Father Establishes Foundation to Help Jewish Education

Spring ushers in Pesach, with nature blooming all around us – a fitting time to nurture the seeds of Torah education and Jewish values that sustain our communities. With Israel at the forefront of our hearts and minds, we must remember the Rebbe’s call to focus on the children – to nurture and cultivate the Torah education of the young generation.

Keren Yeshua, founded by Rabbi Chaim Ber Kaminker in memory of his son Shua obm, ensures every Jewish child has access to a Torah education, regardless of background or finances. Inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s call to prioritize Jewish education, Kaminker has been investing his energy into securing funding and finding ideal placement for jewish children in the right jewish schools.

Decades before the genesis of Keren Yeshua in 2023, the Rebbe surprised everyone by initiating a campaign in 1973 emphasizing the spiritual potency of children increasing their Torah study. The air was tense with war, and the Rebbe was channeling all his energy at the children. Citing the verse “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established strength…to silence the enemy and avenger,” the Rebbe rallied tens of thousands of youths to pray and give charity at the Western Wall just days before the Yom Kippur War, conveying how their voices engaged with Torah could fortify the nation and protect the people.

Without Keren Yeshua’s support, students would continuously be falling through the cracks. Take Mia, for example –  a wonderful girl struggling with the overstimulating classroom environment, unable to absorb her lessons and begging her parents to pull her out of jewish schooling – she’s been thriving lately, after Keren Yeshua helped place her in a Jewish online school, meeting her specific needs while securing her jewish future. Or, like the father of eight facing insurmountable tuition costs, and struggling to maintain placement for all of his children in schools and yeshivah systems all around the world – Keren Yeshua stepped in, helping ensure the children would maintain their spots in school by offsetting the tuition challenges, and enabling this hardworking father to complete his degree and further his career without having to worry about his children losing their Torah education. Keren Yeshua is here holding space and holding hands with families struggling in all different ways, ensuring that no matter what the issue is – every child receives the Torah education they deserve. Because life is a lot, and as its name suggests; Keren Yeshua is here to help.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter dedicated the Rebbe’s birthday, the 11th of Nisan, as National Education and Sharing Day, honoring his commitment to moral and ethical education and values. It is recognized annually and has been esteemed by each U.S. president since its initiation.

The Rebbe’s commitment to education, commemorated annually on Education and Sharing Day (April 19th this year), “reminds us to plant seeds of love and empathy in every child,” as President Biden noted. For Kaminker, honoring his son Shua’s boundless love of learning drives Keren Yeshua’s personal mission.

With the holiday before us, it’s interesting to note that the Pesach Seder perfectly embodies transmitting the Jewish story through Torah, ritual, and gathering as a community. The Mah Nishtanah fosters children’s curiosity – a key element throughout the Seder. The Four Sons highlight inclusivity – whether wise, rebellious, simple or silent, every child is embraced – reflecting Keren Yeshua’s ethos.

As one principal shared, “Rabbi Kaminker’s commitment to understanding each family’s needs…allows the next generation to receive a Jewish education.” Strengthening bonds with schools and families, Kaminker is propelled by simply witnessing how impactful this work is – helping a child and helping a family access a jewish education is his “motivation to continue advocating and growing Keren Yeshua’s impact.” Nurturing these seeds indeed takes a community.

In a talk the Rebbe gave on his birthday, Yud Aleph Nissan 1980, he spoke about the benefits of investing in Jewish education on a personal and communal level, and the gains and returns that one receives from this kind of investment. On a personal level, the Rebbe emphasized that the greatest return parents can receive is nachas and pride in their children. The pleasure we enjoy from good children is a life-long benefit, with more guarantee than any business investment. On a communal level, he says, the peace of mind that we enjoy when we know we have invested in the heartwarming Torah education of the jewish future is beyond any monetary returns – it lends an inner calm and inner peace that lasts for life.

The importance of educating the youth is evident to everyone today – the need to secure a Torah education to all jewish children is greater than ever. And like the Rebbe taught us to focus on the children in times of war, we are presented with the unique opportunity to harness the power of the youth and empower them with the knowledge of Torah and mitzvos, so that they can help the world around them differentiate darkness from light, right from wrong – this is the time to invest! This is the time to ensure that the future is embraced with a Torah education. This is the time to cultivate the seeds and bring them to bloom, ushering in the ultimate season, the season of Moshiach.

As it says, “with our youth and our elders, our sons, and our daughters,” we will go joyfully to greet our righteous redeemer speedily in our times.

To find out more please visit Kerenyeshua.org or contact Kaminker at [email protected]