National Law Day is an annual event, coordinated by the American Bar Association, for the purpose of teaching and celebrating the role of the law in our society. On May 1, the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY) hosted over a dozen leaders from state and local government and the legal profession to talk with different classes about the role of law in protecting our freedoms and advancing respect and tolerance for different views.

This year’s National Law Day activities at RPRY were organized by Event Chair and Coordinator Leslie Ostrin, General Studies Principal Chana Luchins, Office Administrator Orit Goldstein, and Facilities Administrator Mark Barnett, with generous support from RPRY grandparent Larry Mandel and his law firm, Gertner & Mandel, LLC.

Greeting the guest speakers, Head of School Rabbi Michael Ribalt said: “Today we are gathered to celebrate the opportunity our country gives us by having a functional legal system. It provides us an opportunity to understand how law and the legal processes protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice, and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.

“This year’s theme, ‘Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration,’ highlights the importance of building trust in our institutions, working on our mutual respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation.

“As a Jewish school we do not take these liberties for granted. Our students learn and strive to treat all people with dignity, love and respect. These values are instilled in both their Jewish and general studies curricula.

“Rabbi Akiva taught: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ [Vayikra Leviticus 19:18]. This is the most important rule in the Torah. And in Ethics of the Fathers Pirkei Avot 1:12, Hillel says, ‘Be among the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them closer to the Torah.’

“We are so grateful to have the many dignitaries, law enforcement leaders, lawmakers and lawyers here today, that represent the very best of what it means to protect and love all peoples. Thank you for coming, inspiring our children, and for being role models for our future generations.”

The visiting guests were then dispatched to individual classrooms, many armed with an age-appropriate children’s book on themes of democracy, freedom and civic engagement. Their assignment was to use the book as a platform for discussions of our collective responsibility to vote and be involved in our community and our country.

The dignitaries and their assigned classrooms included:

• Edison Deputy Police Chief Robert Dudash, pre-kindergarten A
• Highland Park Police Officer Brian O’Mara, pre-kindergarten B
• Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster, kindergarten B
• Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, 1A class
• East Brunswick Economic Development Officer Rob Zuckerman, 3A class
• East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen, 4A class
• Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, fifth grade girls’ class
• Senator Patrick Diegnan, sixth grade boys’ class
• Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, 6th grade girls’ class

Other classes heard from attorneys Donny Epstein, Seth Berman, Avi Maza, Larry Mandel, Eugene Wishnic and Henry Schanzer, as well as retired RPRY teacher Ruth Schechter, Professor George Blank, and civil service leader Peri Horowitz.

Reactions by some of the speakers afterwards indicate that they felt their time at RPRY was quite worthwhile.

Commenting on his Facebook page after the event, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak wrote: “Yesterday, I was excited to attend Law Day at Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY) in Edison. I was honored to speak with a class of sixth graders about the importance of equitable law and acceptance in our society. This year’s theme was ‘Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility and Collaboration,’ and is especially important in today’s world.

“Thank you to the students who were engaging and, quite frankly, smarter than I was at that age. I look forward to seeing these students work together to build a stronger, more respectful, and more tolerant community. Thank you for the invitation, RPRY!”

The Borough of Highland Park posted on Facebook: “Thank you, Mayor Elsie Foster, for representing the Borough at ‘Law Day 2023,’ held this afternoon at RPRY. The mayor spoke with the kindergarten class about the freedoms we enjoy and how government creates laws to make people safe. She also showed them a new law (an ordinance) that the Borough Council plans to consider at tomorrow night’s mayor and council meeting.”

Speaking to The Jewish Link, East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen said: “It was a blast spending time with the RPRY fourth graders as we learned about U.S. law. Thank you to the administration of RPRY for allowing me the opportunity to have some fun and teach all at the same time.”

East Brunswick Economic Development Officer Rob Zuckerman said: “It is important to teach our children the importance of democracy for democracy to work. We need to be civil and willing to communicate and work together. The children [at RPRY] were so engaged it gives me great hope for the future.”

“National Law Day presents an opportunity to focus on the meaningfulness of laws, lawmakers, lawyers and the role that law plays in our very special democracy,” said Leslie Ostrin. It’s sometimes hard to remember and appreciate that we live in the greatest democracy in the world. RPRY Law Day 2023 helps our students focus on what’s special about living in the United States of America, and introduces them to talented individuals who are leading the charge. There are so many things that our students gain through the RPRY Law Day program, not least of which are horizon expansion and hakaras hatov.”

Thank you to Sarah Schuman, social media coordinator at RPRY, for providing many of the photos accompanying this story.

By Harry Glazer