Rambam again protests

For the second time in a month students from Rambam Mesivta expressed their outrage over the decision of the Metropolitan Opera to host the show entitled “The Death of Klinghoffer.”

Last month, Rambam, as one of the organizers of the rally which drew the support of former Gov. George Pataki, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, and other dignitaries, brought its entire student population to protest the decision of Peter Gelb, director of the Metropolitan Opera, to stage the notorious opera. The entire student body of Shalhevet High School for girls joined as well in what was a combined show of force of 300 students. As such, Rambam and Shalhevet were the largest group present.

On Monday, the night the infamous opera had its debut, Rambam students were again outside Lincoln Center, voicing their protests to Metropolitan Opera officials and the opera-goers for allowing an anti-Semitic performance to take place in the cultural heart of New York City. Former Mayor Giuliani was on hand to express his disgust over what was taking place inside Lincoln Center. Many speakers called for a cessation of public funding to Lincoln Center because of its decision to “let the show go on.”

The rallies received extensive media coverage and were the subject of many editorials in local and national newspapers, according to Rambam Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, one of the rally’s organizers.

“It’s extremely important to teach our students to be leaders on behalf of the Jewish people and to speak out against any form of anti-Semitism, especially those dangerous expressions which masquerade as art,” Rabbi Friedman said.

“We are proud that our students rose to the occasion, were involved in helping plan and strategize the events, and truly understood the inner workings of what needs to be done to speak out on behalf of Klal Yisrael.”