The Ramaz School

-10/13: Hakhel For Grades 5&6 @ 9:15AM

-10/13:Hakhel For Grades 7&8 @ 8:15AM

This past Friday, the Upper School welcomed Rabbi Willig, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University, Av Beit Din of the Beit Din of America, and leading developer and promoter of halachic prenuptial agreements. An assembly was held in which Rabbi Willig, along with Rabbi Kenny Shaiowitz, taught students about prozbul. At the end of the Shmita year, the Torah mandates that all loan debts be canceled. During the Second Temple period, lenders would not give loans to the poor and disadvantaged, out of fear that they would not get their money back. Rabbi Hillel, along with the Beit Din, created the prozbul - the transferring of all personal loan debts to the courts as the law of remission does not apply to loans within the public domain. This innovation allowed reprieve for the less fortunate. Students were taught that the nature of prozbul is to be less competitive with peers and more compassionate.

This was Rabbi Willig's third shmita visit in a row! After teaching students about prozbul, Rabbi Willig taught about agunah, a Jewish woman who is halachically stuck in her marriage due to her husband's refusal of a get. He then informed students on the importance of a prenup as it protects both a husband and wife. After the assembly, students were able to sign their own prozbul documents, participating in a tradition that has been alive for over 2,000 years! 

The innovation Lab is buzzing with creative confidence as the students are exploring various hand-building techniques. Picture books such as Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg spark conversation, serving as a launching pad for hands-on exploration. Currently, first graders are making bridges, first from Legos and then out of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners!