Jewish School Wins As Islamic Republic of Iran In Model UN

DEERFIELD, IL — Rochelle Zell received the top prize at the National High School Model United Nations conference for the third consecutive year, and this year they did it in the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Deerfield-based Jewish high school competed on March 15 through March 18 in New York City along with more than 2,000 delegates representing schools from 23 different countries on six continents.

Model UN is a simulation of United Stations operations. It gives students an opportunity to debate and problem solve around real world issues that arise at the councils and committees of the international body.

In every venue in which they participated this year, Rochelle Zell represented Iran. Students visited with diplomats from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Iranian Embassy in New York on the second day of competition. The diplomats presented a program on modern-day Iran and took questions from the students.

"This is something 30 Jewish high school students don't do every day...It gave us a chance to see each other as humans," Felix Rosen of Chicago told the Deerfield Review.

The Iranian government does not not recognize the legitimacy of the state of Israel, while the school organizes an annual visit to the country for seniors.

In addition to overall 1st place honors and 1st place in research and preparation, six participants from the school won awards of distinction.

Several Rochelle Zell Jewish High School students took home first and second place awards for specialized committees. Joseph Shrayer took home 1st place from Interantional Court of Justice and Zev Mishell and Jonah Karoll finished in 2nd pace from the Historical Security Council Committee. Rosen came in third on the Crisis Committee, while Idan Chazen and Toni Maltsman took home third place from the League of Arab States.

The schools other individual award winning speakers were:

• Ben Lesch, Evanston,
• Maytal Meisler, Northbrook
• Jacob Resnick, Northbrook
• Maya Scholder, Northbrook
• Arielle Small, Deerfield
• Ethan Harris, Skokie
• Shachar Rosenblatt, Skokie
• Lillian Copley, Buffalo Grove
• Lexi Levin, Highland Park
• Elijah Ecanow, Long Grove
• Emma Mati, Glenview
• Max Pivo, Hawthorn Woods

Highland Park High School was disqualified from team honors by a travel delay, but nine members of its team still managed to give plenary speeches, according to the Deerfield Review.

Top photo: Rochelle Zell Model UN Team (Courtesy Rochelle Zell)

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