A core aspect of Ramaz’s mission is to give back to the community and actively participate in chessed. As explained in the first line of Ramaz’s Mission Statement, Ramaz has “A commitment to menschlichkeit, reflecting fineness of character, respect for others, integrity, and the centrality of chesed in all its manifestations.”
This year, Dr. Nancy Block, serving as the new Director of Chessed at Ramaz, is already adding more opportunities for students to participate in chessed. Some of these additions include days of service for each grade. The freshman grade already went apple picking, donating fifty crates of apples with challah and honey to families in need for Rosh Hashanah. Soon, sophomores will go to Lifetown to help kids with disabilities learn life skills in a comfortable and developmentally appropriate way. Juniors will learn about food insecurity and how it relates to helping families in need. Seniors will participate in the Daniella Moffson Day of Service, allowing seniors to express and reflect the values learned at Ramaz in settings outside of Ramaz as they prepare to graduate.
According to Dr. Block, “chessed takes [students] out of that bubble of themselves to help somebody else.” She explained that chessed is not separate from Ramaz’s educational mission but actually “frames the academic experience.” In her view, this can be seen when, for example, students advocate on social issues like healthcare, immigration and poverty because it also shows how chessed can help in these areas.
Chessed is not just taking place in Ramaz’s halls, but also extends outside the school. For example, students deliver food to food pantries around the city. Ramaz also offers virtual ways to do chessed, like Zooming with teens with special needs and the elderly members of the community.
Given the devastating situation in Israel, there are now many chessed opportunities for Ramaz students to help and support Israel. Each week, students sell challah in the lobby to raise money for the IDF. There have also been drives and collections, including a toiletry drive for Israelis and a toy and craft drive for Israeli children whose schools are closed. Ramaz students have also been going to Israel rallies and putting up hostage posters around the city.
Dr. Block says an important goal this year is to have more initiatives that allow clubs to do chessed and generally appeal to students’ existing interests. As an example, she cited the chess and basketball teams organizing different chess and basketball tournaments to help people in need.
“Chessed is about providing kids with tools so they appreciate what is a need and how [they are] going to take those life lessons with [them] beyond Ramaz,” she said.
