Activism
Our goal is to produce educated American Jews who live lives of Kiddush Hashem -- sanctifying God's name -- in a manner that brings personal satisfaction and endows them with a sense of responsibility to others. A Ramaz graduate hears the question God asked of Isaiah, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8) and answers as Isaiah did, "Here I am; send me."
In keeping with our mission, Ramaz has a longstanding tradition of social activism and a commitment to doing chesed, beginning in nursery and continuing through the Upper School years. As part of our pledge to engage with the world around us, our school carries on the legacy of activism that the RaMaZ himself sparked in the early 1930s. This spirit of activism was rekindled in the 1960s as the school culture came to emphasize political awareness, Jewish consciousness, and social reform — a culture that endures today. In the '70s and '80s, students became actively involved in the Soviet Jewry movement, attending political demonstrations and rallies, as they continue to do today on behalf of the State of Israel and other causes. The last twenty years have also witnessed the rise of a re-invigorated social activism within the New York community as students prepare daily food collections, work in soup kitchens, and help developmentally disabled youth. Ramaz has always sought not only to educate children, but to train the leaders of tomorrow.
Activism
![Middle Schoolers Learn about the Impact of Youth Activism on the Civil Rights Movement for MLK Day]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768581169/ramaz/yzdodknn1qudrbrpznpx/MSClass.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768581169/ramaz/yzdodknn1qudrbrpznpx/MSClass.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768581169/ramaz/yzdodknn1qudrbrpznpx/MSClass.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768581169/ramaz/yzdodknn1qudrbrpznpx/MSClass.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1768581169/ramaz/yzdodknn1qudrbrpznpx/MSClass.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1768581169/ramaz/yzdodknn1qudrbrpznpx/MSClass.jpg","width":2200}])
To honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Middle Schoolers participated in a lesson exploring the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. In the lesson...
![Emmy-Nominated Journalist Jacki Bryk Karsh '09 Speaks to Students about Leadership and Advocating for Jews and Israel]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758907097/ramaz/nfzcqyvuygkbpevry7ue/JackiBrykKarsh.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758907097/ramaz/nfzcqyvuygkbpevry7ue/JackiBrykKarsh.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758907097/ramaz/nfzcqyvuygkbpevry7ue/JackiBrykKarsh.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758907097/ramaz/nfzcqyvuygkbpevry7ue/JackiBrykKarsh.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1758907097/ramaz/nfzcqyvuygkbpevry7ue/JackiBrykKarsh.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1758907097/ramaz/nfzcqyvuygkbpevry7ue/JackiBrykKarsh.jpg","width":2200}])
Upper Schoolers received an incredible visit from six-time Emmy-nominated journalist Jacki Bryk Karsh ’09. The proud alumna spoke about the leadership skills that helped her advance in her career, how she came to be such a prominent advocate against antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and, throughout it all, how Ramaz prepared her with the tools for her journey. She...
![Student Volunteers Phone Bank to Register Ramaz Families to Vote]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758311000/ramaz/qbks0jrvwtfyx9fpwws3/PhoneBanking.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758311000/ramaz/qbks0jrvwtfyx9fpwws3/PhoneBanking.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758311000/ramaz/qbks0jrvwtfyx9fpwws3/PhoneBanking.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758311000/ramaz/qbks0jrvwtfyx9fpwws3/PhoneBanking.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1758311000/ramaz/qbks0jrvwtfyx9fpwws3/PhoneBanking.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1758311000/ramaz/qbks0jrvwtfyx9fpwws3/PhoneBanking.jpg","width":2200}])
Ramaz students are getting out the vote! On the last day of school before Rosh HaShanah, 20 juniors and seniors volunteered to phone bank...
![Students Examine the Artwork of Activist Ben Shahn at the Jewish Museum]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758131803/ramaz/mlue8phiabpojg3peg9y/JewishMuseumShahn.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758131803/ramaz/mlue8phiabpojg3peg9y/JewishMuseumShahn.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758131803/ramaz/mlue8phiabpojg3peg9y/JewishMuseumShahn.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758131803/ramaz/mlue8phiabpojg3peg9y/JewishMuseumShahn.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1758131803/ramaz/mlue8phiabpojg3peg9y/JewishMuseumShahn.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1758131803/ramaz/mlue8phiabpojg3peg9y/JewishMuseumShahn.jpg","width":2200}])
Seniors took advantage of Ramaz’s proximity to incredible educational sites with a visit to the Jewish Museum. They toured its exhibit on New York-based artist Ben Shahn (1898-1969), learning about...
