The foremost challenges facing our students today is social emotional learning (SEL). Jewish education and specifically Chassidus has always prioritized inner growth and character building, but our research and experience has shown that this is a skill set that can no longer be taken for granted. Here’s why:

• The Foundation of Jewish Education: Children who are lacking in a social-emotional sphere are compromised in their ability to connect deeply with their Jewish identity.
• A Safe Environment: A school environment where students and staff members are sensitized to social-emotional needs is a safer and more positive environment in which a child can thrive.
• Home and World Influences: We can no longer take for granted that students arrive at school with basic social-emotional competencies already in place. Increased exposure to secular media, technology and information overload, has led to greater anxiety and diminished wholesomeness in children’s lives.
• Existing Programs Not Enough: Many existing programs lack one or more of these elements: a) a proactive, as opposed to reactive, approach to social-emotional health and awareness; b) Torah sources, values and language; c) transfer and lasting impact; and d) consideration of broader school culture.
• Mental Health Hygiene/Prevention: While mental health challenges, currently on the rise, are the domain of mental health professionals, by building emotional health early on in a child’s life we can prevent many of the complications that may take place further down the line.