Top Ten Words To Describe C-Saw 5773-2013
1. Ruchniyus--incredible davening, wonderful learning, preparing for a chidon, incorporating a Torah theme into a competition
2. Middos--sparks were flying as students across the grades worked together, collaborated, supported, and enjoyed one another's company
3. Scholarship - achievements in all areas of the curriculum, including the entire chamisha chumshei Torah and a lengthy packet of facts in all areas of General studies
4. Achdus--unity, camaraderie, new friendships, an entire school uniting to sing together
5. Enthusiasm--students of all grades sharing together in the excitement for school activities
6. Talent--of all scopes and all spectrum from artistic prowess to musical mastery. From juggling to rapid hand movements--we were all amazed!
7. Inspiration--Divrei Torah written by our own students--words of reflection from our team leaders--teachers guiding and empowering our student body
8. Pride--in our own accomplishments: spiritually, academically, athletically, artistically, musically and socially
9. Leadership--both within and without (but always with). Students leading students...and students leading themselves
10. GREATNESS--we have been ignited and look forward to seeing the flames continue to rise within each and student at RMS
As part of C:SAW each team had to submit articles for this week's Greatness Gazette. Below is a sampling of those articles:
Team Red/Ruchniyus
A Word From our Rebbeim (by: Zevi Bistritz)
We asked all the rebbeim for the first thing that came to mind when they thought of Ruchniyus.
Rabbi Fried - "Coming closer to Hashem."
Rabbi Pam - "Hashem"
Rabbi Kaganoff - "Torah and Hashem"
Rabbi Mandel - "Injecting everything we do with a Kidush Hashem."
Rabbi Reznitsky - "Torah"
Rabbi Palgon - "The highest point of Ruchniyus all year is at the end of Yom Kippur, where everyone says Shema Yisroel and then 'Baruch Shem k'vod' three times. I picture a crown going on Hashem's head at that time."
We had a great time on the Lag B'Omer trip! Even though it was raining we still had fun having relay races and wheelbarrow races, etc. (by: Elisha Steinberger)
A Word to the Wise (by: Dovid Roth)
The name of my C:SAW team is Ruchniyus. It seems to be a simple word, but I think that most of us do not know the real meaning of the word. When we think of ruchniyus, we think of coming close to Hashem. But that cannot be all that ruchniyus represents. We can see what ruchniyus means by looking at the opposite, gashmiyus. Gashmiyus is the needs of the body, the physical necessities of life. So, one would think that ruchniyus represents the needs of the soul, and that we should do nothing but learn and daven, daven and learn. But this is not so. The root of the word ruchniyus is ruach, which means wind. Just as wind, which has no physical presence, can lift something physical such as a kite, ruchniyus is the practice of elevating our everyday lives. Ruchniyus does not mean that we should ignore our physical needs, but rather elevate them to the level that one would expect from a Ben Torah.
Team Mustard/Ruchniyus
Friday April 26, 2013 (Breakout): Rabbi Palgon says that in order to receive the highest level of accreditation we must have one more hour of school each week.
Sunday, April 28, 2013 (Day 1): Rabbi Palgon individually assigns teams Middos, Ruchnius and Scholarship for a sing-down. The judges decide which team does best.
Monday, April 29, 2013 (Day 2): All three teams compete in the academic bowl.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 (Day 3): The school takes a bus ride to Claude Pepper Park to compete in sports activities and relay races. Because of the eruption of the rain, everyone headed back to finish the activities in school.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 (Day 4): All three teams work in groups to put together their power points showing what they did during C:SAW.
Thursday, May 2, 2013 (Day 5): All teams get ready for the Grand Finale by practicing for the talent show, putting their last touches on their banner and preparing together to sing the RMS theme song, with each team adding their own new stanza.
