The Cheder with a Capital “C”

By Avi Webb

“Next in line, please,” calls seven-year-old Zevi, the “classroom cashier” as he and his classmates role-play a series of Kiddush Hashem and Chillul Hashem scenarios. With their rebbi’s guidance, they rate their conduct after each case.

This is Yeshiva Chok L’Yisroel Lubavitch, a traditional cheder in the purest sense, with a laser-focused philosophy that is impressing many young parents in Crown Heights. They call it 7PEG—the Seven Principles of Education and Guidance—and approach every day, every student and every scenario through it.
Rabbi Hershel Moss, founder and director of the school explains how he got started. “As Lubavitch parents and teachers, we wondered ‘What would it look like if we built a school that adheres literally to the principles taught by the Frierdiker Rebbe?’”

As a melamed for several years, Rabbi Moss introduced the Klalei Chinuch V’hadracha to his classroom. The results were amazing. From student interest to comprehension, behavior to communication, the seven principles outlined by the Frierdiker Rebbe proved universally applicable.

“Think of the power of positivity,” he enthuses as he describes the practical application of Principle No. 1. “Why focus on conflict resolution when you can prevent the atmosphere of conflict in the first place?”

With tangible passion, he lists the other six principles: Teaching by example, recognizing individual needs, setting expectations based on those needs, articulating expectations to students, prioritizing chinuch messages when two or more overlap, and offering contextual reward and punishment.

At the urging of parents, Rabbi Moss partnered to start a summer day camp and, in 2012, founded Yeshiva Chok L’Yisroel Lubavitch based wholly on the practical directives of the Rebbeim.

The school began with five students around the founder’s dining room table, the pioneering class of what Rabbi Moss calls “The first English Cheder BeRuach Yisroel Sabba.”

At first concerned by how a new, small and unconventional school would affect her first-grade son’s identity, Mrs. Chana Forster was won over by Chok L’Yisroel’s profound dedication to practical Chinuch. Well, that and her son’s complete transformation in under two years. “He grew from a boy whose most pervasive personality trait was that he is ‘such a good climber’ (true quote!), into a child who is proud of his expressive vocabulary, who enjoys engaging in Torah discussions and who loves to read for fun.”

YCYL does not have a separate Limmudei Chol track, rather, Rabbi Moss clarifies, “we teach the children Torah in Lashon Hakodesh and in English, and the tools to understand and master Torah in their native tongue.”

This supremely practical approach to modern-day Chinuch places the Cheder in a class of its own. To parent and educator Mrs. Dvora Barak, it is the keystone to success. “Parsha after parsha,” she marvels, “my son can translate the Torah’s Lashon Hakodesh into English, to truly connect to and express what he’s learned.”

Mrs. Forster enthusiastically concurs. “I call this successful,” she says, “both in a school, and in a child’s positive development.”

As an impressive benefit, by third grade, most students can compose full paragraphs in English and write them in cursive script.

Outside the seforim, Chassidishe sensitivity and physical education are treasured components of a YCYL Chinuch. With sun-filled classrooms above a Crown Heights shul, regular farbrengens are enjoyed on Chassidishe Yomim Tovim in an environment of Torah and Tefilla. Just a short sprint away, rebbi-guided sports are enjoyed in the newly-renovated Rochester Park.

Rabbi Zalman Schneur, director of the Menachem Education Foundation that accredits Chok L’Yisroel’s teachers, is personally impressed by Rabbi Moss. “I have tremendous respect for him,” he says. “He is motivated by true Mesiras Nefesh for the chinuch of our kids.”

As Chok L’Yisroel’s fourth year concludes, limited registration remains open for the incoming Pre-1-A class and for classes through eighth grade.

To inquire or apply, email to office@choklyisroel.org or by calling (855) 4-YESHIVA (493-7448).