Teaching Tefillah Part 4: Practical Tips and Resources
By Mrs. Chanah Rose As the final installment of our four-part Chinuch series on teaching Tefilla, we present a list of tips and resources. Students often ask for practical tips [...]
Teaching Tefillah Part 3: Music and Tefilla
By Chanah Rose There are many more analogies that can be dwelt upon for Tefilla, both classic ones and original ones that you and your students or children might come [...]
Teaching Tefillah Part 2: Climbing the Ladder of Tefillah
By Mrs. Chanah Rose We are all familiar with the dream that Yaakov Avinu had at the foot of Har Hamoria, with the powerful imagery of a “sulam mutzav artzah [...]
Teaching Tefillah Part 1: Polishing Diamonds
By Mrs. Chanah Rose The Frierdiker Rebbe once said ספר השיחות לה"ק תש"ד-קכד ("התפילה והעבוד", הרב יקותיאל גרין, דף 156) : “A foundation of Chassidus is Tefilla. Just like in [...]
What is A Chassidishe Chinuch? 10 Chinuch Messages in Basi Legani
Based on Rabbi Nosson Gurary’s talk at the Yud Shevat Mechanchos Farbrengen, 5783. 1) This world is Hashem's favorite place. There are infinite spiritual worlds, but everything Hashem created is [...]
What Teachers Want From the Directors
By Shaina Baumgarten, Preschool Teacher at Silverstein Hebrew Academy, Great Neck, NY A message from a teacher to her school director, presented at the Annual Women's Chabad School Leadership Retreat, [...]
How a First Grade Teacher Changed an Irritated Child’s Mood
Meet the Chinuch Shluchim: Rabbi Yisroel Raices, first-grade teacher at United Lubavitcher Yeshiva Crown St, follows in his grandfather's footsteps, remembers a kind gesture of a parent, and shares 3 [...]
What Hei Teves Reminds Teachers
At the celebratory farbrengen on Hei Teves 5747, the Rebbe emphasized a lesson for our Avodah from the whole ordeal. Part of the complaint was that Lubavitch isn’t a גוף [...]
The Chinuch Miracle
There are many versions of the question that is asked, "What is the miracle of Chanuka?" Reading between the lines of its answers, perhaps we can say that Chinuch is the miracle [...]
This Teacher Loves the Outdoors – and an Actual Sefer
Meet the Chinuch Shluchim: Rabbi Mendel Meyers, a fifth-grade teacher at Cheder Menachem in Los Angeles, California on how curiosity and unique hobbies outside of school have made him a [...]
One Visit Showed a Teacher What He Was Doing Wrong
Meet the Chinuch Shluchim: Rabbi Eily Smith of the Mesivta at Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) in Miami, Florida, on a powerful experience that transformed his teaching, instilling confidence, and teaching [...]
Chinuch Lessons from י”ט כסלו
We are all familiar with the story of the King's crown jewel being crushed into medicine as a mashal for revealing Chassidus in our times. This includes the Chiddush of [...]
How Do You Get 459 Public School Students to Enroll in Jewish Day Schools?
Fourth grader Gabriela’s whole life changed when she switched from public school to Mazel Day School, a Blue-Ribbon award-winning Chabad school in southern Brooklyn, New York. “I keep Shabbat and [...]
Let’s Talk About Teachers
Op-Ed by Mrs. Chanah Rose: If Chinuch is the most important role, then why is it the most difficult? Here are just a few reasons why. Teaching: the hardest job [...]
Ms. Miriam Elberg Empowers Teens to Learn Chassidus
“Meet the Chinuch Shluchim” is a series that features Chabad teachers from different states, countries and demographics speaking about their life and Chinuch Shlichus. This week: Bais Rivkah High School [...]
Rabbi Avraham Granat Doesn’t Have a Dull Moment
Meet the Chinuch Shluchim: Rabbi Avraham Granat of Lubavitch Hebrew Academy in Margate, Florida, on dealing with a terrible loss, his mastery of multiple trades, his role model from Las [...]
