The Lashon Tov Club at the Rambam Mesivta held its kickoff event this past Wednesday. The whole school heard from Queens Assemblyman Sam Berger, who discussed the importance of watching one’s words in both the political and personal arenas. Following the assembly, the boys then enjoyed a breakfast of bagels and cream cheese.
The Lashon Tov club makes people more aware of the benefits of positive speech. Its members keep track of multiple things they are working on during the course of a day. At the end of each week, they add up how many of these objectives they achieved each day, and thereby gain entry to raffles for great prizes. Every few weeks, they also enjoy an exclusive breakfast.
This is the Lashon Tov Club’s fourth year. The breakfast honored 45 students who participated in the club last year. Assemblyman Berger gave out Certificates of Recognition from the New York State Assembly, congratulating the students and lauding their accomplishment. After being introduced by Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh Yeshivah of Rambam, Assemblyman Berger focused on how people succeed more when they speak positively, whether in school, the workplace, or politics. He noted that “As a politician, I have to watch every word I say. Also, as a Jew, each word is an opportunity for a kiddush Hashem.”
Rabbi Avi Herschman, Rosh Mesivta of Rambam, shared that “Over the years, more than a hundred students’ lives have been enhanced by the Lashon Tov Club. When people speak positively, they think positively. When we use davening to deepen their relationship with Hashem, our life fills with blessing. Positive speech is a habit that benefits us and our families, since people who speak positively are more pleasant to be around. The impact of this program will last for generations.”
The breakfast was sponsored by a donor who is associated with the organization Chickens For Shabbos. It is l’iluy nishmos Yaakov ben Shlomo, Malkah bas Elazar, Yitzchak Eizik ben Aharon Chaim, Raizel bas Shlomo Zalman, Moshe ben Rachel, Feiga Yachat ben Metel Esther, Menashe ben Shmuel Shmelka, and Henca Raizel bas Avraham Aryeh.
The goal of this Lashon Tov breakfast was to help incoming freshmen understand the club’s benefits, and to sign up both new and returning students for an amazing year of positive speech. As of this writing, the club this year has 88 members signed up.
