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Thursday, 27 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 7, 2024

Anti-Bullying Drive at Oholei Torah

Something is being done: Oholei Torah elementary boys school in Crown Heights kicked off an anti-bullying campaign. Full Story

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So sad
March 4, 2014 1:12 am

My brothers were all bullied in Lubavitcher schools. I would not raise my family in Crown Heights (or anywhere in NYC) for all the money in the world. But I do hope this program actually takes off and makes life better for all those who do choose to raise their kids in a very challenging place.

Bullying Stems from Insecurity
March 3, 2014 11:13 am

Bullying stems from insecurity; Insecurity stems from lack of confidence; Lack of confidence stems from lack of education. The biggest bullies are usually the least educated and use barbaric tactics to achieve their goals as they are incapable of intellectual and meaningful dialog. They are incapable of debate and only know how to insult as they cannot advocate a position. Fact is, OT students are the most uneducated children in Chabad today. That is why OT children bully in school and when they attend camps all over the world. OT needs to work on instilling confidence and self worth in… Read more »

Haha
March 3, 2014 5:31 am

To#3 they do it(things)for PR nothing willed ever change if it requires work forget it

Bystanders
March 2, 2014 7:16 pm

It is crucial that children should know that they SHOULD report when they see/hear a peer being bullied, and that this is NOT LOSHON HORA. Bullying causes real deep pain that often has effects into adulthood. A child needs to feel SAFE in school, and to know that he/she will be protected by the adults if he confides about cruelty to him or a friend. And, yes, sadly, some teachers are guilty of bullying, and this needs to be dealt with by any self-respecting Hanholo. Again, it is NOT Loshon Hora when someone reports bullying. On the contrary, it can… Read more »

Can we have a panel that governs
March 2, 2014 3:12 pm

What about an independent watchdog, not headed by rich people who get their own way all the time, not by people who have no experience in these matters, but by independent workers, and NZoT Jews

Issue
March 2, 2014 1:48 pm

This is not an OT only issue. This happens all over. I mentioned OT because that is where my kids are

to 36
March 2, 2014 1:39 pm

there are programs and policies in place in public school but for goodness sake don’t you think are kids should be held to a higher standard when it comes to basic mentshlichkait? how can it be that children are mamesh tortured by other children in the rebbe’s schools?!

Number 37
March 2, 2014 1:17 pm

It doesn’t work, there are plenty of mental health dis in nyc who can see these weirdos who bullie. It must be seen for what it is, antisocial behaviour, just because some are under age, doesn’t mean they are not full scale ABUSERS who really can damage others in the young stage of life. Protect your children, call the cops, call a lawyer, your children will thank you, otherwise, you give the message that you are more concerned about the community and what others think of you than their safety. You will have to deal with this for the rest… Read more »

Number 36
March 2, 2014 1:05 pm

So are you saying not to do anything about this problem, a problem that ruins children’s futures?

Are your kids ABUSERS..? You write like you don’t care if it’s going on, you give the impression that coz it’s everywhere, we shouldn’t address and act to stop it.

Fire the bully teachers
March 2, 2014 12:47 pm

There are lots of good teachers who need work.

Throw out the bully teachers, I’ve seen them, shouting and screaming like possessed devils at little kids doing nothing.
If inky you would do this, there would be so much harmony, the crazies belong in psychiatric wards where there antisocial behaviour can be monitored.

this is a bad idea
March 2, 2014 12:32 pm

you want to know what will make the kids stop bullying? give the bullies detention, take off their recess, give them kenasim etc. i promise you the bullying will stop. and they’ll get what they deserve.

Seriously
March 2, 2014 11:54 am

Do you think this doesn’t happen in other schools? In public schools? In Modern Orthodox schools? It happens in elementray schools and high schools across the country, and across the globe

Don’t make out this is an OT issue – it isnt!

I love the way all the OT-haters come crawling out of the woodword every time there is an article like this.

To #32
March 2, 2014 10:57 am

I agree. When my son in OT was bulliedd, I had his 3 older brothers threaten the kid, when it did not help, they punched him etc. etc. end of story. My son was never bullied again. Grew up knowing that his parents and siblings will always be there for him. Heis now an adult. Also very successful with a family and no trace of any harm. Parents do not rely on anyone but you to take care of your child. You taking care of it, will give the child confidence that his parents care enough to do something for… Read more »

Zero tolerance....a JOKE
March 2, 2014 10:52 am

C’mon all you principals who swank around, spouting off, it simply doesn’t exist. You let those you see as inferior be bullied whilst you all swan about, thinking you are wonderful, whilst the neshomas of the gentle child are tortured by those who are LUBUVITCH old families. Who swing around the schools like out of control crazed kids, falling down the corridors without a care for anyone ungainly morons. Parents..Warning .. Danger…warn you children not EVER to walk down STAIRCASES in front of the tormentor, because somehow, they will trip your child and then they will literally, GET away with… Read more »

To number 28
March 2, 2014 10:43 am

YES
You are SO SO RIGHT
EXACTLY………the oh so frummers told me my child needed help, the billies are sick, they have big problems, you are so right. I see a lot of these kids gathering friends, and spreading their sickness to other kids in their group, then, talking so badly about them behind their backs. We have a real crazy girl here, off the rails completely, but they all baby her, talk kindly to her whilst she laughs at them on twitter. What a joke.

