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On Friday, September 20, the students and faculty of Shevach High School were privileged to hear from Mrs. Dina Schoonmaker, who had just arrived that morning from Eretz Yisrael. Mrs. Schoonmaker is a member of the faculty of Michlalah and a renowned speaker and lecturer. Her topic was preparing for Rosh HaShanah. She stressed the idea that if a person overcomes his negative qualities and is able to overlook others’ misdeeds, Hashem will show mercy with His judgment. She explained this in terms of one’s measuring how others treat us vis-à-vis how we treat them; we should not ruminate on the perceived wrongs that others do to us. We should be sure not to become, in her words, a “pain obsessor” or an “injustice collector.”

(Courtesy of NEJA) This past summer, the New England Jewish Academy (NEJA) – a newly merged Orthodox Nursery-12^th grade school serving the Greater Hartford, New Haven and Springfield region – launched a transformational initiative reducing tuition by up to $10,000 per student. Thanks to the extraordinary vision and generosity of local philanthropists and community leaders Ann and Jeremy Pava, NEJA announced the new plan in an effort to remove cost as a barrier for families wanting to send their children to a Jewish day school.

We spoke with Rabbi Gamliel LaBrie, the Menahel at Mesivta Yam HaTorah, to get a feel for his unique approach to chinuch. Rabbi LaBrie learned in Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, where he received his Yoreh Yoreh Yadin Yadin s’michah in 2015. Rabbi LaBrie has been a rebbe at Yam HaTorah since 2015. He joined the administration in 2018, where he has developed genuine relationships with students while simultaneously implementing a culture of accountability and responsibility to engender positive choices by students to foster their success and growth.

This past Shabbos, Ezra Academy launched its newest community engagement program. Multiple times throughout the year, Ezra will be sending Rabbi Elie Geller to several Queens communities as scholar in residence. Rabbi Geller has been a rabbi in the school for more than ten years.

Residents of the brand- new, luxury neighborhood of Ramat Givat Zeev were excited by the opening of the school year, with first-graders attending the newly established, local state chareidi school, under the very skilled leadership of principal Rabbi Avraham Horowitz.

On Wednesday evening, September 18, the student body of Shevach High School launched a Technology Awareness Initiative, spearheaded by its principal, Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz. After the school day was over, the girls were transported to the Young Israel of Hillcrest, where they were treated to a catered dinner. Following the meal, Rebbetzin Hirtz introduced the program with a d’var Torah from the Chovas HaTalmidim by the Piacezna Rav. The Rav likened the process of chinuch to an unripe fruit, as when one takes a bite out of the fruit and the taste is not sweet and not fully developed. One’s natural response to that bite is; “This is what I worked so hard for?” To which the Piacezna Rav explains that the planting process requires a lot of patience. In a similar fashion, Rebbetzin Hirtz said, “This evening, we are planting the seeds – the beginning of a process. We must be patient and not become disheartened. When we carry it through, the result will be a beautiful fruit, both inside and out. Technology awareness is a process, and when we implement certain changes, we will produce stronger, healthier relationships, which will be beneficial to our growth.”