By COLlive reporter
It’s not the Shidduch crisis.
Residents in Crown Heights who want their daughters out of the house and back in school will have to wait yet another few days for their wish to come true.
Thursday will be the third day that Associated Beth Rivkah Schools, the flagship institution which pioneered the Lubavitch educational system for girls, will be delaying kicking off its 75th year.
Teachers and principals have notified the school’s administration that they will not be returning to the classrooms until they are paid for salaries long overdue.
And until then, parents who work to make an honorable living and pay tuition, are scrambling in the last few days to find care and activities for their children, ranging from preschool through seminary.
This crisis unfolded even as a new board of directors was announced for the school in September 2015. Its members are Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov, Dovid Junik, Yerachmeal Jacobson, Kasriel Shemtov, Itchik Orimland, Moshe Pinson and Dovid Sputz.
One of them, speaking on condition of anonymity to COLlive, said the administration of the school has not met the conditions of the board for full legal installation of the board and financial transparency.
“We have been trying for over a year to become legal in order to have control,” the person said. “As of today, it has not happened. We hope the current administration will finally do the right thing and step down from executive power.”
The person added: “Despite this, we have agreed to meet with the principals at 10:00 AM on Thursday to see if we can nevertheless start the new year and we will guarantee that they will be paid up.”
The school has faced financial instability for years, often resulting in the repeated striking of teachers before the new school year.
“2000 girls are walking around bored,” the board member said. “We can’t allow this to continue. If we reach a resolution with the teachers, the school can open by Sunday. But there also must be a change in how things are managed and we plan to accomplish that.”
גוט וואך און גוט חודש
כוח״ט שנה טובה ומתוקה
ובטוב הנראה והנגלה
Please dont judge our teachers.
אם אין קמח אין תורה
I imagine that very few of us have experienced the gut wrenching feeling a teacher gets when they come home exhausted from a day with the Kinderlach, and are efraid to open the mail with the credit card billes phone bill grocery bill, etc.
enough said.
אל תדין את חבירך עד שתגיע למקומו
To number 32 the word is principals , we know which school you went to
To those teachers who claim not to be on strike , don’t be proud of yourselves you should be on strike you are not making it easier for the principals
supposedly there is a meeting on Monday. We as mothers should all be there as silent witness. ALL of admin tax returns should be made public this is not a bank. This is worst then wall street fraud bottom line it’s not about pay it’s not about teachers its not about tuition it’s not about principals. Even those who could keep school up financially will no longer give $ to support their lavish lifestyle. This is end of the road no more donations no more teachers every will and ability has run dry
Why don’t the rabonim of crown heights make a פסק that the teachers get paid on time. It’s a דין in the גמרא בבאקמא that if you don’t pay a day worker on time you עובר the לאו לא תלין
Which is a big עבריה it’s like stealing.
you just dont get it. every school in the world needs money. there are many huge frum schools just like beis rivka, and they MAKE IT WORK! no its not easy, but it gets done, only with BR do parents have to go through this time and time again. only in BR do teachers not get paid for months. yes I agree with you its no easy job, but thata no excuse for whats going on now
And what about the teachers? How do they live? The single girls who come to teach from OOT have to pay rent. The married ones supplement their husband’s salaries. They have to pay huge amounts to ULY, OT, or OOT Yeshivot. How about parents with children in P’Tach? Or HASC? It’s very easy to criticize when YOU aren’t the one drowning in debt. When YOU have your summer homes, your trips to Miami, your hotel stays for Succos & Pesach. As for are the teachers striking? WHO CARES WHAT WORD IS USED? It’s semantics. Striking, volunteering, unpaid workers, victims of… Read more »
Agreed completely! I work for free and it’s hard but I still do the job!!!
There’s bills to pay!! 1 million dollars that was raised last year went to the billing for electricity water and paying the teachers! It’s not an easy job so to all of you commenting stop pretending to no what your saying when your in the shoes of the administration then you can say what u want but actually not anything 😉
#46 your right
I never understood how a frum school will not pay their teachers on time, it is a clear halacha in the Torah, not a minhag, its HALACHA!
At the same time we need to understand every school needs tremendous amounts of money, tuition alone doesn’t cover all expenses. You need an Auction, a DInner, raffles, fundraising, etc…. which it seems BR doesnt have (why not? is my question)
I wonder if this would be going on if the rebbe was here ?
