students were uninvolved in the classroom and that their educational needs were not being met. At Exeter, in some form, all classes incorporate the Harkness method into learning. Ms. Litwack went to a popular summer workshop at Exeter to learn more about the method. Ms. Litwack described the Harkness method as the “logical next step and ramification” of her interests in the classroom. She has situated her students in a circle for a long time now and seeks to

run her classroom, to some extent, “in a democratic way.” Ms. Litwack’s interest in group work also reflects the fact that she has been moving in this direction for years. However,

she also acknowledges the fact that it doesn’t represent what the majority of Ramaz faculty are interested in. According to Ms. Litwack, the method is based on the fact that “students can be the architects of their own learning.” She wants to train her students to know when and how to move on from topics that they have already discussed, but more so to feel “ownership over their education.” Ms. Litwack admitted that Ramaz is a hard place to institute Harkness on a daily basis because the discussion requires students to actually prepare, a challenging demand in an already rigorous academic environment. Acknowledging that it’s very challenging to have a Harkness discussion, Ms. Litwack is refraining from instituting the method in her

freshmen classes. She said that she is considering giving the freshmen the opportunity to experience a Harkness discussion next semester. Still, she thinks that juniors are at “the right developmental age and intellectual ability” to be able to handle the method and gain educational value from it. The Harkness method does not marginalize the teacher. The teacher is still necessary in the classroom, because there is value in preparatory lecturing. During the actual discussion, Ms. Litwack tries to “find a balance” in how she involves herself. Ms. Litwack understands the method as part of a process that her classes are going through together. Nobody has strongly objected to the method in her classes and, in general, students are quite “receptive” to it, or are at least “trying their best.” There are always those who never talk in English class without the teacher pushing them, and Harkness requires them to speak up and confront their quiet nature. The Harkness method teaches students useful skills, including patience, listening skills, and oratory skills. “There’s so much of it at university level,” said Ms. Litwack, that it is important for students to start learning it now.

this country to the ground.” Finally some students have questioned whether Trump’s financial success translates into political electability. As Matthew Hirschfeld ’17 put it, “I realized that he is savvy in the business world, where bullishness can make up for a lack of cleverness and intelligence, but not as astute and genuinely passionate as I envisioned my president.”

Introducing... the Rampage Facebook page! Stay updated with the latest news as it happens — school events, sports recaps, and new online exclusive content! facebook.com/ramazrampage (or scan the qr code)

OPINION

The Rampage Ramaz Upper School

The Rampage • November 2015

New York • Volume 78 • Issue I • September 2015 • the-rampage.org

Editors-in-Chief: Akiva Gold Oren Oppenheim DJ Presser Associate Editors: Eliana Doft Alexander Glaubach Tess Solomon Faculty Advisor: Dr. Milowitz Illustrators:

Gabrielle Amar- Oumiet,

Schedule Your SATs and ACTs on Your Own Time

Gabriel Klapholz ’17

When I returned home from a major standardized test on a Sunday this past month, I was exhausted and worn out. Not only did I have a great deal of work on my hands, but I also had a physics test the next day. However, a couple of days later and still on both feet, I realized that the there is little way for Ramaz to take into account the individualized testing schedules of its students. All of the SAT and ACT dates should not and cannot be used as a guideline for how the school’s test schedule is organized throughout the entire year. However, the school should make allowances for the most common testing dates – in October and May, and in June when possible. While most colleges require SATs and ACTs, the tests are technically optional. Because of the nature of these tests, it is hard to work an entire school’s test calendar around tests that students make decisions about individually. The Rampage is the stuThe undeniable dispardent newspaper of the ity between the SAT and ACT Ramaz Upper School. It is schedule and the regular Ramaz published on a monthly test schedule is even clearer for basis. Letters to the editor may be submitted to rampage@ramaz.org. Letters Eliana Doft ’16 must be signed and may be edited for space and to When it comes to conform to Rampage style first semester senior year, every and format. school has their own unique

Contributing Writers: Nicole Aboodi Abigail Huebner Gabriel Klapholz Julia Levi Jasmine Levine Josh Sarachek Elianna Schwartz Naomi Freilich Rebecca Araten Anaelle Elhadad Caroline Jaspan Johnny Povman Louise Sitt Rebekah Fenster Natalie Kahn Paola Mattout Yasmine Sokol Mollie Blaustein Emily Weissman Oriya Romano Sam Schair Jacob Hochheiser David Grinberg Harry Shams Derek Korf-Korn

the freshmen and sophomores. While students in these grades may be taking various SAT IIs, very few of them have even started to think about the SATs and ACTs. The SAT IIs are an even more personalized test. For these tests, students have many more choices – Biology,

inflexible as is, because around 100 students per grade have an average of eight test-giving classes. That’s a lot of tests to administer. Limited by standardized test restrictions, class presidents would have even less maneuverability in making requests to revise test schedules.