Meet the Chinuch Shluchim – Rabbi Shimmy Gerlitzky
With the Chinuch system under attack, the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF) and COLlive.com launch the new feature series "Meet the Chinuch Shluchim": Oholei Torah teacher Rabbi Shimmy Gerlitzky on family [...]
Government Regulations Will Only Harm Our Yeshivas
Op-Ed by Rabbi Zalman Shneur, Executive Director of The Menachem Education Foundation, dedicated to improving Chinuch: "Are yeshiva graduates successful despite our education or because of our education?" “Without an [...]
Chinuch: What’s Our Goal?
by Chanah Rose Sitting with a group of women at a Shabbos afternoon shiur, we digressed to talk about what our goals are for our children. “To be frum.” “To [...]
The Unfortunate Trend to Focus on What’s Wrong
By Rabbi Zalman Shneur Our children are listening. They listen when we complain about our unhappiness with the education system. They listen when we argue that the teacher was wrong [...]
Chinuch Lessons from Yetzias Mitzrayim
by Morah Chanie Feldman. As educators, we often find ourselves trying to assist a child with a particular challenge, whether social, emotional, or academic. When a child has a challenge, this is their personal Golus, and there is so much that we can learn from the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim for how to guide them toward their personal Geulah!
Please Let Me Get to Know You
by Chanah Rose. This poem depicts a teacher and student sharing their hopes for the first day of school, making the case to get to know our students through baseline assessment, learning profiles and personal connection as the foundation for learning.
Remembering the Past, to Empower Our Future
A Pesach Message by Rabbi Zalman Shneur, Executive Director. Is a reminder of the darkness of slavery really necessary at a celebration of Freedom? Yes, says the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Throughout the Seder night, we must actively retell the story of the Jewish People’s redemption from slavery to salvation by experiencing it for ourselves.
Healthy, Happy, Frum
by Mrs. Dena Gorkin (as told to Chanie Gorkin) This article has been excerpted from "Healthy, Happy, Frum: A veteran Mechaneches shares her insight into effective Chinuch", which appeared in issue number four of the BR Embrace magazine. To view in full or subscribe to the magazine, visit www.bethrivkah.edu/embrace.
What Will We Tell our Children?
By Liba Rimler Our yearning is raw. We have been counting down since the first day of the Omer. We sing the songs with our children. The forty-nine days of anticipation are coming to a close soon. What will we tell them if we find ourselves at home?
The Aseres Hadibros of Chinuch
by Mrs. Leah Levine, As we prepare once again for Kabalos HaTorah, it struck me that the first Talmud Torah was actually at Har Sinai and our first teacher was Moshe Rabbeinu. For the most perfect methods in Chinuch, we don’t need to look further than our Ten Commandments, the foundation of the entire Torah.
4 Lessons for Parents and Teachers from Distance Learning
By Mrs. Chanah Rose, All four ingredients of distance learning are powerful drivers for brick-and-mortar learning as well. And all four of them bring one message home...
A Second Chance for Chinuch at Its Best
By Rabbi Zalman Shneur, If we do not consciously harness this energy to expand these critical efforts when we return to physical classrooms, it would be a missed opportunity.
Reaching Our Students in a Way of L’Chatchila Ariber
by Rabbi Shalom DovBer Avtzon, I propose that we do everything we can in a manner of Lchatchilla Ariber. In addition to whatever schools are doing there should be an emphasis of one on one.
A Teacher’s Role During Covid-19
By Yanki Raskin LMSW, The role of a mechanech goes beyond teaching skills and text. While this is always true, during these times of change and uncertainty, this aspect of our role takes on a new meaning; the context and environment of our teaching is fertile ground and is calling upon us to use this opportunity to engage and be of service to our students in ways that can and b’ezras Hashem will make a lasting educational impression upon them.
Are Our Students on the Outside Looking In, or On the Inside Looking Out?
Today, Tes Adar, marks 80 years to the day that the Frerdiker Rebbe arrived in America. At that time, American Jewry was, borrowing the terminology of the Rashbatz, “on the outside,” but not necessarily looking to come in.