1 teachers are not striking
Principals know it’s not ethical or morally responsible to hire people and not pay them
Consequently ,school can’t open until there is some resolution
2 principals are not getting paid
3 Beth Rivkah is the Rebbe’s Mosad
It was established by the Freidika Rebbe
It is under the Rebbe’s Nesius
Rabbi Chadakov, was involved in the school on a regular basis
It was designated as a chinuch institution under Merkos Linyonai Chinuch
Chinuch
Parents enjoy your extra vacation with your girls have fun
While the teachers are owed back salary from January 2016 (!), let us get a straight answer whether the administrators have also not been paid during this time?
In other organizations to be a member of school/board minimum donation is $1M to join. Non of the current board members can just write $1M check not that they wouldn’t if they actually had the funds. In CH we actually have maybe 10 people that actually can but sadly they are not part of the board.
Also, why not have the parents hand the teachers weekly envelope until the teacher is fully paid. Like $100 per child per week until they are fully paid.
You say “Even if the teachers aren’t getting paid they must still come to school”
Do you work for free ??
I bet you do
this has gone on for to long the teachers need to be brought current on their pay before school opens no if and or buts.
Maybe you go teach/work for free !!!! Many teachers are idealistic many teach to offset tuition and to many its just a job
think before your generous on Yenims Pleitzes
To you work without getting paid???
Board of Directors for Beis Rivkah did that last year, to raise $1 million. I highly doubt anyone would trust the school again.
You make a good point there
BS”D What’s Hulu
I heard of Lulu
BS”D Ps where were all the big talking machers who scream fire this one and that one when the Rebbe stated I cannot gurantee the safety of the girls on Church Ave and the only one who stepped forward to build the new school was an out of towner- Rabbi Shemtov. (and those from here who helped financially are what a board is supposed to be made of)
BS”D The new board hides behind an excuse. What legalities are needed to give money, I will compliment their intentions but none of them have the money to be on a Board. You want an ex- Mr. Deitch OBM on Oholei Torahs board was a qualified board member. Want another ex- Mr. Chase OBM on Morristowns board was a qualified board member. If the new fellows are afraid bc they do not have access to the books, the solution is simple- let them pay the staff directly
My 6 year old daughter has watched every kids show that Hulu has to offer
The school must make a fundraiser and try raise money!
Even if the teachers aren’t getting paid they must still come to school because that is their job and they won’t get paid anymore for staying at home! These girls need the education every day and can’t be walking around bored all day !if it’s your job you can’t just stop because you aren’t getting paid they probably won’t want to even pay you if you don’t show up!!!!
1. Create a WhatsApp group for each section of B.R.
2. Ask parents to vote for 3 people they would like to see running that particular section of B.R. (They can vote themselves too)
3. Whoever gets the most votes becomes the parents committee. They can either become the administration or hire other people to administer to the funds.
4. The parents committee are answerable to the parents and there is transparency.
5. Problem solved. 😉
it is with great sadness that i read here that the teachers are striking. WE ARE NOT ON STRIKE, . The teachers have just returned from the Ohel to ask for a Brocho , for all the families and students of our holy Mossad. We are not in school by the CORRECT and FAIR decision of the learning Hanholo, not to go back to school until there is a responsible plan in place, and we are paid etc., we are ready to teach, in fact, at 1:30 my last year’s class is coming to my house to have a shiur.… Read more »
“Teachers and principals have notified the school’s administration that they will not be returning to the classrooms until they are paid for salaries long overdue.”
FALSE. The teachers arent striking. They hear that the school is not opening the same time that the students do. I have a few relatives teaching there and they say this every year.
why don’t we go to neighbors in williamsburgh and boro park to learn how to run a mossad ברוחניות ובגשמיות /put the shame aside / THEY KNOW לא הביישן למד
please be strong and have a Emunah that it all gets corrected with being good and helping each other, not lashon hara and bad orah against the Rebbe’s institution.
this whole mess is one of the reasons I cannot stand CH (I dont want to use the word hate) I always encourage people to leave. Disgusting what goes on. People working so hard to pay for tuition, and this is what they get. parents that went to the office to disscuss payments, and treated like garbage…Yes CH has tons of good, but this mess, and all the politics and fights, and haughty people, just overshaddows everything. ” The Rebbes Shchuna”‘–oy golus is so bad…
Teachers, stand strong and firm. Dont back down. You are owed money.. If you give in then you will not get paid
I am not that wise yet something is so clear. You are the same person that wrote the article.
like really – do you have to use a public post as your place to wash your laundry?
