Towards the end of this week's Parsha, the Torah writes regarding the laws of Tzaraas of garments: "The Kohen shall look after the affliction has been washed and behold! -- the affliction has not changed its appearance/ color (haNega lo hafach es eyno) and the affliction has not spread, it is contaminated..." [Vayikra 12:55]. A number of questions can be raised regarding the Torah's use of the word "hafach" (commonly translated as "reverse") and the word "eyno".

The Chiddushei HaRim (the Gerer Rebbe) interprets the words "haNega lo hafach es eyno" in a literal sense to mean that the affliction did not change its "ayin". Many commentators point out the relationship between the word nega (spelled nun gimmel ayin), meaning affliction, and the word oneg (spelled ayin nun gimmel), meaning enjoyment. The two words are made up of identical letters. The only difference between them is where the letter ayin is placed. Is the ayin at the beginning of the word (as in oneg) or at the end of the word (as in nega)?

The point, according to the Chiddushei HaRim, is that whether something is an affliction (nega) or it is a pleasure (oneg), all depends where one places the ayin (the eye). Many things in life depend on a person's perspective. Something can happen that appears to be a blemish, an illness, an affliction. Depending on how a person views the situation, the event can be transformed. With the proper perspective and insight, a person can see this same incident as an oneg – a delight. As we often say, there are those that see the glass half empty and there are those that see the glass half full. This is the difference between nega and oneg.

Perhaps we can now better understand the above pasuk. When the pasuk says that the "affliction did not switch his ayin" (lo hafach haNega es ayno) , it means (homiletically) that the person's attitude did not change. The person's perspective was not yet reversed. The Gemara states in Masechet Eruchin that one of the reasons why Tzaraas afflicts a person is because of "tzaras ayin". Tzaras ayin is the inability of a person to look at things positively. A person who is a tzar ayin is narrow in his outlook. He looks with a jaundice eye at anyone else's success. Consequently, the person is likely to speak poorly of others, resulting in the contraction of tzaraas. In order for the tzaraas to be completely cured it neccesitates a change in the root cause of its contraction- namely the person's perspective on the world around him. Tzaraas is an affliction in which one's "true colors" are distorted somewhat. Only a reversal of one's eye (attitude) can cause the tzaraas to subside and allow one's pure true colors to shine.

Mr. Jeff Ganeles

Last Thursday, the student body along with their parents and teachers, were privileged to hear from Mrs. Miriam Peretz, a courageous and inspirational woman from Israel. Mrs. Peretz spoke to us about her experiences of being a mother of two elite Israeli Soldiers who were killed while defending Eretz Yisrael.

Her oldest son, Uriel was killed in 1998 while fighting in Southern Lebanon and another son of hers , Eliraz, was killed in 2010 while fighting on the border of Gaza. Mrs. Peretz shared her story and specifically spoke about the strength it took to continue living her daily life. She spoke about one specific event involving her son when he was still a child. Her son was struggling to climb onto a bus that appeared to be too big for him but when she went to help him up he said “Ani Yachol”, or, “I am able.” Those words remain with Mrs. Peretz until this day because she knows that she is able to continue supporting her other children and her people just like her son was able to climb onto the bus. Needless to say, everyone who attended the speech was moved and inspired and we thank Mrs. Peretz for sharing her story with us.

To see Mrs. Peretz’s full speech at Rambam, please click on the following link: http://rambam.org/videos/mperetz.php

Dov Herzberg (11th Grade)

This past week, the students of Rambam had an esteemed visitor, the mayor of the Israeli town of Itamar, Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith. Rabbi Goldsmith spoke about the terrible tragedy that occurred recently in Itamar, the senseless murder of three children and their parents. He stated that it was important to be resilient in such trying times and to always have faith despite tragedies such as these. The speech at Rambam was began with a surprise over-the-phone interview with Glenn Beck, the famous radio and television political commentator. The interview can be found at http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/03/25/glenn-interviews-fogel-family-mayor/.

