Rambam’s annual Shabbaton delivers ‘meaningful fun’

The talmidim of Rambam Mesivta begin each year with a Shabbaton weekend at Camp Seneca Lake that features chevra, learning, sports, achdus and ruach. This year’s event included the the school’s Flagfootball Tournament, Homerun Derby, Gold Glove Tournaments, and the Fifth Annual JV Quest for the Cup.

With a freshman class comprised of boys from many elementary schools, Rambam arranges for them to arrive in camp a day ahead of the upperclassmen to have extra time to bond with their new classmates amidst the swimming, basketball, hockey, football and softball activities that surround them. After a day of sports, working out, and playing music, the boys were introduced to an activity on perspective by Assistant Principal Hillel Goldman, The night culminated with an intense yet friendly game of “Dodgeball Insanity: Senior Advisors (and Mr. Goldman!) vs. Freshmen.” After last year’s shocking loss to the freshmen, this year’s senior class, heralded as underdogs, sreclaimed upperclassmen dominance. 

On Friday, another session led by Mr. Goldman, this time on the importance of “Potential Realized,” was held. A few hours later, the rest of the school arrived and the Rambam freshmen now had an opportunity to establish the kesher with the rest of the school. One of the hallmarks of Rambam Mesivta is that the school is close-knit and upper and lower classmen become friends creating a unique school culture. Soon the camp was filled with talmidim, rebbeim, teachers, and advisers playing Frisbee, touch-rugby, softball, football, roller hockey, floor hockey, and basketball in the spirit of achdus. The Flag Football Tournament also kicked off at this time with the finals set for a Motzei Shabbos Super Bowl!

JV Quest for the Cup, JV Hockey faced JV Basketball in a neutral sport — soccer. In a close game, JV Hockey was pronounced the winner after MVP Eliezer Shalomoff’s soccer skills carried the team.