“By Mechanchim, For Mechanchim” is a catchy phrase, and it explains how 10 relatively young menchanchim from our own Chabad schools were featured speakers at this year’s Kinus HaMechanchim.
The Kinus HaMechanchim prides itself that the quality of the presentation, discussions and deliberations are unmatched by any other such gathering. This year, after hearing suggestions from various educators, a series of small talks were presented by our own mechanchim during the Kinus. This took a great deal of preparation on the part of the melamdim, but the multiple sessions came off flawlessly.
Rabbi Yoel Vogel, Lubavitcher Yeshiva Crown Street, and Rabbi Avrohom Sherr, Lubavitcher Yeshiva Ocean Parkway, were put in charge of the sessions and the did a yeoman’s job assuring the interest and proving lasting value of the presentations.
As Rabbi Shneur Wilhelm, principal of the Lubavitch Academy in Margate, FL exclaimed to Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, “We have a great deal of unrecognized talent among our mechanchim, we should be more appreciative.”
Rabbi Avrohom Shtrocks of Cheder Zichron Shmuel in Nyack presented on the topic of Healthy Expectation in Kriyah, Rabbi Chananya Hoffinger discussed “How to Introduce Gemorah to your Talmidim,” while Rabbi Shneur Munitz of Cheder Menachem of Kingston, PA, presented on the steps for older talmidim to understand Gemorah.
Rabbi Akiva Steinmetz, first grade rebbe at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway and Rabbi Levi Lipinsky, second grade rebbe in Cheder Chabad Philadelphia presented on “Bringing the Yomim Tovim to Life.” Rabbi Yisroel Matusof of Chabad Cheder Chabad of Arizona addressed the topic of teaching about “shalsheles nesia Chabad.”
Rabbi Shmuel Wagner of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Ocean Parkway presented on the objectives of teaching mishnayos and Rabbi Yoel Vogel on Chumash Skills.
One of the unspoken objectives of the kinus was to elevate the sense self-respect of mechanchim and to demonstrate their professionalism. That was more than accomplished during the By Mechanchim For mechanchim sessions. Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, who has been running kinusim for more than 20 years for the Merkos Chinuch Office and before that chaired many Torah Umesorah conventions, remarked that the current crop of mechanchim exceed by far the professionalism and dedication of many of their predecessors.
