As a school year of on-again, off-again, Zoom and masks winds down, teachers emerge as our heroes. After two years of a worldwide pandemic, they adapted, they stretched, and somehow, they even taught. And they’re tired.
That’s why the Menachem Education Foundation is so excited and grateful to Hakadosh Baruch Hu that we can once again offer an in-person convention and retreat for Mechanchos. The 6th International Kinus Mechanchos Chabad, at the Crown Plaza in Stamford, CT, will treat teachers to an abundance of inspiration, pampering, tools and empowerment, as the gashmius and ruchnius boost they so deserve. The Kinus takes place on י”ב-יג מנחם אב – July 21-22, the Wednesday and Thursday before Shabbos Nachamu.
In appreciation for our Mechanchos’ immense efforts throughout this pandemic, this year’s Kinus is being designed as a two day retreat, with art, music, and spa amenities complementing a robust educational program addressing todays most pressing needs. The uplifting theme of Geulah will be developed throughout the program in the workshops, farbrengens, and banquet, and the event is being organized by Alyson Feldman of FFH Events to provide teachers with the perfect mix of rest, rejuvenation, and growth.
“The Kinus Hamechanchos is a powerful gathering of powerful women, empowering positive change in the lives of our children,” says convention chairperson, Mrs. Nami Friedman, assistant principal at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh. Together with MEF Educational Director Mrs. Chanah Rose, she is working with a committee of over 20 Mechanchos representing every grade level, demographic, subject and school type to ensure that the Kinus meets the needs of all in attendance. The Ruchnius of the Kinus is overseen by Morah Chanie Brod, Mrs. Batsheva Deren and Morah Shana Teichtel. As Mrs. Esther Levy, a teacher in Lubavitch Educational Center of Miami, puts it, “Coming to Kinus two years ago gave me new insights and inspiration that I am still benefiting from… especially, that we are shluchos of the Rebbe and have the most holy job.”
The highlight of the Kinus is always the Gala Chinuch Banquet, featuring Rabbi M. M. Gluckowsky of Rechovot, Israel, as the keynote speaker this year. Together with farbrengens and workshops with educators such as Mrs. Shterni Ginsburg, Mrs. Shaindy Schapiro, Mrs. Sara Blau, and others, the Kinus is sure to provide a renewed burst of energy for the vital Shlichus of Chinuch.
Practical teaching will be made easier and more meaningful at all grade levels, with specially curated tracks for Early Childhood, Elementary, High School, and School Leadership. Mrs. Devora Krasnianski, Mrs. Nechamy Segal, Mrs. Hadassa Shemtov and many more educators and panelists will provide concrete tools for high quality Chinuch, K-12. Another focus of this year’s Kinus is on supporting our students’ mental health and social-emotional needs, especially post-pandemic, with Dr. Oshra Cohen, Mrs. Dena Gorkin, and more.
Last year’s Kinus brought together 550 educators on Zoom, and “gave us the tools for recharging our batteries, and returning to our chinuch shlichus re-energized,” shared Morah Teichtel. This year, with many teachers once again able to come together once again, it is more important than ever for educators to recharge. For this reason, while registration is often subsidized by title and other funding, MEF is offering a generous discount to any teacher that is self-paying, or any school sending a group out of pocket. Furthermore, a full track of the Kinus will be streamed online for those unable to travel, so that no educator need be left behind.
Whether you are a teacher, school leader, specialist or aspiring educator; and whether you teach Limudei Kodesh or Limudei Chol, toddlers or teenagers; you are invited to the most rejuvenating Kinus yet. The full program and registration details, including transportation, babysitting, and other options, can be viewed on chinuchconvention.org, but hurry, because early bird registration ends on Wednesday, י”ג תמוז. May this year’s Kinus be truly a taste of Geulah – reuniting educators with the Rebbe, as they proudly present the students they have taught and nurtured, with the coming of Moshiach, now.
