By COLlive reporter
21 participants, who are brimming with talent and excitement to impact the lives of young students, have just begun their second week of the “Kedima L’Chinuch” Teacher Training Program of the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF).
“Kedima L’Chinuch” is an intensive ten-week course where emerging educators will gain hands-on classroom experience, individual mentorship and attend multiple workshops on pertinent Chinuch topics.
This program will enable them to successfully face the challenges and opportunities that Chinuch presents, when they enter their classrooms as first-year teachers for the 5784 school year.
Directed by Rabbi Levke Kaplan, Menahel of Cheder Chabad Monsey, and in partnership with Oholei Torah, Lubavitch Yeshiva and Darchai Menachem in Crown Heights, this teacher training program is more than a one-and-done teaching crash course. What makes the program unique is its focus on training emerging educators to be Mechanchim whose Chinuch is aligned with the Rebbe’s Hashkafa and teachings on Chinuch.
To that end, Rabbi Yosef Simpson, Principal of United Lubavitch Yeshiva in Crown Heights, addressed participants in the orientation, and Rabbi Mendel Blau, Dean of Oholei Torah presented on the three pillars of Chinuch, which the Rebbe writes about in his letter to Bar Mitzvah Bachurim: that the goal is to raise a child to be a Chossid, Yirei Shamayim and Lamdan. Rabbi Blau described how to keep this goal on the forefront of one’s mind as a Mechanech, and how to let it guide every lesson and interaction with students.
The Menachem Education Foundation also specially accepted the participants of the program as individuals who believe in building a beautiful future of Chabad Chinuch, and to continue growing as Mechanchim. The trainees are guaranteed a generous stipend and a Chinuch position for the upcoming school year upon completion of the program.
Additionally, the program presenters and mentors are all veteran Lubavitch Mechanchim, who can convey vital skills that are based on the timeless Lubavitch Hashkafah and perspective on Chinuch.
This week, participants will begin observing and teaching in classrooms in Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Oholei Torah and Darchai Menachem, guided by master Teacher Trainer, Rabbi Zellig Silber of Cheder Chabad of Monsey. The up-and-coming educators are excited to get their feet wet in real-life classrooms, after gaining so much perspective and information in the program’s first week.
“Kedima L’Chinuch” is ultimately a blessing for Chabad Chinuch, as it is raising the bar for by bringing new talent into Chabad schools. These new Mechanchim will be equipped to meet the ever-growing needs of students, and value the vital role that they play in the lives of children, families and schools worldwide.
For more information, please visit https://mymef.org/events/teach/