this case is such a sorrowful, unjust and ridiculous case having immeasurable impact on the hundreds of girls
Im a teacher in BR and NO the Teachers did not go on strike. This was not our decision, we were told just like the parents that school will not be starting on time. And contrary to popular belief im actually not on strike bc I was in school the last few days spending many hours preparing and setting up my classroom along with many other teachers who were there. But YES we are owed lots of $$ and this is not a way to run an institution, let alone the Rebbes Mossad. Thank you to the principals who are… Read more »
the same parents send to oholei torah and ULY and do or dont pay tuition but the yeshivas do not play these games and not pay teachers and not open school
if you say somethings at least say the truth there are two people in charge of tuition this year rabbi minkowitz and rabbi shputz they have both have done it in the past.
if you have issues with something happening there, please mention it to them. i personally felt something was being
done wrong with people sitting facing
the window and mentioned it to them
and they corrected the issue.
This is not very valid since it’s not the teachers that don’t want to start rather it’s the pricibles. Who don’t want to start. The teachers are awaiting to begin teaching-
Pay the teachers before the administration gets paid. That way the administration would actually have to do their job to get paid.
Please change the title. This action is not a teachers strike but rather the principals initiative not to open until pay is guaranteed.
Whst our girls could be learning now, chodesh elul, getting ready for rosh hashana, kriah, chumash, ect…our pure innocent neshomos are suffering because of peoples egos. Dont play with a childs chinuch!!! This is not a game! These girls are the future jewish mothers of our nation! Bais Rivkah is one of the most important institutions in the world has fell so low. We are clearly in a deep dark golus! Please work things out so our beautiful girls can go to school and learn torah.
Dear shliach, l had the same experience as you waiting un line to meet the “owners.” It was run in an extremely unprofessional, non private or discreet manner. Please parents stand up, dont let this abuse go on any longer!!!!!! We need change now! Bais Rivkah is NOT a private family run business!!! We all own it and all deserve respect and transparency
Mitzvah m’dareiysa to pay employees on time. How can one claim to be the Rebbe’s moised when it acts haipech hatorah?! Please do not shame the Rebbe by claiming this is his moised.
Why they don’t sell the real estate that BR owns?
Why does BR need to own more than 10 other lands or houses? This money is owed to the teachers!
One question nobody seems to ask, while we’re hearing praises for the principals for not opening school to make sure the teachers get paid, are the principals getting paid? Are they giving up the pay checks that they get in time every month?
Beis Rivkah needs a major overhaul in the administration and financial departments. The school not opening due to “financial crisis” happens every single year. Should that not be a serious red flag, as to where the problem lays?
As parents we deserve to know exactly what is going on. All we have is vague allusions and blame shifting.
Please tell us who is holding up the school opening and why.
Offer us refunds for the childcare expenses we are incurring this week (many of us are working parents).
Give us a clear answer to give our daughters who are wondering why their school is still closed.
No, the teachers are not “striking”. In fact, many of them, myself included, actually went to school the past few days to prepare the classrooms. We were told that school is not starting yet, since they still need to work out the financial situation, and they will let us know when they have an update. Same boat as everyone else…
I was there in June for registration and was told by one of the “OWNERS” that tuition is being done via email this year. I was all too happy not dealing with these owners on a personal level. I did as I was told but then this week got an email that my child is not enrolled and I need to come meet the “Board” to determine how much I am capable of paying. I showed up at the alloted time and I see about 70 people on line waiting to meet with one of the OWNERS and his newly… Read more »
Why do so many ppl feel that this mosad is the rebbe mosaic more than others and therfore allowso all the corruption to take place. Everything in chabad is the “rebbes”! But on the contrary being that it is the rebbe mosod we should do more to make sure that the top brass is doing there job. Just because they have yichus doesn’t allow them to mess with the rebbe mosad
Are you kidding? Full paying families are squeezed beyond belief with tuition raises and growing families. Scolded by administrators, bullied, threatened that our children will be kicked out if checks don’t come in on time. I’m glad full tuition was such a breeze for you but many of us are killing ourselves – and getting scolded by administrators for it. The entire system needs an overhaul.
I never ever comment on these sites , but let me tell you something (and my kids are not in this school ): the administration of that school are a clear failure . They have no more challenges then ohlei Torah, or Lubavitcher yeshiva which are both community schools and the rebbes schools . Yet, they fail time and again to get done what needs to get done . Just because u can’t sleep at night if a child in ur school is poor Dosent make u a tzadik , we are Rachmanim by nature . What makes u a… Read more »
make sure all teachers and other employees except those who are already millionaires are paid in full ,plus everyone should be paid one month in advance in full just in case suddenly money is scarce again..
