This past Wednesday, Rambam Rhetoric Ravens burst back into action for the new school year. Last year the team, which has students compete in events such as speech, debate, and model Congress, had an incredible season, achieving record-breaking wins and sending five students to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete on the national stage.
One student, Daniel Stein (senior), even broke into the Model Congress quarter-finals, making him among the top two hundred high schoolers in the country for that event. Now, the team is back and more glorious better than ever! On Wednesday, the team held an info meeting during lunch, giving freshmen, sophomores, and anyone interested in debate a taste of what they could expect.
First, the team’s awardwinning coach and Rambam alumnus, Dani Jakubowitz, explained what rhetoric was, what the year as a Raven would look like, and what it means to be part of the team. He explained that talking is something one always has to do.
So many of the things in our lives, from the colleges and yeshivas we attend to writing an article for a school newsletter, to how people view Judaism and Israel, depend on our ability to speak and persuade. The Rhetoric team refines one’s ability to think on the spot and present their thoughts convincingly and powerfully, communicating in a way that commands respect.
Rhetoric also offers the most opportunities for accolades from any team in the school, with multiple members of the team being nationally ranked. The meeting concluded with an explanation of how to try it out and a Q&A. The Rhetoric team seems to be in very good shape for this year, and they can’t wait for the new influx of Ravens after tryouts on September 19th. Good Skill!