T h e J e w i s h H o m e n j u n e 2 7 , 2013
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Rambam’s 21st Graduation Pays Tribute to the Past with an Eye Toward the Future On June 17, 2013/9 Tammuz 5773, Rambam Mesivta graduated its 18th class in a student-hosted evening that celebrated Torah, middos and excellence. The night was made even more poignant than usual when one of the graduates took the stage alongside his grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, who was finally receiving the diploma he was denied due to his childhood being taken from him in the fires of the Shoah. Following renditions of Hatikvah and the Star Spangled Banner by seniors Eric Grossman, Shlomo Laufer, and Joseph Yizhaky, three outgoing members of Rambam’s acapella group, Harmonidies, the night’s Masters of Ceremonies, seniors Eric Grossman, captain of the Rambam Choir as well as the hockey team, and award winning poet and SGO President Chanani Levy, delighted the audience of hundreds of rebbeim, teachers, and family with good-natured humor about the graduating class and the Rambam faculty. They introduced the Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, who shared with the talmidim words of guidance and Torah. One of the night’s Salutatorians, Moshe Dyckman, then addressed the graduation on a discourse that urged the graduates to always remember the quality lessons learned at Rambam and to remember that it is all due to hard work and the support of family and loved ones. After Moshe’s delivery, senior class president Gavriel Shechter, along with other GO Officers, Raphi Cooper, Kenny Goodman, and Michael Rosenfeld, presented the school with a gift from the seniors: a beautiful tzedakeh Box with the words “Im eshkachech …” carved
on Jerusalem stone. It was noted that the pushka should serve as a reminder of “The School’s commitment to ahavat Yisrael as well as a commitment to ben adam l’chavero.” Rabbi Friedman, Principal Rabbi Yotav Eliach, Assistant Principal Rabbi Haar, Assistant Principal Hillel Goldman, and Director of College Guidance, Mr. Ira J. Schildkraut then distributed merit-based awards to individuals in the class. The breadth of awards shows that Rambam, in keeping with its belief system, truly has a team for every talent, a club for every curiosity, and a place for every person. Following the Senior Awards Ceremony, a special presentation was made honoring two people who have spent the last ten years serving the school: Shirley Levy of the Main Office, and Racheli Werner of the Business Office earned School Service Awards. Their dedication and commitment to going above and beyond stands as an example to the talmidim about how to be a professional in the workplace. Shlomo Laufer, also a Salutatorian, then shared words of Torah and chizuk to the graduating class. He told a story of a chosid of the Avnei Nezer and how his experience relates to the different places the graduating class will end up. He stressed, however, that the values and Torah instilled in them by Rambam will always serve as reminders to remain true to all their respective names. Shlomo plans on spending next year studying in Gush Etzion. The Valedictorian, Benjamin Akhavan, a LISEF Finalist, who will be attending Yeshivat Karen B’Yavneh next year, emphasized the achdus and unity
of the graduating class before concluded his oration by thanking his rebbeim, teachers, friends and family for contributing to his success. Since virtually all of the boys from the senior class will be studying in Israel next year, additional words of advice were then shared by Rabbi Eliach who outlined a list of things that must be experienced in Israel next year by the boys who would be learning there. True to his over 30 years of educational experience, Rabbi Eliach brought the house down by stepping down from the podium and actually passing out printed copies of his “Must See in Israel List” and proclaiming: “Please take one and then pass them down.” The list included, among other things, walking derech ha’avot and visiting various mikomote kiddoshim, commemorating Yom HaShoah at Yad Vashem, and visiting the graves of fallen Israeli soldiers. Following Rabbi Eliach’s speech, before handing out diplomas, Rabbi Friedman announced that the school would be giving out an Honorary Diploma to Holocaust Survivor Jack Ratz, a noted author and family man. Mr. Ratz was assisted to the podium by his grandson Brian Fine, a graduating senior. Rabbi Friedman shared that the successful life of Mr. Ratz is a testament to his desire to share his story with the world and to ensure that the world does not forget. Diplomas were then given out as Rabbi Friedman and Rabbi Eliach highlighted the interests and accomplishments of each and every graduate as he approached the stage to receive his di-
ploma. The students were also given Mr. Ratz’s book, Endless Miracles, and Masters of the Mesorah: Early Rishonim, by Rabbi Zechariah Fendel z”l, to stress that the end of high school is yet another beginning to a life dedicated to learning Torah. Mr. Goldman concluded the night’s festivities by discussing the overall achievements of the graduating members of the grade and his confidence in them that they will all impact the world in a positive way. He then commenced “The Graduation Mezinka Tradition,” now in its third year. This award allows the school the opportunity to recognize parents who had sent all of their sons to Rambam and were now graduating their youngest son. Mr. & Mrs. Homayoun Akhavan and Mr. & Mrs. Richard Miller were called up to receive plaques that read: “This award acknowledges your continued commitment to the Rambam Mesivta and your confidence in us that each of your sons, each in his own way, would receive the unique education and warmth he deserves. Several sons, but one home and one family devoted to one school.” The mezinka music was then played as the surprised, elated, and appreciative parents accepted their awards. The Masters of Ceremonies announced that the official graduation was over and everyone proceeded to an adjacent room for refreshments, dancing and yearbook signing. Every student had his own cake which allowed for each family to share in a little private nachas before the music started, and dancing broke out.