A New Boys Yeshiva Grows in Crown Heights

With the help of Hashem and brochos from the Rebbe, Gan Academy in Crown Heights will be entering its 5th year with a new exclusive branch; the Gan Academy Yeshiva.

Gan Academy was founded in September 2017 by a group of community parents seeking individualized, meaningful, education for their children. Methodically based upon the teachings of the Rebbe in general and Basi Legani in particular, each student is imbued and fortified with the knowledge that we as Jews must use our own special gifts and talents to make a dwelling place for Hashem.

What started as a small preschool on top of a bodega storefront, has now blossomed into a flourishing elementary school, with separate boys and girls divisions. In the current world climate, it is becoming more and more evident that children possess strong capabilities and resilience, especially when given the correct tools. At Gan Academy, each child’s qualities are nurtured so that they reach their full potential. There is a strong sense of camaraderie within our larger community by encouraging parent engagement, school functions, and a strong home-school connection. Most importantly, each child is provided with the tools necessary to lead a meaningful and successful life into adulthood. 

Recently, the school has secured another building located in the prime of Crown Heights at 755 Eastern Parkway.  This location will be used to exclusively house the new Yeshiva campus.  The yeshiva will be run by the menahel Rabbi Mendel Kugel.

Gan Academy Yeshiva offers students a high level of education in both kodesh and chol. Small classes enable an individualized educational setting and meaningful engagement opportunities. The focus of the education is to give each student the tools they need to learn and succeed, have a deep understanding of Torah, tefillah and chassidus, and to create a strong foundation for ahavas and yiras Hashem.

All the Judaic studies are taught based on the directives of the Rebbe, and academic goals are maintained by following the standards developed by the Menachem Education Foundation. The chol curriculum is based on the scope and sequence as mandated by the New York State Department of Education.

“Focusing on Educating the Whole Child, as a Unique and Limitless Individual.”

In these unprecedented times, it has become more important than ever to stand together as one. That is precisely why at Gan Academy there is a constant emphasis on the importance of social-emotional learning, which has been proven to promote higher-level thinking skills as well as positive cognitive development.  Our support staff are constantly working with our students both in the classroom and in one-on-one settings, to promote healthy peer interactions, reflective practice and communication school-wide, as well as maintaining a healthy and collaborative school culture.

Under the leadership of the Director, Mrs. Esther Betesh, Gan Academy is run with Rabbi Kugel as menahel and Ms. Achinoam Levin as assistant director.  On staff there is also a literacy specialist, and experts for specific areas of education. The teachers receive weekly training from the Director, the menahel and the assistant director whose expertise and experience is in child development and education. Each classroom staff meets weekly with their division head to discuss progress of the individual children and classroom goals, as well as to foster a warm and professional school culture.

Walking through the halls of Gan Academy, you get a feel for the chayus for yiddishkeit being instilled in the children, and when you speak to these children, you can see how much they mean it. With programs like ‘I davened like a chossid’ reward cards and the ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ tree, as well as many, many others, the school is infused with learning opportunities that sets its students up for long term success. The teachers and Rebbi’s greet each child with a smile and warmth, and all staff are committed to each student’s success.  In each class, the students daven with meaning and learn with passion; their joy for learning is palpable, and their desire to bring Moshiach is inspiring.

Do you have a child entering 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade? Spaces are still available. If you are interested, visit www.ganacademy.com and fill out an application.