There is indeed something for everyone at Rambam! Daniel Stein (Senior) Rambam Remembers a Day of Terror Last-week Monday marked one full year since the terror attacks of October 7th. The October 7th attacks started a war that is still going on to this day. Hamas, funded by Iran, attacked Israel on our holiday, and more terrorist groups would come to join the attacks on Israel throughout the year. On the seventh, Hamas took 251 hostages, 101 of them remain in captivity today. Now, one year later we all stand in solidarity with Israel and our people. As a school, we had a day to remember these tragic events and pledge continued support for Medinat Yisrael. Our day began with extra Tefilot and Tehillim for our brethren in Israel. Later, the students gathered for an assembly with a speech from a Rambam alum and soldier, and a memorial for the people lost. The assembly started with an introduction from Principal Hillel Goldman. We were then honored in the presence of Rambam alum Chanani Levy (class of 2013). Chanani was a soldier in the IDF, serving in an elite force that operates inside dangerous territory to capture and neutralize known and dangerous terrorists. When the attacks first took place, Chanani and his father-in-law were in Europe but immediately found a flight so they could rejoin their units. Chanani shared a story about one of his earliest missions where his team neutralized two terrorists who were planning terror attacks against Israel and then he opened up the floor for a Q&A. After Chanani spoke to the student body, the lowerclassmen left the Shul to go to the gym which was transformed into a memorial room while the upperclassmen stayed in the Shul for a video on “October 7th, One Year Later.” After each group was done they would swap places with the other. Under the guidance of Rosh Mesivta Rabbi Avi Herschman, the video in the Shul showed the students various ways in which Israelis have been grieving since the beginning of the war. These perspectives came from all types of Israelis; soldiers and their families, hostages and their families, families of those who have passed, Dati, non-Dati, those with controversial opinions; in other words, everyone. The thing that all of these people had in common throughout the war was their sense of obligation to serve their country and nation. The video puts one truly into the mind -frame that everything that has happened is truly real and affects all of us. While the video was playing in the Shul, students respectfully made their way towards the gym for a memorial dedicated to all the soldiers who lost their lives. The gyms was plastered with the pictures, names and stories of the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the Jewish nation. The students were instructed to walk around the memorial and read the stories of the soldiers. After taking a look at the stories of these great heroes the students discussed the importance of remembering the losses, with the soldiers having became more than blank statistics. We understand that all of the soldiers have names, families, and hobbies very similar to our own, allowing us to connect to the importance of their sacrifice. At the end, Mr. Goldman encouraged the students to memorize at least one name and story from that room, and incorporate that name and life into their tefillos and future. After the programs the students all returned to the Shul. In the Shul we discussed a chesed opportunity to help the community of a 2003 Rambam alum serving in the IDF. The school committed to helping his community by raising money for needs that they are having trouble taking care of on their own. We also discussed that we will hopefully be having another mission to Israel where we will try to go to the community and help out first hand. The whole school then joined Assistant Principal Rabbi Avi Haar in Tehillim for all that is currently happening in Israel. After we recited Tehillim Mark Khaimov and Aidan Mayer (juniors) led the school in “Acheinu,” “Vehi She’Amda,” as well as other songs culminating in a kumzitz in solidarity with the people of Israel. We thank Rabbi Herschman, Mr. Goldman, Director of Student Activities Reb’ Yitz Milworn, and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman for organizing this meaningful program setting the tone for the rest of the day. We of course thank Chanani Levy for coming to share his story with us and thank him for serving our great nation in its time of need. We thank all the Chayalim and all those who are out there protecting us and working on bringing our hostages home safely, bringing honor to all those who perished Al Kiddush Hashem. We hope for the safe and fast return of the hostages and pray for all those who need it. We stand in solidarity with the rest of the Jewish people.100 100 ביחד . ננצח Bring them home!