Chemistry, English, History and even Hebrew Language. The variations in each student’s overall testing schedule become endless. Trying to fashion a regular school test schedule by taking all of these dates into consideration would be an incredible headache for the administration and class presidents. Knowing from experience as a 9th and 10th grade class president, the test schedule is limited to certain days when all classes meet. It’s often very

Another practical concern is that while SAT and ACT dates often fall out either directly before or during finals’ weeks, if the school were to try and take these exams into account when creating the test schedule, the entire purpose of doing so – i.e. to avoid conflicts in the dates of these tests – would be null and void by the time finals came around. It would be almost impossible to make sure that the full two weeks of finals in both semesters contain no standardized

Ramaz’s culture falls directly in the middle of the spectrum. For the most part, Ramaz seniors will answer honestly about their college decisions,

I appreciate and feel comfortable in an environment where I can talk to my friends about my frustrations and failures, as well as my ideas and successes.

tell you about their essays, and admit rejection. The only aspect that is kept on the down low is standardized testing.

I am relieved that in the case of a possible rejection, I will know that other classmates are experiencing the same

test dates. There are instances, however, where students’ test-taking needs should be taken into account. In October and May, when there are many students who take SATs and ACTs, the school should take the standardized test-taking dates into account when making the regular test schedule. In conclusion, the test schedule should not be affected by all the SAT or ACT testing dates. Not only would doing so be logistically impractical, but it also would also negatively affect the system by which student representatives can ask for changes in the already established schedule. Nevertheless, there are instances throughout the school year where very large groups of students are taking standardized tests. On these occasions, the school should give some leeway to test-taking students. Other conflicts in testing dates are unfortunate, but are often unavoidable and should be treated accordingly.

College Confidential?

The opinions expressed in the Rampage are of the author’s alone, and do not represent the views or opinions of Ramaz, the Rampage, or its Editors.

culture regarding the college process. In schools like SAR, most seniors prefer to keep their early and regular decisions private, only revealing the information once they have been accepted. On the other hand, schools like Shalhevet in Los Angeles are so open about the process that they have a “Wall of Shame” dedicated to seniors’ rejection letters. I believe that

thing, but I won’t have to feel pressured to display my disappointment for everyone in school to see. While openness about the college process can foster a mutually supportive environment, it runs the risk of creating an extremely competitive atmosphere. When everyone where people are applying early decision, it is easy to seek out and see how you size up against your “competition.” It becomes a main topic of conversation, an obsession at the lunch table with your friends and at the dinner table with your parents. Frankly, I am tired and bored of the subject. I miss talking about this week’s Saturday Night Live.

November 2015/Kislev 5776

Elianna Schwartz

The-rampage.org

The Spirit of Simchat Torah

If you were to listen in on students’ conversations in school the weeks before Simchat Torah you may think, “Wow, it is so nice that everyone is talking about Simchat Torah! Such great holiday spirit.” But if you were to listen a little more closely you would realize that the conversations are not about where to dance, celebrate and rejoice over the completion of the reading of the Torah and the beginning of a new cycle. Or, for that matter, about whether you are going to participate in reading the Torah in shul. Or about whether you are going to catch the early or late minyan on Hoshanna Rabba, the end of the penitential season. Rather the buzz around school is, “Where are you spending Simchat Torah? Are you going to Englewood? The Five Towns? Manhattan? Westchester? Whose house are you staying at? Who else is going to be there? What are you wearing?” These are some of the very important questions surrounding the excitement of the holiday. Simchat Torah has turned into the biggest, most elaborately planned, party of the year. The logistics of who is sleeping where, who is eating where, and most importantly who is partying where are incredibly complicated. No one wants to be left out. None of the planning involves what goes on in shul, but rather in the streets, or in people’s homes. After the two-day Chag is over, the stories begin to emerge. Rumors start to surface. The focus of the holiday is not on the singing, dancing and Kiddushes that go on in shul, but the after-parties. The after-parties seem to be the highlight of the two-day Yom tov. Those who spent the Chag as part of an organized group or program had a totally different experience. In New Rochelle, Alexandra Schreiber ’17 and Mariah Hubert ’17 didn’t experience any drinking, went to Shul and had Yom Tov meals. They both went on Mach-Hach Baaretz, a Bnei Akiva summer program to Israel, and had an organized camp reunion/“Simchaton” in New Rochelle during the holiday. Alexandra Schreiber ’17 said, “There were meals with my whole bus, which were amazing just because I was spending time with friends…it definitely felt like a holiday, and—honestly, I know this is so corny, but my Simchat Torah really was full of Simcha.” Mariah Hubert ’17 adds, “There wasn’t really [a lot of ] drinking because our counselors from the summer were there, of course some kids still drank though. It was such a great time and it was amazing to be back with all of my camp friends.” Israel provided an upbeat religious experience to many as well. Danny Jaspan ’17 spent the holiday with his family in Israel. He had a very enjoyable holiday; “I spent the Chag at Netiv Aryeh, where my brother is studying for the year. I had meals there and got an Aliyah with all the other Yeshiva students. Overall I had a very memorable holiday.” I was fortunate to spend the holiday in Israel as well. Being in Israel for Sukkot, you really feel the holiday. You see it everywhere you go. It is a very festive time. The whole country is on break and everyone is celebrating. In

