THE RAMBAM RECORD
The eNewsletter of Rambam Mesivta High School
September 30, 2005 / 26 Elul

Shabbaton For Upper-Classmen

Not to be outdone by the freshmen shabbaton on September 16-18, the Rambam upper-classmen spent an exciting and fulfilling shabbaton at picturesque Camp Morasha in Lake Como, Pennsylvania this past weekend.

This year's shabbaton exceeded even the high expectations for the event which is held this time each year. The schedule for the weekend was jam-packed with learning, achdus, ruach, sports and time spent with one another and the rebbeim outside of the classroom.

On Friday, September 23rd, the talmidim left on the busses from Rambam at 9:15 am after davening and breakfast. After arriving at Camp Morasha and having lunch, the students spent the afternoon playing sports and boating on Lake Como. Win or lose, everyone had fun together.

Then it was Seudat Shabbat - Zemirot & Divrei Torah into the evening at our traditional Friday night tish.

The boys began Shabbat morning with davening and kiddush followed by a late-morning shiur/drasha by Rabbi Yotav Eliach. The evening activities featured a mighty volleyball contest between the students and the staff, including Naomi and Rebbetzin Friedman! (The staff won, of course.)

Then, after davening ma’ariv and havdallah, everyone sang and danced into the wee hours of the morning at the Melave Malka with “Leibedik” music. (Special kudos to junior Dovid Tauber for his dancing!)

After davening, a hearty breakfast and Divrei Torah Sunday morning, students packed out back onto the busses and headed back to Long Island, having packed more fun into one weekend than anyone thought possible.

Chickens for Shabbos

"Tzedakah is something that we don't just say with our lips, but we feel with our hearts," said Rosh HaMesivta Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman as an introduction for two gentlemen making an appeal at Rambam for a unique tzedakah called Chickens for Shabbos - Rabbi Schonfeld of Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills and Mr. Robert Newman.

Chickens for Shabbos is a relief organization based at Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills that provides food for poor families and children in Eretz Yisroel. Currently, they provide chicken and vegetable vouchers and prepared food for 738 families in Israel, nearly 6,000 yidden in all.

"Who's going to take care of Hashem's children?" challenged Mr. Newman. "Today, 700,00 children in Eretz Yisroel are poor."

Newman emphasized that "every penny" donated to the organization goes to feeding the poor in Eretz Yisroel. "Our goal is to feed yidden; our one expense is food."

"Hashem gave us money, " he continued. "We have to take care of our brothers and sisters. I beg everyone on behalf of all those yidden to partner with us for a year."

Click here to learn more about the Chickens for Shabbos tzedakah.

The hallmark of Rosh Hashana is the theme of machiyos. We constantly refer to Hashem as melech al kol haaretz. In fact, this theme continues throughout the aseres yemei teshuvah when we are required to say HaMelech HaKodosh and if we omit it our tefila is invalid.

The recognition of malchus Hashem is predicated on man’s realization of our own insignificance. It is only when we realize and sincerely feel mah anu mah chasduna that we can appreciate malchus Hashem. There is, however, another dimension to the theme of machiyos. In our tefila we specifically pray for the day when all nations of the world will recognize Hashem and unite in their service of Him.

This will not happen automatically. Klal Yisroel has a vital role to play in bringing this about. It is only when we act as true Torah Jews in a manner that inspires the admiration and awe of those that observe us have we fulfilled our mission.

We as a community must exemplify the highest standards of moral and ethical behavior along with an approach to life that emphasizes chochmas Hashem. If we do this, the Torah promises us the response of those who observe us will be “what a brilliant and great nation” we are.

This in turn will bring the nations to avodas Hashem fulfilling our tefilos of Rosh Hashana. May we be zoche to a speedy redemption. Best wishes for a k’siva v’chasima tova.

Representatives
from Cooper Union and New York University were on campus this past week to meet with some Rambam students who are interested in applying to these prestigious schools.

Last year, for example, two Rambam seniors were offered full four-year scholarships to Cooper Union, Steven Rosen and Elan Kattan.

Don't forget to buy your Super Sukkos Raffle tickets!!

Click here to download the raffle form.
Click here to see the complete prize list
Click here to learn about the benefits of becoming a sponsor

You can help support the Mesivta and have a chance at winning some great prizes.

The Grand Prize is a round-trip ticket to Israel! Second Prize is a supersized Coca-Cola Nostalgia Cooler (Ice Chest), a unique addition to anyone's Sukkah!

All of our Chagim Raffles will be related to the Chag and our Sukkos Raffle Contest is almost all for Sukkot - a pop-up Sukkah and decorations, leather bound Machzorim, Lulavim and Esrogim, Dinner for Ten, a gift certificate for paper goods and more.

The Raffle Drawing is October 10th so don't delay. You do not have to be present to win.

To purchase your Super Sukkos raffle, contact Debbie Ginsberg, Rambam Director of Special Events via email at debbieg@rambam.org or call 371-5824, ext. 111.

PC - users: right click on any of the links below and choose "Save Target As..." and save the application to your computer. You can then download the application to your calculator using a computer to calculator link.

Click here for Yossi’s useful program for Math A / Math B.
Click here for Yossi’s Number Challenge game.
Click here for Yossi’s Slot Madness game.

You can also find Yossi’s games as featured downloads on http://www.ticalc.org

In alerting the school to its publication, Joshua's mother Rachelle Maltzman wrote:"I think it will give you nachas to know that your excellent teaching and your views are being carried forward to the next generation."