Chabad School Leaders Train in NY

By COLlive reporter

It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a team to run a school. Successful school governance is made up of both educational and financial leadership to establish systems that form sustainable institutions.

The Menachem Education Foundation’s new Menahalei Moisdos Chinuch (MMC) training program is geared towards empowering aspiring Menahelim with high-quality training and individualized support as they fill their unique roles to lead yeshivas and communities.

This past week, 15 aspiring and current Chabad school leaders gathered in New York for three days of training and development. These leaders are responsible for their Moisad’s finances, budget and professional development.

Participants heard from Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf of Chicago about management techniques and how to create successful fundraising initiatives; Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum of Los Angeles about setting and achieving “SMART” goals in their institutions; and from Mr. John Goodman of Candytopia, who shared his story of resilience in building an organization and giving back to the community.

Rabbi Mendy Levin of Philadelphia trained the cohort in a consultancy and mentorship protocol where participants learned to work together throughout their year on reaching their individual goals for their Moisdos.

The final day of the session began with a visit to daven at the Rebbe’s Ohel and concluded with a comprehensive tour of the Darchei Torah school in Far Rockaway. At Darchei Torah, Menahelim learned from administrator Rabbi Zev Bald on the practicalities of fundraising and development, as well as the vital relationships that school leaders need to build with their parent and donor communities. Principal Rabbi Shmuel Strickman shared Darchei Torah’s approach to Torah learning and explained how the school actively tries to make Chinuch work for every child in the school.

On Tuesday night, Mr. and Mrs. Shloime Drimmer hosted a barbeque for program participants. They were joined by veteran and leading Menahel, Rabbi Yosef Simpson of United Lubavitcher Yeshiva, who recounted the various difficulties he faced when he first came to the school 25 years ago and discussed the Rebbe’s Brachos for those that work in Chinuch.

Hank Sheinkopf, PhD and an ordained rabbi who runs Sheinkopf Communications, spoke with the cohort about effective public relations on how to navigate the difficulties of a hostile media and how to garner positive information for their school.

The next MMC training summit is slated to take place in the fall. Between sessions, many participants benefit from personal coaching from program leaders to help them implement the new skills and tools they are learning.

“The MMC program has helped me in understanding, clarifying and furthering my role in my school,” says Rabbi Sendy Wilshansky, of Pheonix, AZ. “I look forward to implementing the things I’ve learned, as well as continued learning and growth.” Another participant reflected, “Since joining this course my effectiveness as a leader has grown tremendously.”