Annaelle Elhadad ’17

Opinions 6

Ra’anana, there were hours of socializing after Hakafot but there was no drinking or inappropriate partying involved. Those who just went somewhere with a group of friends had a more difficult time experiencing the Chag in a positive manner. An anonymous student spent the holiday in Englewood, did not get an Aliyah, only went to shul the first day, and encountered many others who were drinking, smoking and using their phones. Nicole Aboodi ’17 also spent the Chag in Englewood where she had a somewhat different experience. She said, “Yes, we went to shul everyday and ate meals with our host’s family and all of our friends staying at the house. It felt like a holiday and it was very nice.” But, she continues, “there was definitely drinking.” Even though Simchat Torah is a holiday celebrated outside of school, administration and faculty of yeshivas are aware of what goes on. According to Mr. Miller, principals of various yeshivas got together in 2013 to co-author a

letter that went out to parents of schools including Ramaz, TABC, Ma’ayanot, MTA, Frisch, and SAR. The letter addressed the issue of alcohol consumption over the Chag and was sent to different neighborhoods in the New York and New Jersey area. Since then, the idea has come up to write a similar letter and send it out to additional neighborhoods where kids spend the holiday. As Mr. Miller expresses, “We’ve been trying to send a clear message, but it’s hard to legislate what a school can control in people’s homes.” This year, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin of congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood put a curfew in place in response to past experiences over the two-day Yuntif in Englewood. But just like everything else that takes place outside of school, Mr. Miller says, “Parents need to be firm about their understandings and expectations. School can help, and believe the same things, but I don’t know what more we can do other than send out a clear strong message.” At the end of the day, the fate of this holiday lies in the hands of the parents and their children.

It’s Time to Take a Stand

We’ve heard it all; baby killers, savages, murderers, we’re an egregious nation with big noses and money to conquer the world. Oh, and don’t forget the horns on top of our heads that certify our depravity, parently those exist too. At this moment in time, the Jewish nation is truly being attacked, from constant acts of anti-semitism ranging from the streets of Europe, to college campuses all over the United States and the media. It has made us look like monsters and lunatics. If you want to find anything describing how

bad the Jews are, just go find any Jewish writer from the New York Times and you’re guaranteed to find a spectacular article on how we used blood from Palestinian children for Passover. Especially with the current situation in Israel, we feel that world is against us. There is no one to help us, no one we can reach out to for comfort. We cry in anger at the cold blooded murderers of children, of women and men, who have done nothing wrong. We mourn their losses on our own, because nobody else seems to see them. This brings me great anger towards the world; how can its inhabitants sit and watch as innocent people die? It’s something I truly will never comprehend. Yet with all this anger, as Jewish people, it is not only important, but it is our duty to recognize those few who have, contrary to popular opinion, stood up for us. Despite the danger and scorn it has caused them and their families. Take Sara Zoabi, a Palestinian- Israeli, Zionist- Arab, cousin of anti-semitic parliament member MK Zoabi, who has spoken out on national television condemning the acts of the Palestinian Arabs. She sent a strong message saying to them, “Wake up! We live in paradise, com-

pared to other countries, to Arab countries- we live in paradise.” She and her family risked their lives to show public support for Israel; you won’t even find a Jew living in America standing up for Israel in a subway car, yet look at this act of bravery that Ms. Zoabi demonstrated. As Jews, we must not hate everyone, even if they hate us. It is our weapon, to appreciate every life that has stood up for us and supported us, because in all honesty, we need it. We need people like Ms. Zoabi to help us fight this image that is being portrayed of us. We’re not baby killers, we don’t have horns and our aim is not to conquer the world- let’s make that known. Maybe when they finally see, a light bulb will go off in their heads and they’ll help us deal with all of the anti-semitic cold blooded murderous actions taken all over the world. Most importantly, even during this time of great anger, as Rachel Fraenkel said (mother of murdered teenager Naftali Fraenkel Z”L) “Let us not lose what is unique to us, our ability to love and appreciate every human being- because that is what G-d is looking at to keep the Jewish nation alive.”

Features 7

Jasmine Levine ’17

The Rampage

This App is for You

The abundance of apps available to enhance our phone and life experiences continues to escalate and amaze. This year we will focus on varied apps in order to capture a wider audience. Have you ever wanted to be a DJ, Dr. Phil, or work at WFAN? Have you been overwhelmed by what goes into the process and confused where all the wiring goes? Well, Mixlr is the perfect program to give you the experience of doing your own radio show or podcast. This app affords you the opportunity to easily

broadcast great quality sound, using 3G, 4G or WiFi. Once you have completed your project, you can save a copy of your work and email it out via Dropbox, Soundcloud or other similar programs. Another great app is Evernote Food. We all

you would like to go back and repeat, you have a hard time finding the needed information. Evernote Food allows you to store data on restaurants, recipes and pictures of your favorite treats. Who has not had their phone die on them? Wouldn’t it be great if you could make the most im-

portant people in your life aware that you are about to fall off the grid? Last Message is the app that everyone needs. This app will text, email, Facebook message, or tweet the friends and family you select to alert them when your phone is about to die. My favorite app of the month is MyScript Calculator. When I am in a hurry and I am trying to use my calculator, I hate the typos I get when I hit the wrong button. I have to start all over again! MyScript Calculator allows the user to hand-write the math problem and the system solves it. It is even brilliant

for bad handwriting. For me, this is a must get! Hope you enjoyed. Happy apping! are guilty of snapchating great food pics and instagramming the perfect dinner. But when you want to go back and find out where you have been and what