![Seniors Meet Soviet Refusenik Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743616134/ramaz/iwhdtj9nwtfxwwoozbgu/YosefMendelevitch.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743616134/ramaz/iwhdtj9nwtfxwwoozbgu/YosefMendelevitch.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743616134/ramaz/iwhdtj9nwtfxwwoozbgu/YosefMendelevitch.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1743616134/ramaz/iwhdtj9nwtfxwwoozbgu/YosefMendelevitch.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1743616134/ramaz/iwhdtj9nwtfxwwoozbgu/YosefMendelevitch.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1743616134/ramaz/iwhdtj9nwtfxwwoozbgu/YosefMendelevitch.jpg","width":2200}])
Seniors felt privileged to meet Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch, a refusenik from the former Soviet Union who was one of the leaders of the 1970 Dymshits-Kuznetsov hijacking affair. Upper School Principal Rabbi Aaron Frank explained to the students that, just as...
![Rawan Osman Speaks to Students About Her Road to Zionist Activism]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743607131/ramaz/gsgcmepozrnkfwsv8hrv/RawanOsman.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743607131/ramaz/gsgcmepozrnkfwsv8hrv/RawanOsman.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743607131/ramaz/gsgcmepozrnkfwsv8hrv/RawanOsman.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1743607131/ramaz/gsgcmepozrnkfwsv8hrv/RawanOsman.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1743607131/ramaz/gsgcmepozrnkfwsv8hrv/RawanOsman.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1743607131/ramaz/gsgcmepozrnkfwsv8hrv/RawanOsman.jpg","width":2200}])
Sophomores and juniors were so inspired by their visit by Lebanese-Syrian/German Zionist activist Ms. Rawan Osman in February that she returned to speak with seniors and freshmen. She grew up in Syria and told students about the intense antisemitic propaganda that pervaded daily life. Jews were...
![Video Inside: Bret Stephens Talks to Upper Schoolers About Journalism, Zionism, and How to Be a "Good American"]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1739999853/ramaz/ofvhb8a2rz3hgwgklhwr/BretStephens.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1739999853/ramaz/ofvhb8a2rz3hgwgklhwr/BretStephens.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1739999853/ramaz/ofvhb8a2rz3hgwgklhwr/BretStephens.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1739999853/ramaz/ofvhb8a2rz3hgwgklhwr/BretStephens.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1739999853/ramaz/ofvhb8a2rz3hgwgklhwr/BretStephens.jpg","width":1280}])
Upper Schoolers received an incredible visit from Bret Stephens, New York Times journalist, columnist, and proud Zionist advocate. Students were eager to hear insight and advice from Mr. Stephens, who has contributed to major publications including The Wall Street Journal and The Jerusalem Post, and whose impactful career has garnered a great deal of both positive recognition—including the Pulitzer Prize—and backlash—including trolling and protests. Mr. Stephens spoke to...
![Read the Article: English Teacher Dr. Naya Lekht Named in the Top 25 Zionist Visionaries]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1728495069/ramaz/ljvj5kiafuvv9asqpil4/NayaLekhtCropped.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1728495069/ramaz/ljvj5kiafuvv9asqpil4/NayaLekhtCropped.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1728495069/ramaz/ljvj5kiafuvv9asqpil4/NayaLekhtCropped.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1728495069/ramaz/ljvj5kiafuvv9asqpil4/NayaLekhtCropped.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1728495069/ramaz/ljvj5kiafuvv9asqpil4/NayaLekhtCropped.jpg","width":1365}])
Upper School English teacher Dr. Naya Lekht has been named among the top 25 Zionist visionaries by The Jerusalem Post and the Jewish National Fund. Recognized for her "dedication to fostering Jewish pride through education," Dr. Lekht works tirelessly to educate the Ramaz community and broader audiences on antisemitism, Israel, and Jewish history. Among her many accomplishments, she...
Our Middle School students joined together to decry tragic attacks in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado, observing a moment of silence for the victims in both cities. True to the Ramaz mission in place for 80+ years, we continue to teach our students not to stand idly by when injustice occurs.