Josh Kurman (11th Grade)

This past Shabbos, Rambam held their annual in-house Shabbaton! After our pre-Shabbos ruach, we davened and had our amazingly delicious Friday night meal. Throughout Shabbos we enjoyed words of Torah and speeches from Rabbi Freidman, Rabbi Haar, Rabbi Horowitz, Mr. Goldman, his father, Judge Goldman, Mr. Rhine, Mr. Marcus (who, along with his family), was kind enough to host the Friday night Tish) and Elisha Pearl. We also had playing boardgames in school, spending quality time with our friends, and eating ice-cream after Shabbos.

Jake Plaut (9th Grade)

Nathan Akhavan and Benjamin Goldman, seniors at Rambam Mesivta, have emerged victorious at the second round of the distinguished Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF). Their project incorporated Graphene, a 2-dimensional carbon sheets that is the strongest substance now known to man, and graphene oxide into polymer solar cells to improve their efficiency.

Their project won in the Energy and Transportation category because of the new frontiers they may blaze in energy capability and its impact on how people will be able to travel.

LISEF, the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12, provides an annual forum for more than 1,600 high school students from nearly 60 countries, regions, and territories to display their independent research. Twenty-four projects were chosen from the almost 150 Round 2 participants to attend ISEF (the International Science and Engineering Fair) in Los Angeles. Nathan and Benjamin are the only yeshiva/day school students to win in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair this year.

Nathan and Benjamin are following in the footsteps of previous Rambam LISEF winners: Mordechai Bronner (Class of 2002) and Michael Hagler (Class of 2007). Mordechai won the Grand award in the Engineering category and Michael won first place in the Medicine and Health section.

The boys have won an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend ISEF for the week of May 8-13. They also took home the Air Force Award, the Material Science Award, and the Professional Award. Following graduation, Nathan and Benjamin plan on spending a year learning in Israel at Sha’alvim and Gush respectively.

Despite the intense hours of research and study that have lead to the project’s success, Nathan and Benjamin have continued to excel in Judaic and secular studies and continue to keep up rigorous extracurricular schedules. Whatever occurs at ISEF in Los Angeles, the Rambam community is proud of their research, commitment to tikkun olam, healing the world, and well-rounded characters.

This past Sunday, the Rambam Ravens took on the T.A.B.C. Storm in the JV hockey Championship Game. It was a great battle to see who would become victorious and take home the prize and it marked the first time Rambam Mesivta ever played in the JV hockey finals.

In the 1st period both teams came out strong. Off a faceoff, Akiva Hochbaum scored a goal that went through the net but was called a no goal. The 1st period ended with a score of 0-0.

Going into the 2nd period, both teams came out booming. There were many chances for both sides but, thanks to the great goal tending of Channani Levy, the 2nd period ended with a score of 0-0.

By the 3rd period, it didn’t matter who had more skill, or who could do better moves: it came down to desire. The Ravens fell short of their march to victory by ending the game with a final score of 2-0 in favor of the Storm. It was a great game and both sides showed incredible midos, and hakarat hatov. It was a great season looking and we are looking forward to next year.

Mendy Duftler (9th Grade-Starting Defense)

Rambam’s DebateStars won two matches at the March 24 HAFTR Debate Tournament held at Congregation Beth Sholom.

In the first round, the Rambam Negative B team of David Levi and Hillel Lerner was victorious, winning its match against Central (Yeshiva University High School for Girls). The Rambam Affirmative B team of Joshua Moskovits and Michael Rosenfeld won its Round 2 match against Ramaz. Also representing Rambam at the HAFTR Debate were Joseph Yizhaky, Eli Lava, Gabriel Kohn, and Azariah Hacohen.

The HAFTR Resolve was: The U.S. Government should offer those illegal immigrants who were brought to this country as children and substantially raised in the US a path to legal citizenship.

Coming up for the Rambam DebateStars are the April 5 Central Debate and the April 12 DRS Debate.