Recycling Showing Early Signs of Success

Tyler Mandelbaum ’17

There has been much talk around Ramaz about the new Recycling Program this year. While there have been attempts in previous years to start recycling, none ever really took off. People were uninformed about which bins to put their trash in, and there was too much overall confusion. Recycling is important because it is our responsibility as individuals, and also as a community, to protect our environment. This includes protecting the water and the air that we all use on a day to day basis, as well as trying to protect the animals and the people on the planet. Recycling is an important way in which we do our

part to help the environment so that it may continue to give what it currently does for many years to come. You may have seen Ms. Benel at during lunch monitoring the bins, making sure that all waste goes in the correct bins. What makes this year’s recycling program different from others is that the environmental club is doing everything in its power to make clear the importance of being well informed. They believe that being knowledgeable about what goes in which bins, as well as why recycling is important, is ultimately what determines if someone will recycle or not. Frequent environmental club at-

tendee Tal Ullmann ’17 says, “The program is working a lot better this year than it ever has before – and that makes all of us extremely happy! For years, people just threw their garbage into whatever trash bin they saw first, and everything just ended up being combined and thrown out. Now that people are more aware of the whole recycling process, we are starting to make a lot of progress, and we can work towards the goal of having the whole school completely involved recycling. I am so glad that it is receiving a lot of attention, because it is an important issue that is not only relatively easy to solve, but is a really important thing to do for the environment”. Together, we can all make a huge impact on how the world will continue to run by doing something as simple as throwing out trash in the right bins.

November 2015/Kislev 5776

Schoology Reviewed

Netanel Kamel ’18 This year, Ramaz decided to stop using the old fashioned “web.ramaz.org” and start using a new online school system called “Schoology”. There are many problems that we are encountering during this transition. Some teachers are not transitioning at all. They still use the old website, or they use “Google Classroom,” or they use no online technology at all. This can be very frustrating because no one wants to log into Schoology, Google Classroom, and the Ramaz website every night to check for work. This hassle of switching back and forth has proved very frustrating for some students and administrators. Another disadvantage is that Schoology is a more universal system, while the Ramaz website was technically “built for Ramaz”, therefore supplying all its needs. The test calendar is one very important feature for students and teachers that Schoology is missing. Teachers can check when they are able to assign a test while students can check when they have a test in the following week. On the other hand, there are advantages to Schoology. It has an application in the iPhone App Store. We are now given the option to download the Schoology app, sign in with our Ramaz email, and receive a notification every time a teacher posts a new assignment or a test grade. This makes logging on to your computer to check what work must be done for the following day unnecessary. Although this first year of using Schoology may be difficult and it may take some time to adjust, we all hope that by next year all problems navigating between sites will be resolved.

Pink Day or Lavender Day?

Yasmine Sokol ’19

This year, the students of Ramaz united and wore pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Some students argued over whether we should be wearing pink, the color representing breast cancer, as opposed to wearing lavender, the color symbolizing all cancers. Some thought that wearing lavender would be a better idea because the color lavender supports all types of cancer. However, breast cancer is not only a common cancer, but it is the leading cancer affecting women. There are other months for different forms of cancer, such as May, which is Brain Cancer Awareness Month. Danya Jacobs ’19 says, “I think that it is okay that we wear pink to support breast cancer because it is a common cancer which affects many people and their families. There are other awareness days for other cancers.” If students really do want another day like pink day, then they should go ahead, find a month and a color, spread the word, and start a movement.

November 2015/Kislev 5776

The-rampage.org

Interview With Noe Horowitz ’19

Fashion Club

Nicole Aboodi ’17

Nicole Aboodi: What countries did you live in before moving to the U.S. and when? Noe Horowitz: So I was born in France and lived there for about 6 months. Then, I went to live in Belgium until I was three years old. Then, I went to live in England for 9 ½ years and I moved to the U.S. in September of 2014. N.A.: Wow, so cool! Can you tell me a little bit about what life was like in England and how it differs from life here? N.H.: Well, first of all: the suburbs are so different. There is so much more space here; most houses in the suburbs have a lot of property, but in England, it was very crowded and I had about 5 foot distance between each house. The suburbs here have way more green everywhere; they have way more nature and the roads are quieter.

uniform with a blazer and a tie; if the uniform wasn’t perfect (like the shirt wasn’t tucked in or the top button wasn’t done up), there would be a one-hour detention after school. The school had about 3000 students, which is about 320 students in each grade. The classes weren’t as interactive as they are at Ramaz. There was no calling out at all or talking in class. It was very strict, but most schools in England are. It was very orthodox, because there were no electronics being used by students in the class; there were smartboards in class, but that was strictly used by the teachers.

Julia Levi ’18 Every year there are a wide array of clubs to choose from at the club fair. Many are ones that have been around for a while and most students have heard of them prior to the fair. However there are always the small selection of clubs that have just started. This year marks the record of the highest number of new clubs, with many started by this year’s sophomores.

school and how they can form a fashion business. “We wanted to make a club where we could bring in women from different aspects of the fashion world to show girls of Ramaz what an important role women play in it and also of course to show how fun fashion is,” said Hanna Sholes ‘18. This club will meet roughly once a month to listen to a speaker of the fashion business,

N.A.: So do you prefer Ramaz? N.H.: By far! Teachers in England never made any jokes or anything. I guess I liked that school because they did have a lot of clubs during lunch and they had excellent facilities, such as professional trampolines, two huge gyms, a huge climbing wall, many fields and a huge library. N.A.: Why did your family move to the U.S.? N.H.: It was basically because my dad’s job gave us an option to move here and so we took it.

