Youth Lead Way in Wilkes-Barre

Bais Menachem Youth Development Program once again held its annual Lag BaOmer community parade and fair in Wilkes-Barre’s famed Kirby Park.

“It’s the bachurim who make it happen each year,” said event organizer Rabbi Yossi Schulman. The Yeshiva students are busy for weeks before the event building floats, making signs, helping with publicity and setup, and of course making sure everything runs smoothly.

A Community Grows in Kingston
The Bais Menachem Yeshiva has been at the epicenter of the steady growth of a young a vibrant Anash community in Kingston, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Wilkes-Barre.

Director Uri Perlman relates, “Wilkes-Barre has been known in Lubavitch for the Yeshiva which, boruch Hashem, continues to grow and succeed. What people may not yet know is that we now are home to a community with close to twenty-five families, a Cheder with over 65 children and a beautiful new Shul.”

The more than 200 participants to this year’s Lag BaOmer event were a vibrant mix of teens from Bais Menachem, Cheder children, Anash families as well as a broad cross section of the local Jewish community.

So Much to Do
The Lag B’Omer festivities provided something for everyone. Wednesday night began with a massive Unity Bonfire hosted by the bachurim which was full of singing and dancing. Thursday’s event began with a parade from Cheder to the park where visitors could enjoy rides, archery, a rally and storytelling by Rabbi Zvi Perlman, crafts and a delicious barbecue and salads. After another bonfire, Anash and bachurim were treated to a farbrengen in Shul by Colel Chabad director, Rabbi Sholom Duchman.

Bais Menachem
Currently in its sixteenth year, Bais Menachem Youth Development Program has been leading the way as an alternative yeshiva for teens seeking meaning and who will benefit from a supportive, personalized environment. Bachurim, who arrive from diverse backgrounds, are shown the right tools, resources and guidance to explore Judaism and themselves and to acquire a direction for the future.

Bais Menachem offers full-time learning, a semicha program, high school equivalency, career and technical training, professional counseling and support services, and a regular trips and extracurricular activities.

Two years ago, due to growing and persistent need, Bais Menachem opened the doors to a second, fully staffed program for younger teens, ages 14-16. If you wish to support Bais Menachem, you may visit www.baismenachem.com/raffle.