Yeshiva students take part in a slice of government at Lawrence High School

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The third floor of Lawrence High School became a United States Senate office floor as eight Jewish schools from across the metropolitan area, including the Five Towns, held faux committee hearings as part of the Yeshiva League Model Congress competition on Feb. 19. 

Sitting in the Senate Homeland and Security Government Affairs Committee hearing was akin to visiting a Senate committee meeting as the “senators” made their arguments on whether to go to war with Iran and several other issues.

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls sophomores Dina Cohen and Noa Naumberg capably oversee the proceedings and ensure timeliness as they were right on time banging the gavel to keep the senators in line.

One by one the students made their way to the lectern, stumped for their ideas and answered questions from their Congressional colleagues.

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School sophomore Leah Levin, who later was awarded a second place medal, said it was her first time taking part in Model Congress. “How to ask questions, how to think about topics we learned about  and need to learn about,” were the benefits of participating Levin said.

Ami Dube, a Rambam Mesivta High School freshman, called it a “great experience.” “You get to express yourself and the opinion you hold,” Dube said. “I had a great time expressing it.”

Central, Yeshiva University for Girls in Queens; The Frisch School in Paramus, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy (MTA) Yeshiva University High School for Boys in Manhattan, Salanter Akiba Riverdale High School (SAR) and Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) also took park in the Model Congress. Alex Libkind, who teaches speech and debate at HAFTR High School, organized the event.