MEF Student Gives Back

The Menachem Education Foundation (MEF) headed by Rabbi Zalman Shneur reached another milestone this past Thursday night. Rabbi Zelig Silber, a student in the first year of the program (2008) came back to the classroom, but this time as a presenter. Rabbi Levi Eisenberg, the program coordinator of the workshops, contacted Rabbi Silber a while back and related that the staff at MEF wanted to bring their own trainees back to teach what they had learned as educators themselves. This would not only prove that the courses had indeed been effective, but it would be a chance for both presenters and trainees to collaborate and discuss which methods were in fact successful.

Since his introduction to professional teaching development at MEF in 2008, Rabbi Silber has since had the opportunity to further his learning in the field of education. Rabbi Silber, graduating with a Masters in Education and now in his fourth year at Cheder Chabad of Monsey, has since been appointed as a Teacher Mentor for new teachers in the Cheder. Trained by the Jewish New Teacher Program (JNTP) last year, Rabbi Silber works with teachers in various schools to facilitate engaging lessons, student participation and an effective environment in the classrooms.

“I was honored to be asked to come back to MEF and share some of my methods and experiences with the new teachers,” said Rabbi Silber. “The topic I presented on was, ‘Connecting the text with the Talmid.’ I feel that a focal point in the classroom is engaging our students through the seforim in front of them.”

The crowd at the presentation was largely satisfied with the workshop. One trainee was quoted saying, “This is what I was waiting to learn. I really liked the activities that the presenter weaved through his presentation. I had to implement what I had just learned right away.”

Rabbi Silber can be reached at 773-805-2770. Email: kitahey5772@gmail.com .