Hiskashrus: Helping Our Students Connect
“Happy is your lot that Hashgacha Ha’elyona has placed you in the most fortunate position of one engaged in Chinuch, which draws near the hearts of Jewish Children to our [...]
10 Ways to Take Chinuch to Heart
As a community, we are in a process of rededicating ourselves to the vital Shlichus of Chinuch. In every area, educators are striving to go the extra mile - exemplifying [...]
Chai Elul Inspiration: 18 Hachlatos for Those in Chinuch
At the Kinus Mechanchos Chabad 5779, Mechanchos from around the world gathered to farbreng and inspire each other in their unique Shlichus of Chinuch. Throughout the Kinus, there were various [...]
Chinuch: A Shlichus for Our Time
By Mrs Chanah Rose, Is teaching an art, a science, or a calling? The simple answer is, all three. We have all met the “born” teacher, who has been playing school since age five.
A Moment of Silence For Our Own – The Discussion Continues
By: Rabbi Chaim Yitzchok Vogel, With the recent discussion about a Moment of Silence, I started reflecting on how this campaign of the Rebbe isn't only for the public schools, but for our schools as well.
A Moment of Silence: Not Just for Public Schools
By Rena Udkoff, How the Rebbe’s call for a Moment of Silence can be applied in a Chabad classroom
By Leaps and Bounds: A Pesach Message
By Rabbi Zalman Shneur, The name of the upcoming Yom Tov of Pesach derives from the word meaning “and Hashem will leap over.” Rashi in his commentary explains further: “The festival is called Pesach because of [Hashem’s] leaping.... Therefore, perform all its aspects in a manner of bounding and leaping.” Pesach has a special characteristic of leaping beyond the boundaries of regular limitations.
Teaching Our Students How to Think
By Rabbi Shais Taub, The name of the upcoming Yom Tov of Pesach derives from the word meaning “and Hashem will leap over.” Rashi in his commentary explains further: “The festival is called Pesach because of [Hashem’s] leaping.... Therefore, perform all its aspects in a manner of bounding and leaping.” Pesach has a special characteristic of leaping beyond the boundaries of regular limitations.
Chinuch Al Taharas Hakodesh
By Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, I would argue the number one challenge facing Jewish education today is keeping the schools and the parents on the same page.
Parshas Hashavua: Aiming Higher
By Mrs. Chanah Rose, Parsha. It’s a spiral that takes us higher each year, revisiting familiar stories on deeper levels, with new relevance for the new year. In schools, we need to make sure that Parsha class is indeed a spiral that cycles upwards, and not mainly repetition. Parsha is perhaps the only subject which is taught consistently from preK all the way up through high school, so it takes effort and intentionality to teach it each year in a way that’s new.
Kriah: It’s Not Just Reading
by Rabbi Moshe Schwartz Every year, children sit down on the first day of Pre1A, excited to learn. They are graduating from the childlike way they learned before, ready to [...]
Four Students- Part 4
By Mrs. Chana Rose, Educational Director of the Menachem Education Foundation The fourth son of the Haggada is the silent son. The “she’ayno yodei’a li’sh’ol” is the child who does [...]
Four Students- Part 3
By Mrs. Chana Rose, Educational Director of the Menachem Education Foundation In the passage of the Arba Banim, the Haggada first addresses two extremes - the Chacham and Rasha, whom [...]
Four Students- Part 2
By Mrs. Chana Rose, Educational Director of the Menachem Education Foundation The first thing that we need to realize about the second son described in the Haggada, the Rasha, is [...]
Four Students- Part 1
The Haggada is our guidebook for Chinuch, with the passage of the Arba Banim holding a prominent place in its instructions for Mechanchim. The first of the four sons is [...]
Which Child First?: A Pesach Message
Teachers are often faced with a dilemma when multiple children are clamoring for their attention: which child’s needs to address first? With limited time and resources, educators are forced to [...]
A Word With: Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Solomon
Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Solomon serves as College Rabbi to Moriah College’s 1,500 students in Sydney, AU, and the author of “The Educational Teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.” Rabbi Solomon [...]