Are you striking or not?? It’s a simple question .Personally I think you should all quit permanently because this is no way to run a school. I am astonished that the comments bring in “The Rebbe’s Mosod ” only to those who criticize ! This is Rebbes Mosod and because of it teachers should be paid and this annual Chilil Hashem should be STOPPED. The Rebbe would be the first to say ‘pay the teachers’ and be very upset with school not opening on time You call yourselves Mekushorim? Then do what you know the Rebbe would want and insist… Read more »
You say “current owners still getting credit”. That is the problem with the current administration. They think they OWN the school as you say. No they do not own it, the school belongs to our Rebbe, our community, our children. Who at this current moment are not getting what they deserve. So let the new vad get all the pr and publicity they deserve. Because we need change and new leadership. “Not Owners of the school”
( in your own words)
Thank you for posting these articles about Bais Rivkah. This is a major crisis that needs major change. We can not sit back and ignore this anymore. A school needs to start on time. Especially a school that is the home to thousands of students. Parents need to voice there opinion stand up against those who are not allowing change. We need new leaders in the school to get it back in shape. I have 5 girls at home now for close to 3 months. How does board of ed even allow this. Get lawyers involved, and get this school… Read more »
Time to change administration and some principles
Teachers should not go back , we must respect them , they educate our daughters! I know if I was not paid I would of walked out. They are dedicated and caring individuals.
The buck stops at the top. The administrators have a lot of answering to do, and the board is not powerful enough. You need strong determined individuals with money and a mind set to straighten out this mess.
Good for seminary that they are their own entity and exist on their own!
We support our teachers don’t go back until you get your back pay !
“Make Beis Rivkah Great Again”
What are you talking about?
I pay $7000 per child!!!
Not sure what delusional world you are living in. The teachers have not been paid, we all sympathize with them. And yet, they are refusing to come to work until they are paid up. That is the very definition of striking. Thats not sensationalism. Thats the unfortunate fact. And, its not the first time we’ve heard this song and dance. Every new school year and after every Pesach, the school doesnt open on time because the teachers havent been paid. Noone is saying its the teacher’s fault. The administration is at fault for not paying. But the teachers (and or… Read more »
This article has no purpose nor place on this website. It is full of inaccuracies about bais rivka and totally a pr for the vaad. Anyone can come and say put me in charge and I’ll clean you up and fix everything. Apparently there is much now than meets the eye. I don’t think anyone here would allow someone else to just rush in to their house or personal business and take over because they thought they can do s better job than the current owner. Changes need to be made in the ruining of bais rivka but first and… Read more »
To those that suggest that Beis Rivka girls go to other schools I must inform that the “some” other schools mentioned above will not accept half of the Beis Rivka girls. And the rest of the schools most of the Beis Rivka’s girls parents cannot afford.
Tuition is $8000
Most parents pay $4000
It’s not ethical for a website who claims to be Chabad news to print news that’s false. A little research perhaps would not have been as sensational but it would have been honest. Teachers and principals are pained that school is not starting on time. No one is striking. They are trying to resolve a problem. High School is giving girls optional classes and the teachers are dedicated and even opened their homes for the girls to be learning and not in the streets. Please correct the article and choose emes over sensation.
How much is tuition at br?
How much do parents pay?
Kol hakavod to the principals who took it on their shoulders to stand up for the dedicated teachers of Bais Rivka! Oftentimes people are afraid to take a stand when they should. When all of us work- we do so because we obviously need to help support our families. Teachers do the same. Our teachers need to be put on a pedestal for our children. They need the security and dignity they deserve. When teachers don’t have the means to put food on their table or pay rent( for ex.) how can they even cross that threshold into their classroom… Read more »
Every year the teachers go on strike. In order to create this atmosphere of parent against parent. The truth is with the success of fundraising BH in and out of Crown Height’s there is more than enough funding to support the teachers and exhorbitant salaries of the administrators for years. The community should be strong and not be pressured by these yearly planned strikes to get the sympathetic parent to pledge more than they can actually commit to comfortably.
Its time that those in charge either shapes up or ships out
From a parent of a seminary student, Sem Aleph and Sem Beis did start on time, yesterday, like planned.
They are financially independent and kol hakavod to the people in charge!
In all this madness,yes teachers are suffering ,yes parents are very frustrated but there is one large group of people who are also going crazy and they are the actual students of Beth Rivkah. The girls from Pre1A to 12th grade want to go back to school like all other children ,want to find some structure and routine in their lives after almost 3 month of vacation. It’s the responsibility of responsible adults to give it to them. One of my daughters (entering 2nd grade) is redoing and reorganizing her school bag a few times a day. The students of… Read more »
Trump for BR menahel.