N.A.: Was your school in England a lot like Ramaz? N.H.: Not at all! In England, high school starts at 7th grade, so I went to high school for one year in England before moving here. In England, I went to a school called JFS (Jew Free School) and it was very different. First of all, there was no gum at all or no phones at all. There was a

Features 8

N.A.: What do you miss most about living in Europe? N.H.: The fact that everyone knew everything about soccer, because it is the most played sport. And my friends. N.A.: What do you like most about the U.S.? N.H.: I like a lot of stuff here. But one of the things I love the most about here probably is the fact that there is a long summer and that there is the beach 5 minutes away from my house, but at the same time, I go to Manhattan every day.

One of these clubs, which was very popular at the fair, is the Fashion club, otherwise known as the Women Entrepreneur club. The club was started by Louise Sitt and Hanna Sholes ‘18. They thought of creating this club in March of last year and then had it approved by Dov Pianko and were ready to begin planning for this year. While the business investment and the business of sports clubs already exist, this club is unique in that it focuses on the girls in the

such as a fashion magazine editor, someone who works for a famous brand, or even a fashion designer. Because of our great resources in New York City, Sitt and Sholes also hope to expand from the school and have club trips to places such as a fashion magazine’s headquarters and take a tour of the premises. “Ramaz really lacked any sort of fashion club,” said Sitt ‘18. “We can’t wait for our club to get started!”

Bennett Schwartz, Mixing His Way Through Ramaz

Harry Shams ’19 and David Grinberg ’19

During one freshman lunch period in October, Bennett Schwartz ’19 amazed the school by showing off his impressive DJing skills. He came prepared with an authentic board, speakers, headphones, and a specialized computer. After wowing the crowd with his music, we had the privilege of sitting down with Bennett in order to ask him a few questions about his DJing.

20 pounds actually.

H.S. and D.G.: How long have you been DJing? B.S.: About a year. I actually just started music production recently though. I’ve always had a passion for music and I played the violin until I was about 13. I thought that if I wanted to pursue music further, I should get into DJing.

H.S. and D.G.: Do you have a stage name? B.S.: DJ Kwinter...don’t ask.

H.S. and D.G.: What was the first step to pursuing this new hobby? B.S.: My brother had been mixing music for years. Since he lives in Israel now, he gave me his equipment to use. After about a month of practice, I bought a Mac specifically for DJing. The software I use takes up most of the computer’s memory. H.S. and D.G.: Why did you bring your DJ set to school? B.S.: I had heard about music production club, and I was told that it was being mixed with DJing. It turns out it wasn’t. I had my equipment in school already, so during lunch I just thought to myself, I’ll set up (my equipment) in the lounge and play a little. It wasn’t planned at all. H.S. and D.G.: What did you think people’s reactions were going to be? B.S.: To be honest, I really had no idea. While setting up (my equipment) I was pretty nervous. People seemed to have enjoyed it though, and because of that I am actually in the process of trying to make a DJing club. H.S. and D.G.: How did you travel with all of your equipment? B.S.: I brought it in a custom made padded case but it was still really heavy. About

H.S. and D.G.: Would you consider DJing as a profession? B.S.: For now it’s just a hobby of mine in order to make money. I don’t think I’d ever actually end up having a career in DJing.

November 2015/Kislev 5776

The-rampage.org

Features 9

Dual Perspectives: Israel Under Attack

Oren Oppenheim ’16

Author’s Note: I wanted to write a feature about the current situation in Israel with all of the constant terror attacks, but I decided that it was important to get another voice in the picture—the voice of someone from Israel, who is actually living through the terror right now. I met Mollye Oze at the BIMA Arts Program at Brandeis University; she’s been living in Jerusalem for over eight years now. She actually visited Ramaz last year as a part of the program that last year’s sophomores embarked on—her school was the Jerusalem school that worked in tandem with Ramaz. I asked her if she would be interested in collaborating with me on an article about the situation, and she was more than willing to lend a hand. Below are our thoughts—I’ve structured this so that it alternates between my voice and hers, so you can see both the contrasts and the connections between our perspectives.

now. Mollye Oze: When people outside of Israel hear about the current wave of terror in Israel, I find that there are two main responses. One, they get scared and can’t believe anyone actually lives the way we do. Two, they say, “Israeli’s are used to this by now” or “this happens all the time there”. OO: What can I do when it feels like I can’t do anything? I’ve tried to stay up-to-date with the current situation in

take the bus or [has] to look over [their] shoulder when [they] walk down the street and watch out for knives. You can argue that there is always something in Israel, whether it is a war or an attack, but there has not been [as] many civilian attacks in a very long time. It started last year, when the three boys were murdered... That is when the incitement for terror really began. There [was] a terror wave last year, right [Operation Protective Edge]–

a friend or two there before the program!) So beyond just supporting Israel, I have a bigger emotional stake than ever in the situation in Israel. I’m praying every moment I can that my friends will stay safe and happy… MO: However, that is not the whole story. The truth is, we are sad, we are scared, we are worried about our loved ones, ourselves and the ones we do not even know, but we are not scared enough to stop living.