3 Steps to Better Communication
By: Mrs. Sarah Chuzhin As early childhood educators, we find ourselves faced with multiple challenges in the classroom. Our students have intense and raw emotions, enthusiasm, curiosity, frustration, and even [...]
A Teacher’s Prayer
by Ms. Inbal Levin I make sure to pray to You before I leave the house in the morning. I guess you can say it’s my “thing”. Each morning as [...]
The Tone and Tune: Why it Matters.
by Rabbi Chaim Kosofsky They say that only seven percent of a message is conveyed with words - ninety-three percent is conveyed in other factors such as tone of voice [...]
Raising the Bar: Learning Chumash Content
This article is a part of a series. Click here for part one and part two. In this post we will explore the second section of the Zekelman Standards for Chumash [...]
Do We Know Our Goal? An Interview with Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz
The annual Chabad Chinuch Convention is this summer, beginning on Gimmel Tammuz, followed by two days of packed programming in two separate locations for men and women. We are proud [...]
Why Standards, and Why Now?
by Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum The Zekelman Standards for Chumash present a significant milestone for Torah educators, but not necessarily an innovation. A closer look at our sources shows that [...]
Matan Torah: Making it Real
Zman Matan Toraseinu is upon us, the time when my toddler starts asking me: is Hashem going to give us the Torah again this year? Indeed, we [...]
Why I Chose Chinuch
As we prepared for the Chinuch Job Fair, we found ourselves wondering what inspires people to get involved in Chinuch. To get the answer we turned to those we know [...]
For Teachers, From Teachers.
Earlier this year, mechanchos gathered at several Melava Malkas to network, discuss and inspire each other. They shared tips for their fellow teachers, and we wanted to share them with [...]
A Letter: Because You Cared.
Dear Teacher, I was your student five years ago. Five years is a long time. So many things change, and that means you have seen four grades since I [...]
There Is Always A Spring: A Pesach Message
In the world of Chinuch, parents and educators may not see the results of their extensive efforts through the droughts of “winter”. Pesach comes to teach us a lesson about [...]
What Makes A Great Teacher? 5 Things I Learned from the Chinuch Awards
Last year, reading the submissions and making the reference calls for the Chinuch Award nominees was a tremendous privilege, and truly inspirational. I remember thinking about whether it would [...]
Raising the Bar: Fostering Respect
This article is a part of a series. Click here for part one. In this and future articles, I hope to be able to take you, the parent body and [...]
Watering the Seeds
by Mrs. Chaya Teldon Literacy is defined as ‘competence or knowledge in a specified area’. We are constantly working toward math literacy, Hebrew literacy, and literacy in literature in our [...]
When They Cry For Help
by Mrs. Dena Gorkin “I’m not here for myself. I need advice for a friend.” This is a commonly expressed justification for a teenager to show up at the office [...]
Which Chinuch Crisis?
Anyone involved in education has likely had some kind of experience with a “Chinuch crisis.” On the receiving end, there are sadly many who feel hurt at their own needs [...]
Reaching The Souls
This is a transcribed and adapted speech given by Mrs. Sarale Blau at the High School teachers networking Melava Malka organized by the Menachem Education Foundation. Knowing Your Students The [...]
How To Help Your Child Succeed In School
Dear Parent, There is a Halacha in the Shulchan Aruch, that a single man is not supposed to teach small children, because their mothers will come to pick them up, [...]
From Vienna to Montreal
Adapted from an interview with Rabbi Feigelstock, a long time mechanech and principal of Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch in Montreal, conducted by Rabbi Shneur. The ideas that Rabbi Feigelstock discuss [...]
Raising the Bar: What Are The Standards?
Introduction to Standards: The word curriculum means different things to different people. But one thing remains constant: curriculum changes dictated by governments around the world are ongoing. In the general [...]
The Kiss That Lasted A Life Time
BY: RABBI AVTZON Reb Aharon Zakon was a Chassidic bochur (Talmudic Student) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which at the time of this story, in 1947, was part of the Soviet Union, [...]
What Can We Do For Chinuch?
What Can We Do For Chinuch? Op-Ed by Rabbi Zalman Shneur: "We complain about the chinuch "system" but the only way to solve these difficulties is through a [...]