Mother
March 2, 2014 10:22 am

When my son was bullied in OT, I spoke to the teacher, nothing, parents, nothing. I went over to the bullier, and threatened him with bodily harm etc. he got it. End of bully. Parents need to take car of their children. Do not rely on s hooks, teachers or other parents. My son is now a very popular, successful shliach, very well known.
BH I did not wait but took care of my son myself

Exclusion?
March 2, 2014 9:01 am

What about teachers that bully the students and humiliate them?

To num 26
March 2, 2014 8:54 am

A teacher can make or break a person. A teacher must observe, then make notes,then go to the child, then their parents, Make decisions as o the victims safety. This is all part if being a good frum person, not just a teacher. Because let me say this, I was a great non frum person, I took nothing from anyone in regards go this, I would stand up for others, I would open my big mouth and tell em like it was and do something. How is it that with rvryone learning , that no one ears about….defending others, and… Read more »

parent who is very excitedto ssee results
March 2, 2014 8:44 am

goodlluck to all the menhalim whare trying to do the right thing! its about t!

Mother who was pained
March 2, 2014 8:39 am

Many years ago my dear son was bullied relentlessly by boys in one of our school. He was tormented on the bus he was tormented in shul it was a nightmare. Bh my son pulled himself up out of this and became a special chassidishe bochur. He is bh in a top yeshiva doing so well. Unfortanely, the bullies are either not frum, on drugs or in some at risk yeshiva. It’s time for the yeshivas to recognize that thes bullies need””therapy” they need counseling. They have issues. Not the child being bullied!!! Let’s see all the yeshivas finally stand… Read more »

to little, too late
March 2, 2014 7:42 am

Very nice, but to little, to late for my now grown boys.the
Damage has been done.

So what could a teacher DO
March 2, 2014 3:48 am

when a kid is victimised?

Ot and every school needs to take action!!!
March 2, 2014 2:00 am

It’s about time finally!!! Stop bullying and that’s what will bring moshiach!!!

yechi bulling
March 2, 2014 1:16 am

arond 20 years ago,I was being bullied by a rabbi in the yeshiva for not saying Yechi
Then many bochrim stand against me, not speaking to me, not including me , they were speaking secrets and looking at me and laughing
Unfortunatly many of them are not frum anymore,another one, became a shliach, and unfortunatly died at a young age
I think that these guys didn’t realize in their wildest imaginations all my hard feeling for such rejection
BH ,besides the hard feelings at that time, they didnt affect me at all

parent
March 2, 2014 12:11 am

i have sons in OT. Why am I not aware of this project? when did it begin? which grades?

sup it in its tracks
March 1, 2014 11:42 pm

You’re showing them films? ??!!! In my son’s yeshiva, the boys were told that the next bully act would cause the bully to be kicked out immediately. And, they added, all the money in the world won’t change that. It’s been quiet ever since

what about lubavitcher yeshiva
March 1, 2014 11:05 pm

lets hear from that school what are they doing about bullying!

Pull your kids out.
March 1, 2014 10:48 pm

If your children are being bullied, believe me, they will not be able to get educated, their lives will be in shreds because they will be used to being trodden on. Get them out, don’t waste another cent on these awful places that are just names. They are not organised properly. They are always covering up bullies, they are places for crazy kids to grown bigger and stronger. One bully I dealt with, the mother was a shrink, a real nut job. Another, was a shulucha, and a real snob. They constantly talk about Apple phones, and who has the… Read more »

Let's Be Realistic
March 1, 2014 10:40 pm

For the bullying to stop,the honhallahs have to be able to stand up to parents of bullies who have yichus and/ or money. Is this really going to ever change ?