Oren Oppenheim ’16: I’ve rarely ever been afraid to go out and about throughout New Jersey and New York City. Yes, I avoid walking alone in sketchier areas, but overall I’ve usually felt safe and not in danger of being attacked. Reading about how once-safe places in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and elsewhere in Israel have now been scarred by an attack, I’ve realized how much I’ve taken that security for granted. I don’t need to walk around making sure to look behind my back every few minutes. I can take busses and trains without fearing something will happen. I’m so fortunate… and it makes me feel even worse about what’s going on in Israel right

Israel-my Facebook feed is filled with alerts of new stabbings and attacks, videos with graphic content warnings, and messages of support to the Holy Land from friends around the world. I haven’t posted yet—I will, I want to, but it feels a bit empty to do so. I live so far away from where it’s all happening; it doesn’t feel like I can actually do anything tangible to help. I can’t just hop on a plane, fly over, and volunteer in an Israeli hospital or take down terrorists or something. I’m stuck here in the USA while my heart is five thousand miles away. MO: First of all – it does not happen all the time, and no one is used to not…able to

although not to the extent of this one, and things [had] been quiet for a very long time, yet it never truly ended. This time, even minors are participating in the attacks; some are even as young as thirteen. Jerusalem is all sold out of pepper spray. OO: Particularly after this past summer, the constant terror in Israel right now terrifies me. I attended a summer program at Brandeis University that had a number of international participants, including a large contingent from Israel. Some of my closest friends during my summer there are Israeli—so now I have a ton of friends living through the terror right now. (Not to mention that I already had family and

The rule in Israel–which everybody knows–is to keep living your life. You don’t take the bus? There is a huge traffic jam because everyone is driving to school. On the one hand you keep your phone with you at all times to get updates on latest attack, but at the same time no one is avoiding the places where people have been hurt. OO: When Rabbi Lookstein addressed the entire Ramaz community about the events. he first said that there are four things we can do to help: to stay aware of what’s going on, to keep everyone in our prayers, to call our friends in Israel if we can, and to give charity to causes that will help support Israel. Then he added in a fifth idea: If we

Naomi Freilich ’18

Easy Sesame Noodle Recipe: ½ Cup Sesame Oil ½ Cup Soy Sauce ¼ Cup Sugar 3 Scallions (chopped) Sesame Seeds (Black and White) 1 Package of thick Spaghetti

October Recipe: Easy Sesame Noodles

Once the pasta is cooked, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, and sugar in a small container. Chop up the three scallions and sprinkle onto the pasta with sesame seeds. If not serving the noodles immediately, sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds onto the pasta later on. Enjoy!

can, we should visit Israel soon, and not change any prior plans to visit if we had them. I’m already doing the first two things, and plan on doing the next two. (The time difference makes the idea to call difficult but I’m going to try!) I won’t be able to do the fifth… but I’m going to add in a sixth idea: to hope. To hope that things will improve. To hope that life will return to normal. It’s not something tangible, but when it seems hard to do anything that tangible to help the situation in Israel from America, I think it’s important to at least keep hope, intangible as it may be, alive. MO: There are two ways to get through it: One is to talk about it and remember we are all one united nation, and we are all here for each other. The other is to ignore the constant updates, and continue with your daily routine while searching for ways to laugh at how ridiculous and surreal the situation is. While they show serious self-defense videos on the news, there are also plenty of skits and parodies going around online. If anyone thinks that we are shutting down, that is false. We are as strong as ever, determined to keep going. It is the only way we know [how] to defeat terrorism, the only way they will certainly fail. Yes, the situation is horrible, but we want everyone to know that we are still going. A version of this article previously appeared in The Jewish Link of New Jersey. Used with permission.

Arts&Entertainment The Rampage • November 2015

Oriya Romano ’17

New TV Shows: Fall 2015

Grandfathered is newest comedy series to hit Fox. The show features Jimmy (Full House’s John Stamos), a restaurateur who discovers he is not only a father to Gerald (Drake and Josh’s, Josh Peck) but a grandfather to his infant daughter, Edie. Follow along as Jimmy struggles to get to know his new family in humorous, funny ways. The show has received mixed reviews from critics, as are claiming that this show is generic and the concept is overused, while others view the show as hysterical. Grandfathered aired on September 29, 2015 Watch every Tuesday at 9PM on Fox

Sam Schair ’18

SNL Review: Episodes 1-3

Season 41 of Saturday Night Live started off surprisingly strong with its first three episodes, which were hosted by Miley Cyrus, Amy Schumer and Tracy Morgan. I say “surprisingly” because SNL has been in a transitional phase for the past two seasons. After losing key cast members such as Bill Hader, Fred Armisan, Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, the show has been trying to find its footing and its next iconic cast member. Recently, it has somewhat succeeded in doing this by placing Kate McKinnon and Taren Killam as the central cast members of the show. In remains to be seen, however, how this will play out. In the first episode, hosted by Miley Cyrus, SNL started off with a series of hilarious culturally and politically relevant sketches. Despite the fact that Cyrus barely even appeared in the shows funniest moments, the episode was still surprising and compelling. The most compelling sketch featured Kate Mckinnon as Hilary Clinton, and the real Hilary Clinton as a bartender. It is always excellent seeing a real political figure appear on the show alongside a cast

