Imagine a Chabad Yeshiva That…

By a parent

Imagine a place where every boy feels fully accepted. A yeshiva where each student is made to feel like a million dollars. Individualized instruction is the norm, and every bochur can grow at his own pace. Healthy boundaries are firm but reinforced with so much positivity, with the knowledge and feeling that staff and students are on the same team. A place where the bochurim know that the hanhala is on ‘their’ side. A place where no struggle has to be hidden in shame. A place where achievements—not mistakes—are highlighted and celebrated. The focus is on what you’re doing right, rather than what you’re doing wrong. A place where the WHOLE person is educated: neshama, body and mind—an emphasis not only on academics, but on the spiritual, emotional and physical development of each student.

Sounds utopian? It’s real.

Welcome to the world of TAG Academy in Davie, Florida.

What is true Chinuch? True education is reaching the neshama of every child. True lasting chinuch is making every boy aware of his actual infinite worth.

As all parents of teens today know, it’s not easy growing up in today’s world. Each child is their own world; every child has their specific needs, their unique challenges and struggles and triumphs.

Success… in whichever way you define it: so easily attained in childhood, so often elusive during turbulent teen years. COVID has only exacerbated –and often created—further challenges and has disrupted so many yeshiva bochurim’s experiences.

One mesivta doesn’t work out for your child, for one reason or another. Then another mesivta, and another. As a parent, watching your child trying and stumbling is experiencing the confusion and pain along with them. It’s easy to despair: is there a place where my child will thrive, grow, feel safe and appreciated?

How fortunate we all are that there is indeed such a yeshiva.

Every step towards a goal, every achievement, is celebrated. A good week of learning? It’s not taken for granted. An ice skating trip, jet skiing or even a fun ice cream outing reinforces that learning is enjoyable and pleasurable. The success felt by each boy who reached his personal goals and earned a trip to the Rebbe for Yud Shevat, which was only further enhanced by an incredible Shabbos and skiing trip in Pennsylvania, is immeasurable. Beyond the rewards, though, is the priceless day to day positivity and non-judgmental attitude which make learning a joy.

We have no words to express our gratitude and appreciation for our child’s every valuable day at TAG. Every day our son is experiencing new growth, in a place where he feels appreciated, accepted and valued.

What a blessing to have a yeshiva where parents work in tandem with the staff, where the hanhala is reachable and accessible, where they warmly welcome partnering with parents on personalizing their child’s chinuch. Rabbis Pinny Andrusiur, Aizik Chanin and Zalmy Raksin are the heart and soul of this incredible yeshiva, and the bochurim shluchim are so devoted to the boys. Bochurim Koby Lerner and Noach Wilansky take care of all the gashmius needs and are supportive and helpful in every way. Every boy contributes to the overall family feel and to their peers’ success.

The secret to this all?

They care. They really care.

TAG is a model for all yeshivos to learn from.

It’s blazing a new-old path in reaching every one of our precious children.