Not just children getting bullied
March 1, 2014 10:31 pm

When I came to CH, I stayed at my Rabbis sister. She had ten kids, one of the boys, he was crazy, he would snarl at me and grunt if I spoke to him, her daughter could hardly look at me. I was new to the US, I didn’t know how to get the bus to CH and I didn’t know the money either. She didn’t even sit next to me, I had to figure out money myself. I was very nervous. To think, I left my nice comfortable home and my friends and family, to come to this! And… Read more »

What's the plan?
March 1, 2014 9:59 pm

Ok, so you are doing this, then what else? The principal told my child they were wrong to tell others about being bullied. They actually told my child they were wrong, that people would think bad of them because they “told’ others. The principal said I was making my child ‘Fearful’ I could not believe it, that I was meant to just tell my child to carry on, and let them be bullied, physically hurt and threatend. No amount of Torah will ever convince me this is correct behavior. Perhaps one day, it will happen, that this principals grandchildren will… Read more »

Shluchim Online School should follow suit
March 1, 2014 9:26 pm

I think the shluchim online school should follow suit. Believe it or not, there is plenty of bullying by kids to classmates, even over the internet. What has our world come to??!?!?

Too Little , Too Late...
March 1, 2014 8:34 pm

…for the many boys who left OT totally devastated by the bullying- Hopefully enough to prevent future abuse.

Be an Active Bystander
March 1, 2014 8:31 pm

The best way to stop bullying is to pipe-up when it’s being done to someone else. The bully is too strong (and has major self-confidence issues), and the victim is too weak/embarrassed to say, “Stop.”.
When the bully hears enough people tell him directly,
“We don’t bully in this school!”
“Stop it right now!”
“Leave him alone!”
Etc..
Then, either immediately, or after 3 times of people finally standing up against bullying, having zero tolerance even for the first stage of bullying (Stop it Early!), and/or giving consequences for bullying behaviors, then it will stop.

yossi Bryski
March 1, 2014 8:29 pm

If I’m not mistaken my boys told me that rabbi yossi bryski had allot what to do with this mivtza.It’s just funny that he is never credited for his outstanding and amazing work!
Thank you rabbi bryski!!
And thank you rabbi lustig!

Bullying???
March 1, 2014 8:03 pm

Kehn nisht zein in oholei Torah…

What about the rest of the schools?
March 1, 2014 7:49 pm

What about other schools,? Let’s hear from all of you out there,let’s see all of you coming forward to rid your schools of this cancer.

Ot bullies
March 1, 2014 7:41 pm

In camps all over the 90% of the bullies were OT kids

Intresting
March 1, 2014 7:37 pm

Does this include rebbes and principals ???!!
And if u don’t print this than collive u are cowardly and actually being a player in the taboo of teachers and principal bullying!!

Sruly C
March 1, 2014 7:36 pm

I went to OT my entire life, and I can’t blame the faculty personally, but there were kids in my class that were bullied terribly and sadly a few are not Frum today ( I don’t know if that was the reason, but bullying takes a heavy roll on a kid ). This is a tremendous epidemic and I’m happy that the Yeshiva is taking on this campaign. As the saying goes “better late then never “. This happens in all schools, however in a Lubavitcher Moised it should be fraught with the same passion and conviction as we take… Read more »

lechaim!
March 1, 2014 7:20 pm

moshiach now!!! ahavas yisroel destroyed the bies hamikdush, and it will also rebuild it!
moshiach now!!!

Why do you have to teach kids against bullying?
March 1, 2014 7:20 pm

I do not understand, why do you have to teach kids not to bully, if you are surrounded by frum people who love the Rorah, how is it there are soo many awful a ABUSERS in the schools, and why is it, that it is forbidden to be a bystander, that so many of you do nothing when you know a person is dying inside, what an awful awful situation for that person, that child. What do yeshivas produce? Are they producing men who can parrot fashion information, I’m glad my child didn’t go to CH. Way to rough. What… Read more »

THANK GD
March 1, 2014 7:16 pm

I hope that the rest of the lubuvitch schools do the same..and please…not once a year, all schools should monitor once a month, their bullying statistics…it is a very serious situation, as can been seen by the amount of responses, all 116 of them to the article by an eleven year old. If this article is the first, may you inspire others, and hopefully, you will save others, and their children, from the hideous crimes of bullying, these crimes stain a person, and you cannot know the dwmage that it inflicts, it’s devastating. Being a Lubuvitcher is a special thing,… Read more »

It's about time...
March 1, 2014 7:10 pm

– Bullied OT alum.

Another bad PR stunt
March 1, 2014 7:05 pm

As a parent of oholei Torah with four boys, I can tell u NOTHING has been done! and even worse NO ONE is even interested in the school administration to do anything, this is a cover up. I asked my boys, and they didn’t even know of this program.

A good start
March 1, 2014 3:35 pm

I think R. Lustig needs to make very clear what the school’s procedures are when something happens of a bullying nature.

They definitely need it
March 1, 2014 12:16 pm

It sounds brilliant… Those “frum” OT boys can be vicious. I know from first hand experience…

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