Jacob Hochheiser ’17

Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) brings yet another horrific show to Tuesday nights, but this one has a twist. Channel Oberlin (Emma Roberts), President of Kappa Kappa Tau sorority is trying to keep her pledges in line and her popularity status afloat, all while dealing with a series of murders. The show has a unique balance, combining horror and comedy, though the blood and scariness of the show actually has a comedic and realistic undertone. Scream Queens features an all-star cast including Emma Roberts (Valentine’s Day), Nick Jonas, Abigail Breslin (Ender’s Game), Ariana Grande, Keke Palmer, Lea Michele (Glee), Diego Boneta (90210), and Jamie Lee Curtis. Scream Queens aired in September Watch every Tuesday at 9PM on Fox

member, especially when that cast member is doing an impression that exaggerates the politician’s most notable qualities. This sketch was no exception, as McKinnon’s impression highlighted Clinton’s immense desire to be President, and it even contained bits of the real Clinton making fun of herself. The second episode, hosted by Amy Schumer, was not as funny as the first episode, but still warranted a few laughs. The best part of the show by far was Schumer’s monologue, which showcased her talents in stand-up comedy. The show did have some funny sketches, such as a pre-taped parody about America’s obsession with guns. However, this episode would be overshadowed by the third episode of the season. In the show’s third episode, Tracy Morgan made his long awaited return to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a full year and a half after his tragic car accident in June of 2014. This show featured really clever sketches, such as a Family Feud parody that featured Morgan as a divorced father, playing alongside his second wife and

family against his first wife and old family. Another highlight of the show was Morgan’s monologue, which featured guest appearances by his 30 Rock cast members, including Tina Fey, Jack McBrayer, Jane Krajkowski, and Alec Baldwin. However, the funniest and most memorable part of the episode (and so far, the season) was the Democratic Debate sketch, in which Larry David made a surprise guest appearance as Sen. Bernie Sanders. In my opinion, David’s impression, which highlights Sanders’ extreme views, was one of the best ones I’ve seen on the show in the past few seasons. After these three episodes, it is clear that the success of political sketches is what will make this season great. Even if you don’t watch the show, chances are you’ve seen the Democratic Debate sketch or the Hilary Clinton shared on social media. After a period of transition, it is refreshing to see such a good run of episodes, and If the show continues to deliver amusing and relevant sketches like the ones in it’s first three episodes, this season will be one to remember.

Black Mass Review

Before going to see Black Mass, I had ex- gresses through the eyes of former members of tremely high expectations and was hoping to see what many critics were calling one of the best crime biopics in recent memory. Instead, what I saw were two stellar performances by Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton in an otherwise average movie. Black Mass showcases the true story of the alliance between the FBI, lead by agent John Connolly (Edgerton), and notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp), in 1970’s Boston. This controversial alliance allows Bulger to rise up from being a small time Bulger’s gang, who have agreed to give testimony ie, gangster to a ruthless crime lord. The story pro- against Bulger in return for shorter sentencing.

While the movie doesn’t have a coherent plot, it does a great job of showing how this alliance drastically changes both Whitey Bulger and John Connolly as people. I would definitely recommend seeing this movie just for Depp and Edgerton’s performances-just be ready for the ridiculous amount of makeup and prosthetics that Depp adorns throughout the movwhich can be quite distracting.

Arts & Entertainment 11

The Rampage

November 2015/Kislev 5776

Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Gabriel Klapholz ’17

From the author of The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a beautifully written and engrossing saga about the struggles of women in Afghanistan over the last thirty years. A telling tale about two women, Mariam and Laila, who find their lives unexpectedly intertwined, the book evokes a range of emotions-from deep sorrow to immense joy and relief. The plot is so incredibly developed that the reader can neither put the book down nor detach themselves from the characters,

even after the book ends. Khaled Hosseini, and Afghani from birth, constructs a vivid image of what Afghani society looks like in both the rural and urban settings. He offers a window into how a typical Afghani household might function, and by doing so, ends up revealing the harsh conditions that women face daily. Furthermore, what makes Hosseini’s storyline so absorbing is that he writes a fictional account that occurs over many years of the characters’ lives, enabling the reader to

The Intern

both build an emotional connection to the characters, and develop a deeper understanding of them as well. The work is not only a fantastic read, but also a necessary one. Hosseini’s depiction of the wartorn country provides a new perspective of individuals living in third world countries. This story is one of human yearning, sorrow, love, desire, and limitation, all woven into a true historical narrative that provides organization in an otherwise complex and multifaceted plotline.

Movie Reviews

Nicole Abbodi ’17

The Intern follows a senior citizen, Ben (Robert De Niro) who is bored of retirement and ready to get back to work. Jules (Anne Hathaway, Les Mis, Interstellar), a thirty-something, working mom, is the CEO of her own start-up company which is now offering an internship for senior citizens, which Ben gladly takes. As Ben begins to appreciate having a working routine again, Jules learns the struggles of balancing her workload, raising a daughter, and keeping her husband interested. The film illustrates the hardships of a young woman who wants to make something of herself instead of merely relying on her husband, as Jules epitomizes the idea of a hardworking, independent woman. However, her husband and the other parents at her daughter’s school do not see her that way. This perfectly portrays to the viewers the difficulties of working women, and adds to the movie a theme of feminism. However, the most signif-

icant premise of The Intern is the bridge building between the newer generation and the older one. The relationship that Jules and Ben build over the course of the movie is a sweet, tender connection that lays the foundation for the entire movie. Ben becomes a father figure in Jules’s life and takes care of her, as she has a horrible relationship with her parents. Similarly, Ben, who is a widower and rarely visits his two grandchildren, finds comfort in his newfound bond, not only with Jules, but the rest of her staff as well. The Intern is funny, charming and full of characters who are unique and appealing. It is a must-see! The Intern, which primered September 25th, 2015, is rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and strong language.

