Jan 22, 2008 — Approximately 500 yeshiva high school students from throughout the United States and Canada had an opportunity to promote international law, wrestle with world hunger, and address the crisis of weapons of mass destruction this February. At least in theory.

At the annual Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN), organized by the YU Office of Admissions and run by YU undergraduates, students from 44 high schools participated in a simulated United Nations conference. The annual event, held this year at the Sheraton Stamford, CT, February 3-5, provides students with a forum to learn about diplomacy and debate tough issues affecting the global community.

“Our goal was to engage the students in relevant issues,” said Josh Levy, a senior at Yeshiva College and this year’s secretary general of YUNMUN. “We instilled in them an understanding that there is a world so much larger that the one in which they live.”

Each participating school was represented by a delegation of five to eighteen students and a faculty advisor. They spent months of preparation learning to represent their assigned country knowledgeably and skillfully, and submitted “position papers” outlining their country’s stance on designated issues. At the conference, students responded to crises that arise, negotiated for their country’s best interests, and penned resolutions for passage in the General Assembly.

The conference was divided into 15 committees, each of which was devoted to dealing with a specific UN sector. A team of Yeshiva University undergraduates chaired the committees, acting as passionate advocates of international involvement and as role models for YU’s mission of Torah Umadda [Torah learning combined with secular studies] .

Three new committees relevant to current affairs debuted this year: the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and a committee called 1540, focusing on weapons of mass destruction.

At YUNMUN’s close, an eagerly anticipated awards ceremony recognized outstanding individuals and schools.

Levy said, “Between a great staff, intriguing topics, and the power of competition, this was one of the best years yet.”

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Jan 31, 2005 — Hundreds of high school students from across North America will debate topics ranging from improving women’s healthcare to illicit weapons trade in the Balkan states at the 15th Annual Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN) conference, Feb. 6-8.

This simulated meeting of the United Nations will attract more than 500 students from 38 high schools.

Established and hosted by Yeshiva University, the conference is the largest Jewish high-school event of its kind, according to Michael Kranzler, YU director of admissions.

Each school represents at least one member country of the United Nations. Students are assigned to one of 15 committees, including the World Food Program, Disarmament and International Security, and the Middle East Summit. As committee members, students present their countries’ positions on various matters. YUNMUN models procedures used by the real United Nations.

Beyond learning about politics, public speaking, and negotiation, students will meet and work with peers from other high schools. The event will be held at the Hilton Parsippany (New Jersey) in a professional conference environment.

For more information on YUNMUN, visit the conference’s Web site at www.yu.edu/yunmun.

Participating Schools:

·Akiva Hebrew Day School, Southfield, MI
·Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School, North Miami Beach, FL
·Beth Tfiloh Dahan High School, Baltimore, MD
·Block Yeshiva High School, St. Louis, MO
·Bnei Akiva Schools, Downsview, Ontario, Canada
·Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto Richmond Hill, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
·Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto Tannenbaum Centre, Downsview, Ontario, Canada
·Ezra Academy, Forrest Hills, NY
·Fuchs Mizrachi, University Heights, OH
·Gray Academy of Jewish Education, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
·Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway, Cedarhurst, NY
·Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, Uniondale, NY
·Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
·Hillel Yeshiva High School, Ocean, NJ
·Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Overland Park, KS
·Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Chicago, IL
·Kushner Yeshiva High School, Livingston, NJ
·Maayanot Yeshiva High School, Teaneck, NJ
·Magen David Yeshiva, Brooklyn, NY
·Maimonides School, Brookline, MA
·Margolin Hebrew Academy, Memphis, TN
·Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys, New York, NY
·Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, Rockville, MD
·Moshe Aaron Yeshiva High School, South River, NJ
·North Shore Hebrew Academy, Great Neck, NY
·Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy, Miami Beach, FL
·Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Holliswood, NY
·Shalhevet High School, Los Angeles, CA
·Stern Hebrew High School, Philadelphia, PA
·The Ramaz Upper School, New York, NY
·Torah Academy of Bergen County, Teaneck, NJ
·Trocki Hebrew Academy, Egg Harbor Township, NJ
·Weinbaum Yeshiva High School, Boca Raton, FL
·Westchester Hebrew High School, Mamaroneck, NY
·Yavneh Academy of Dallas, Dallas, TX
·Yeshiva of Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY
·Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
·Yeshivat Rambam High School, Baltimore, MD

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