Closing Ceremony

Every YUNMUN has a closing ceremony in which the best delegates from each committee are recognized by their committee chairs. It is here where all of the preparations for YUNMUN bear fruit.

Delegations sit together in the main social hall of the hotel's conference center on shpilkes, hoping that their performance during the six committee sessions were recognized by their chairs. It is vital for each school delegation to have a cheer ready if/when a member of their team is recognized.

Unfortunately, this year's delegation did not win any awards at the conference. But that did not get anyone down. The experience was a positive one for everyone involved, with new lessons learned and new friends made.

Finnigan's Rule

BT sophomore Aaron F. ('13) shares some thoughts from his first YUNMUN experience

More like Gel-woman

Micaela G., a BT sophomore, relates some her experiences from her very first YUNMUN.

Kayla Kan

BT Sophomore Kayla K. shares some reflections on YUNMUN XXI

My experience at YUNMUN was both fun and educational. When we first got to the conference, we watched the Super Bowl. Though I am not a football fanatic, it gave me a chance to meet the people whom I would soon be working with. After the Super Bowl, we met with our committees. I represented Austria in the World Health Organization, otherwise known as the WHO. Besides creating resolutions, we laughed a lot and passed notes. Speaking in front of the entire committee was frightening, but I am now more comfortable speaking in front of crowds. Also, the food was delicious. Though our team didn’t win, we came back from the conference with confidence and a lot of inside jokes.

"Lip" Service

BT Sophomore Josh L. shares some reflections on YUNMUN XXI

As a novice in Model UN, I entered my first committee meeting rather confused as to the formalities and procedures of a United Nations session. When the seasoned delegate from Panama enthusiastically raised his placard and requested a ten-minute "caucus," I immediately sifted through my delegate handbook to learn the meaning of that technical term. I quickly became comfortable with the workings of my committee, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

My committee received a relatively silly crisis from the Secretary General stating that aliens descended from outer space and murdered people on an Azerbaijani beach and the UN Security Council. Striving to formulate a feasible resolution quickly, several countries motioned to present their resolutions within minutes of receiving this "alarming" emergency.

After engaging in intriguing debates regarding the issues of space debris and the formation of an international space agency, I feel knowledgeable on topics I likely would have never researched. The YUNMUN experience exposed me to dealing with world issues diplomatically as I discussed and often debated a means to solve these pivotal issues.

I definitely plan upon attending YUNMUN in the future because I feel that not only did the experience prove educational, but also I met the most amazing, intelligent people at the conference.

A Fresh Perspective

BT Freshman Caitlyn F. ('14) shares some of her reflections from the second day of Model UN

As a first timer at YUNMUN and one of very few freshmen, I was intimidated by the other delegates and how skilled they were. But after a day here, I’ve made so many new friends and I feel very comfortable in my committee.

My committee, UNEP (United Nations Environmental Protection), was assigned to a crisis: Yemen was going through a severe drought. We had one hour to decide on a resolution to solve this problem, otherwise the people of Yemen would die. Every country incorporated resolutions and ideas as to how to properly supply water to Yemen. However, after the final votes, none of the resolutions were passed and Yemen’s people died.

So now I can say that my committee was responsible for the death of a country. What a great way to start a conversation.

The Gift of Gab(e)

Second-year YUNMUN veteran and BT Junior Gabe Z. performed admirably at this year's conference.

MD from MD

Michal D., co-captain of the BT delegation, shares her reflections on YUNMUN XXI

Captain's Blog XXI

Below are a few observations of YUNMUN XXI, from BT captain, Aaron S. ('11)

This is my fourth and final year at YUNMUN, and this year’s conference seems better than ever. Our Beth Tfiloh delegation is so dedicated to doing well and making the school proud.

Yesterday started off with a bang as we watched the Super Bowl before even having one committee session. Afterward, we proceeded to our first meetings.

I am a delegate on the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), representing Austria., and our first meeting was great. It ran smoothly and everyone was relaxed (from the game,?) which seems to have set the tone for the rest of the conference.

Our Very Own "Binyamin"

THE GAVEL

At YUNMUN, each committee has a chairperson and each chairperson has a gavel. This gavel is used to call a room to order or to finalize a resolution. It has taken on a persona of its own, so that the gavel is revered amongst the chairpersons, and the delegates fear the sound of its pounding.

Well, the end of day 1 at YUNMUN XXI seemed to come to a close with very little incident. The 12:30 am curfew for delegates was easily enforced, as students were exhausted from the excitement of the Super Bowl (commercials) and from their first committee sessions.

However, as the hallways quieted down a strange phone call went out to the BT chaperon:

It seemed that in one of the committees, the gavel had disappeared. And the chairperson was certain that he had noticed said gavel peeking out from the bag of the Austrian (that's us) delegate. The chairperson had gone so far as to ask the delegate to open the suspected bag, but, alas, this search revealed nothing.

The BT chaperon was asked to follow up on the incident, but he could not shake the feeling of familiarity with the story. For when the sons of Yaacov go down to Egypt to seek sustenance during a famine, their youngest brother, Binyamin, has a silver cup planted in his bag of food and is arrested and imprisoned for his actions (if you don't know the whole story, it turns out that the governor is actually brother #11, Yosef, and he just wants to give his older brothers a hard time).

After some intense negotiations, all agreed that resolution of the incident could wait until morning.

So, at breakfast, an internal investigation launched by the Austrians confronted the delegate about the gavel. Perplexed and adamant in innocence, the delegate searched the bag one final time --- only to produce the gavel.

The gavel was returned to its rightful place in the committee room and no one is the wiser. Still, security around the Austrian delegation has been beefed up and tensions are high (no, not really).

This will, undoubtedly, be one for the ages.

A Tale of Two Competitions

This year's YUNMUN conference coincided with another significant event - the Super Bowl.

So, having arrived at the Stamford Plaza Hotel and CC, we checked into our rooms, freshened up and were treated to an awesome Super Bowl part by the organizers of YUNMUN.

Dinner was a traditional fare of Super Bowl eats (think "offensive lineman") and the major hall in the hotel was set up with a large screen, onto which the game was projected.

Below is a photo of (most of) the BT Model UN delegation enjoying the Super Bowl event.

This year's team is one of the strongest BT delegations ever, and includes the following students:

Aaron S .(Sr. Captain, '11), Michal D. (Jr. Captain, '12), Gabe Z. ('12), Aaron F. ('13), Micaela G. ('13), Kayla K. ('13), Josh L. ('13), Caitlyn F. ('14).

A tremendous thanks to our chaperons as well:
Mr. Spodek, Ms. Izaks and Ms. Jacoby.

FYI, Austrians and Jamaicans generally show little interest in this type of football, but if they did, they would also root against the Steelers.

It's Time!

The day has finally arrived!

Beth Tfiloh's Model UN delegation is on its way to YUNMUN XXI at the Stamford Plaza Hotel and Conference Center.

The students worked hard throughout the first half of the school year to prepare for this event. Aside from meeting during the appropriated club periods, members of this select group made sure that they were proactive and up to date on the requirements for the event.

The video below has become a sort-of mascot for the delegation. Many have a love-hate relationship with it, but everyone gets a kick out of it.
We hope you enjoy it as well.

We are representing Austria and Jamaica at the conference (see if you can spot them in the video).