Derek Korff Korn ’18

The Walk

The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is the story of Philippe Petit, who in 1974 planned to cross a high-wire between the Twin Towers in New York City. Although the towers no longer exist, Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) is able to suspend time, and makes it seem as if the towers are right in front of the viewer. From the start of the film, the movie is fully and totally engaging. The story begins with Philippe speaking from the top of the Statue of Liberty. The movie then transitions to Paris, before Petit begins his scheme to traverse New York’s most famous buildings. The storyline takes us through Philippe’s search for his so called “accomplices”, who would help him pull of this e impossible feat. Then, after eventually traveling to New York, the movie turns fully to Petit, on the the night before his walk across the wire. The view-

er follows him from the moment he walks in the building in a disguise, to finally seeing him walk on the wire across the two buildings. Although it is clear Petit will succeed, the movie keeps the viewer doubting whether or not Petit will succeed. Watching Philippe walk across the two buildings in IMAX 3D is incredibly stressful. He sits, danced, and even lays down on the wire all in 3D. The movie, filled with moments of comedy, is extremely engaging and memorizing, and always has the viewer awaiting eagerly for the next scene. Overall, The Walk is an outstanding film on multiple levels, full of laughter, stupidity and anticipation. The Walk, featuring Joseph Gordon Levitt, premiered on October 9th, 2015.

Sports

The Rampage • November 2015

Boys Varsity Basketball: The Buzz Surrounding New Players

Oren Oppenheim ’16

As the basketball season kicks into high gear, fans of the Ramaz Rams will notice two notable additions to the Boys Varsity basketball team. Two 12th grade tennis players, who had never played Ramaz basketball before, suddenly joined the Rams’ 2015-2016 roster for the first time in their high school careers. That Ben Rabinowitz ’16 would one day join the basketball team seemed like a foregone conclusion. Outside of Ramaz, Rabinowitz has trained under the tutelage of top coaches, been featured by From the Bottom to the Top Hoops, and he will play for American team in the 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games in Chile

this winter. Yet this is the first time he’ll wear a Ramaz jersey on the court during his high school career. “For me, joining the team this year had no downside... Why not have fun playing the game I love alongside my friends? I wanted to be a part of the Ramaz basketball family before I graduated.” When asked about what he’s looking forward to this year, he said he’s excited for “working hard during practice, executing what we work on in [the] games, and being part of a cohesive unit throughout the season. If we work hard together, the wins will come.” The other vaunted newcomer to the team is Jonathan Hirschfeld ’16. Unlike Rabinowitz, Hirschfeld hasn’t

built up a basketball reputation, but if his enthusiasm indicates anything, it’s that he’s excited to write his story this year. “It’s been an amazing experience so far on the basketball team,” Hirschfeld said. “I decided to join because I love playing basketball and I’ve never really had the time or opportunity to join the team before, given my hectic schedule. In light of this, I thought I’d give it a shot this year.” Regarding the outlook of the team this year, Hirschfeld admitted that the team hasn’t “been as successful as we would’ve liked, but we recognize that it’s a process and that we’re getting better. We all really appreciate our coach and recognize that he has the tools and methods to get us where we

need to be as long as we commit and dedicate ourselves. We’re very optimistic about the rest of the season!” While not a newcomer, another noteworthy senior Ram is Noah Greenwald ’16. Greenwald began this school year with a sprained ankle and was ruled out of the first few games. “I couldn’t watch anymore games and practices from the side,” he said. “I wanted to get back out there so badly.” Fortunately for the team, though, he wasn’t out for good, and returned late in October. “Now that I’m back” Greenwald said “I just want to try to help our team win any way possible.”

November/December 2015 Ramaz Sports Schedule

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

NOV 15 Boys JV Basketball vs Maor (2PM)

16 Girls JV Basketball vs. Bruriah (7:30) Boys Varisty Hockey @ RAMBAM (7:30) 23 Boys JV Basketball @ Kushner (7PM) Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Kushner (7:15 PM) 30 Girls JV Basketball vs. Northshore (6:30 PM) Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Northshore (8:15 PM) 7 Boys Varsity Hockey vs. Flatbush (8PM)

19 20 Girls Varsity Basketball vs. HANC (8PM)

21 Boys JV Hockey @ MTA (7:30) Boys Varisty Hockey @ MTA (9:00)

DEC 1 Boys Varisty Basketball @ YDE (7:45)

2 Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Maayanot (7:30)

3 Boys Varsity Hockey vs. JEC (8:30)

5 Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Frisch (8:15)

8 Girls JV Volleyball vs. SAR (7PM) Girls Varisty Volleyball vs. SAR (8PM)

9 Girls Varisty Basketball vs. Flatbush (6PM Girls JV Basketball @ Flatbush (6:30)

10 11 Girls JV Basketball @ HAFTR (6:45) Girls Varisty Basketball @ HAFTR (8:15) Boys Varisty Hockey @ Westchester (7:30)

22 Girls JV Volleyball @ Maayanot (4 PM) Girl Varisty Volleyball @ Maayanot (5PM) 29

Friday

Saturday