YC MATRICS PARTICIPATE IN YUNMUN

Jessica Klein

PHOTOGRAPHS: RAV LERON BERNSTEIN

The Yeshiva University National Model United Nations Programme (Yunmun) brings together learners from different Jewish schools around the world to the United States to participate in a “Mock UN conference”.

Ten matrics from Yeshiva College in Johannesburg were privileged to participate in this unique programme. Each learner is allocated a country and a UN committee, where they play the role of a UN delegate for their specific country.

They are then presented with real issues that affect the UN; they have to research the issues and come up with proposed resolutions to these real-world problems. The learners begin to understand what really happens in the UN as they formally debate and negotiate with other delegates in order to form resolutions.  

Pictured Right :The learners represented different countries at Yunmun. Back: David Herbert; Josh Kaplan; Idan Horowitz; and Rav Leron Bernstein. Middle: Gabi Urdang; Michaela Kahn; Tashi Shimoni; Sassie Weinberg; Gabi Chipkin; and Hannah Lager. Front: Yishai Abrams.

Yeshiva College learners were initially overwhelmed by the enormity of the experience, but as the conference developed, they became more confident and managed to express their views and arguments with sophistication.

They were guided by Rav Leron Bernstein, the menahel of the Boys’ School, to find their own independence in the process; they researched their topics, potential resolutions and then stood up in the midst of all the delegates to voice their own opinion, proudly representing their allocated countries, in the pursuit of world peace.

The learners spent a couple of days before and after the conference in New York. They got some free time to explore the city that never sleeps; they visited the real UN building, experienced snow in Central Park, went shopping, saw a Broadway show and went to an NBA basketball game.

The trip was an uplifting and bonding experience and enjoyed by all who participated in it.