Baseball was the theme and conduit to discussing important social issues. The students learned that sportsmanship, teamwork and equal rights affect life on the ball field, in the classroom and throughout life. These lessons will continue to serve them as they strive to reach their goals in life and become all-stars in menschlichkeit.

The day was divided into nine periods representing nine innings: Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Teamwork, Courage, Fairness, Action, Support and Community. Ms. Marilyn Meltzer, Lower School Curriculum Coordinator, and Ms. Haviva Peters, Lower School Librarian, introduced the day and explained how each “inning” related to Teammates. A video clip of Hank Greenberg and Jackie Robinson was shown and the two men’s kinship and relationship discussed. They had empathy toward each other, as they both experienced discrimination -- Greenberg as a Jew and Robinson as an African American. Via video, Peter Yarrow spoke about treating others fairly and making everyone feel comfortable. The students sang along with the video Don’t Laugh at Me, a song they had learned in music class. The students then sang the national anthem concluding with the words “Play ball!” And the fun began.

Highlights of the day included a baseball clinic and an in-house baseball museum exhibiting assorted memorabilia signed by Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson; vintage baseballs; a catcher’s mask; a book with tips on fielding; pennants; paintings; a 78 record of Take Me Out to the Ball Game; and more. Older students made their own baseball-type cards with photos and stats of their heroes who embody the B.R.A.V.E. values. Heroes included Golda Meir, Helen Keller, Madame Curie, Yonatan Netanyahu and Milton S. Hershey.

Students played math-baseball games and read Casey at Bat which inspired them to compose their own poetry using literary devices they had studied. In Hebrew classes, students discussed pitgamim about treating others respectfully. They illustrated “v’Ahavta lreyacha camocha” (love they neighbor as thyself), “yehi chavod chavercha chaviv alecha cshelcha” (let your friend’s honor be as dear to you as your own), and “hevey mkabel kol adam bsever panim yafot” (receive everyone with a cheerful face), on puzzles. In the science room, Upper School students presented lessons on physics and baseball, specifically, balance, motion, inertia, and friction.

Ramaz alumnus, and father of alum, Dr. Jeffery Gurock ‘67, discussed how important rules on the baseball field are lessons and should be mantras for life. He stressed how it is always important to try your best and practice for the game, to be a team player and to act respectfully to teammates and competitors. Mr. Gary Gramling, a reporter at Sports Illustrated for Kids, discussed how the editorial, graphic and publishing departments at SI Kids work together as a team to produce the magazine monthly. He was viewed as quite a celebrity and good sport; he autographed copies of the magazine for the students.