Blatt Battles  

With the fast-paced energy of a game-show style competition, Rabbi Shmuel Rabi’s Rischa D’oraisa program gets elementary school boys to dig into their knowledge base and apply what they’re learning to different scenarios — because there’s no greater antidote to the outside world than the competitive adrenaline of kedushah

It’s the middle of the school day this afternoon, and most hallways in this Lakewood, New Jersey, elementary school building are empty. But in one wing, right past the light-brown double doors that lead to the staircase, swarms of boys are eagerly heading in the same direction. Some are moving quickly, making a beeline for the beis medrash, while others stroll leisurely, schmoozing along the way, but they all have a bounce in their step.

They file into the beis medrash, filling up most of the room. Two administrators are already there, and in the center stands a middle-aged man of average height with a trim beard. As the last kids find their places, Rabbi Shmuel Rabi finishes setting up two electronic scoreboards. He then turns to the rebbeim to briefly demonstrate how to operate the remote controls for today’s program, which will be for all three sixth- grade classes, about 90 boys in all.

”You’ll figure it out quickly,” Rabbi Rabi assures the rebbeim in a distinct English accent.

He is just about ready to start his Rischa D’oraisa program, but first, one of the principals gives a pep talk.