Last month, the class of 2027 had their first Shabbaton as Ramaz high schoolers. The trip began at the Branchburg Sports Complex where students played basketball, arcade games, and laser tag. The students then headed to the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel to spend Shabbat.
One of the major themes of the Shabbaton was going out of your comfort zone. “My advice to all of you is ‘Lech Lecha,’” said freshman G.O. Vice President Levi Kotulski in his d’var Torah, which was given to the freshmen before they left the school on Friday. “On the Shabbaton, there will be many opportunities to talk to new people… these opportunities will only be helpful if you truly make the most of them. Talk to the people near you. Hang out with someone new. Take risks.” The Ramaz administration also pushed students to meet new people through assigned seating at Friday night dinner and randomized learning groups that met throughout Shabbat. “When I came to Ramaz earlier this year, I didn’t know most of my grade, but was instantly greeted with warmth,” praised Abby Maksin ‘27. “The Shabbaton only increased this feeling of community.”
The Shabbaton consisted of a mix of free time and programming. There were two sessions about friendship and beginning high school and many divrei Torah given by students and faculty. During their free time, students had many options on how to fill their time: there were optional Nakh Yomi sessions, walks on the boardwalk, and games set up in the main room. The freshmen also had the opportunity to meet the incoming principal Rabbi Aaron Frank, who participated in the Shabbaton for his first Ramaz program. “I’m here so that in four years, when you guys graduate, I’ll be able to say I was at your first Shabbaton,” Rabbi Frank joked in his d’var Torah.
The weekend concluded at Urban Air Trampoline Park where students jousted in a foam pit, completed American Ninja Warrior obstacle courses, and had trampoline dunk contests: the perfect wrap-up to the Shabbaton weekend. Jane Winokour ‘27, who sprained her ankle at the park, said that even her injury couldn’t detract from the Shabbaton’s magic. “Everyone came up and asked if I was okay. The whole weekend, teachers and students were talking about community, but when everyone cared about how I was feeling and if everything was okay, I really felt it.”
Ms. Eva Bernfeld, the freshmen grade dean, said she was very impressed with the student’s behavior and attitude on the Shabbaton. In a Schoology post following the weekend, Ms. Bernfeld exclaimed that “Your [the freshmen’s] participation and enthusiasm made the Shabbaton an unforgettable experience. The sense of community and togetherness was inspiring, and I can’t wait to see how you continue to grow and build upon the maturity you displayed and the connections that you made this past weekend.”
