One of the routines that Jackie Mason is famous for is his chastisement of Jews for being afraid of appearing “too Jewish.” After all, we as a people have contributed so much to the world and continue to do so-so why not let everyone know how proud we are to be Jews? Yet, despite our seeming right to be proud, we find Jews who are almost “ashamed” of their heritage and hence become the target of Jackie Mason's barbs. On the other hand, we are also aware of a number of occasions where people in the Jewish community are very “in-your-face” and provoke the ire of the community at large. They act in an obnoxious manner and flaunt their Judaism as a badge of entitlement. Clearly, the challenge we face is to navigate between the two extremes.

Perhaps one could suggest that the proper balance that we all should follow is found in this week’s Parsha, Ki Tavo, perek 28, pasuk 10 which states when "the peoples of the earth see that the name of Hashem is proclaimed over you, and they will revere you." Chazal teach us that this Pasuk is referring to tefillin shel rosh, namely when we properly fulfill the mitzvah of wearing tefillin on our heads it will evoke the awe of those who observe us. Tefillin, amongst other things, demonstrates our subservience to Hashem and a commitment to the life of Torah. When we sincerely put on tefillin with this mindset we are transformed from the mundane to the holy. In fact, in an ideal world, men would be wearing tefillin all day long to demonstrate this elevated state of mind. Respect from those around us comes not because we demand it, promote it or push it, but rather because “we earned it.” We have nothing to fear in being “too Jewish” if we only seek to fulfill the will of Hashem. However, if we have an agenda to promote and attempt to use our Jewishness to secure it, we will fail in our mission as Jews.... even if we happen to succeed and achieve our personal goals.

May we be zocheh and deserving to realize a year of respect and awe from the nations of the world.... so that we can live in peace and harmony and fulfill our missions as Torah Jews, inspiring all who observe us.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman

Andrew Parver, Rambam Class of 2001, clad in an authentic, commemorative Rambam 20th Anniversary sweatshirt, made a triumphant return to Rambam. His purpose? Chesed, Since graduating Rambam, Andrew has become the Director of Education at the Hebrew Free Burial Society. He spends his time encouraging young people to get involved in chesed shel emet. He and Mr. Goldman have coordinated a chesed mission for the 9th graders to help clean up a cemetery next week.

It is good to know that when a young man like Andrew graduates Rambam, he emerges dedicated to helping the community and leading others to do so.

What is your full name?
Yehoshua Konig.

Where did you grow up?
Belle Harbor, Rockaway Beach area.

What high school did you graduate from?
Rambam.

What yeshiva did you graduate from?
Kerem B'Yavneh (KBY).

What unit in the army were you?
Gdood Shimshon גדוד שמשון.

Is Rambam the first school you taught in?
Yes.

If you wouldn't have been a teacher, what would you have done?
I would be in law school.

How did you like your stay in Israel?
I Loved it, it was great!

What do you think about Israel's future?
As long as kids, like you, grow up to love Israel, it'll be great.

What do you think about Rambam?
Great place, with a great perspective, and great kids.

What did you think about the Shabbaton last week?
There was great ruach and torah learning, can't wait for next year!

Investigative Reporting by: Itai Flam & Netanel Sapir

Almost every New Yorker remembers that day distinctly: The smoke, the fire, the panic, the fear that the fabric of reality itself was becoming undone. To say that this nightmare was traumatizing is an understatement. Once the tallest buildings in the world, glittering monuments of civilization, an investment of six years and billions of dollars, all undone in a moment. The sheer magnitude of the destruction is hard for the mind to comprehend.

The importance of remembering the day cannot be stressed enough. The day changed much about America and continues to impact the world to this day. But as important as it may be to remember what happened, it is even more important that we consider the lessons of the day, and their messages for all of us.

One lesson is that religion matters. In the increasingly secular West, there is a tendency to dismiss religion as an anachronism, something from a bygone era. It’s not; religion is a key policy issue – perhaps THE key policy issue – in much of the world. And religion manifests itself in complex ways. There are religious texts and religious observances, and sometimes the one has little or nothing to do with the other. Religious fanatics can result from extremist texts, but also from peaceful texts that are simply reinterpreted. Religion and cultural norms, like Middle Eastern tribalism, can combine to produce a toxic product.

When the message of tribalism - me against my brother, me and my brother against my cousin, me, my brother, and my cousin against the stranger – intermingles with religion, the results can be monstrous.

Policymakers need to begin understanding religion rather than dismissing it.

Another lesson is the need to eschew revenge, and instead to pursue proper justice. The American people boiled with righteous anger at those who had caused the devastation and attempted to destroy our way of life. Another nation might have spent its energies destroying without mercy its enemy, killing and slaughtering all who stand in their way. But instead, the United States truly pursued justice, seeking to target those who deserved retribution as opposed to the many who did not. When Osama Bin Laden was killed, it would have been only too easy to show the pictures, to gloat in his death. But the United States did not kill Osama Bin Laden - it executed him. Justice was carried out, and justice is the true enemy of evil. When the Nuremberg trials more than six decades ago put to trial mass murderers, what stands out today was the elaborate system of justice that was taking place before everyone’s eyes. Germany was rebuilt, largely with US money. This pursuit of justice is what established America’s reputation as the homeland of peace and civilization.

Finally, when Americans watched the towers fall, they were united as never before. The nation came together as one, because for a moment we seemed close to losing all that we cherished most – freedom, life, liberty, and equal opportunity for all citizens. This is what America stands for, and this is what was truly attacked on that day. The day reminds us that we should continue to cherish these values every day, not only on days when they are threatened.

Avi Gross (10th Grade)