Gan Academy to Purchase Own Building

On Monday evening, the parent community of Gan Academy gathered for a parent appreciation event at Abe’s Corner in Crown Heights. This was an evening to reflect on the growth of the school, to show appreciation, and to celebrate the teachers and staff for all their accomplishments, while at the same time looking towards the future.

Esther Betesh , the School Director, opened the evening by thanking Hashem for all the open miracles Gan Academy has experienced in its growth. She spoke about the patience that we have had to have in order to get to where we have come. She thanked the incredible team of teachers and staff for their constant hard work and for always striving to bring out the potential in every individual child, in a loving and caring way.

Mrs. Betesh then introduced the schools Menahal Gashmi Rabbi Yeoshua Kapeluschnik to recite a kapital tehillim for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

Pioneering and much loved 1st grade Rebbi, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Blank, read a letter from the Rebbe that was sent to the Landow Yeshiva which was his childhood school in his home town of Miami. The Rebbe was giving brochos to the school on their groundbreaking, and wishing them continued success for their growth and in the nurturing of the next generation.

The crowd then heard from the Curriculum Director, Mrs. Shaindy Schapiro. She spoke about how by hashgacha protis we gathered in the weeks between parshios Vayakehl and Pekudei which teaches us about community and individualism. This is exactly what we are accomplishing in Gan Academy by creating a unique model of creating a warm welcoming and loving space for families, as well as for each individual student. She showed everyone the incredible tailor made megillah the students are now learning from and the in-depth parsha curriculum they use each week.

Mrs. Schapiro went on to explain how when she first came to the school she asked Mrs. Betesh what her vision was for an 8th grade graduate of Gan Academy. Mrs. Betesh described a child who had the skills to open a Sefer and learn on their own. A child with excellent reading and writing abilities. With a strong knowledge of the world in which they live, and a love and devotion to yiddishkeit, the Rebbe and his teachings. Mrs. Schapiro replied, that in that case everything from preschool and up should be taught with this intention, with this focus, and that every moment should be used to instill these lessons and characteristics in the students.

Two parents, Mr. Avi Minkowitz and Mrs. Myriam Engelson then shared their thoughts and unique experiences, explaining why they feel so privileged to be a part of this warm and loving school.

The formal part of the evening concluded with words of reflection and an exciting announcement by Executive Board Member, Rabbi Mendy Wilhelm, son of the late Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm OBM, former Vaad Haruchni of Gan Academy.

Mendy announced that Boruch Hashem Gan Academy would be laying real roots, with the purchase of a building in the rapidly growing community of East Flatbush. This building will be used to house the budding Yeshiva division of the school, with classes open for boys ages 2 years through 5th grade.

Rabbi Wilhelm when on to explain a ‘vort’ he heard from his late father. Why is yeshiva is called a yeshiva? Yeshiva means sitting, and there are those who do not learn while sitting. There are other names like a Beis Sefer or Beis Medrash. But what is the real meaning to calling a Yeshiva by the name of Yeshiva? The answer is that when one learns they need to be in a state of hisyashvus-settled. So too, the goal of purchasing this building is that the Yeshiva division can be settled.

In the coming weeks the school will launch a Charidy campaign to raise additional funds to close on the building, and then to furnish and complete all the different aspects needed to turn this building into a home of Torah learning.

Do you have a son who would thrive in a warm and loving school? One with small classes, one on one attention from attentive rebbes? A school where each child can be their own unique individual self while growing in their yiddishkeit, chassidishkeit, knowledge and love for Hashem and the Torah?

Gan Academy Yeshiva will be holding an open house on March 13th! Come and join us, meet some of our staff, see our facilities and be a part of a revolutionary educational experience.