Please make it clear. The teachers are not striking!
The Principals and the Dean have decided to show their dedication and care for their teachers and delay opening school until they can work out payment arrangements that they agree will guarantee their teachers getting fully paid.
While the teachers are grateful they are NOT STRIKING!
I HAVE THE SOLUTION
PRAY AS YOU PAY OR LEARN AS YOU EARN
IT WORKS ON SAME PRINCIPAL AS UTILITY METERS.
EVERY PARENT HAS A PAYMENT WHICH REGISTERS AT THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTS OFFICE. PARENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO TOP UP THEIR CARDS TO PAY PER MINUTE FOR THEIR KIDS CHINUCH. IF THE CARDS RUN OUT OF CASH, NO PROBLEM, THEIR KID GOES HOME UNTIL THE PARENTS CHARGE THEIR CARD. SIMPLE.
THERE YOU HAVE IT.
PAY AS YOU PRAY OR LEARN WHILE YOU EARN!
Yes it s unfortunate
They got over 1000000 dollars last year
WHERE DID IT GO !!!!!
i was a parent for many years of B.R. i made sure that my tuition was paid on time despite hearing from other parents that why should i pay when so and so doesnt pay full tuition and has a house upstate etc… your childrens education is more important than a vacation home, vacation to Europe or a new dress. you need to teach your children that as an adult your have certain things that are more important then others. if you cant afford the full amount then pay what you can but to pay zero. it’s funny how people… Read more »
Although I don’t live in Crown Heights and don’t have children nor grand children in Bais Rivka, it pains me greatly to read about the plight of BR. Why should such a beautiful mosad be viewed in such a negative light. I am sure that that the situation will be resolved, but the damage will remain. Something must be done by the administrators, the community in CH and the overall Jewish community. Perhaps Reb Shlomo Rechnitz or the Rhor family could step in with a temporary bail out, and then bring in an outside accounting auditing firm to review the… Read more »
Of course teachers should be paid – and on time!! I no longer have girls in BR, but it happened when I was a student (usually bec of no steam especially in Church Ave) and still years ago when my daughters were students. When my friends were teachers, a few parents told the hanhala they refuse to hand in tuition except directly to the teachers. That year the 4th Grade teachers were paid on time – by the parents. Wake up people. Time for the same. Your tuition is being paid, but your teachers aren’t getting a dime of it.… Read more »
For shame! Why spread false info???
The teachers are NOT on strike. The delayed opening comes from the principals. The teachers are all anxious to get to work.
This “article” is an incredibly biased puff piece. A chutzpah of collive for besmirching the Rebbe’s Mossad.
Any normal functioning financial institution owes transparency to their investors.
I would suggest that we parents stop paying tuition, even if it takes another month until the school starts, until we get a clear picture how the money is spent.
After all if they have to declare bankruptcy it would only mean that a more competent team might take over.
You got some actual information, which is more than the parents get. Rumors are flying – the latest is that some of the administration is no longer with the school. Please continue updating us, because we believe COL more than we believe any letters we get from BR.
The 6 elementary girls schools (alphabetically):
Ateres Chayah (www.AteresChayah.com).
Beis Chaya Mushka (www.BeisChayaMushka.com).
Beis Rivka (www.BethRivkah.edu).
Bnos Menachem (www.BnosMenachem.org).
Lamplighters (www.LamplightersYeshivah.org)
Oholei Yosef Yitzchok (www.PureChassidicEducation.org).
Nothing ever changes in crown heights. It was done like this in Russia over 200 years ago and therefore that’s how we do it. Same answer all the time.
Of course parents are furious. As I was when I taught there & also went over 5 months without a paycheck. I back the teachers 1000% and if they have any sense they won’t go back, even if they are paid something and promised a new system. Surely, if the Board can’t get legal control, the administration is illegal in its actions. How does the Board of Education allow BR to operate? Something is definitely not right – why are they so determined to hang on to their power? They are constantly criticized, is it worth it? Parents should group… Read more »
Bais Rivkah has never opened before the Wednesday after Labor Day, so this would be Day 2 of the strike.
While Bnos Menachem and Beis Chayah Mushka are full to capacity, but Oholei Yosef Yitzchok/Lamplighters/Ateres Chayah are relatively new and still accepting students now.
Some of the 2,000 girls can go to the other 5 girls schools in Crown Heights.
Change is on the way. The more the teachers strike the more things get resolved. The teachers should not give in to this craziness. Let the “one” in charge pay up or step down!