The Menachem Education Foundation (MEF) recently hosted a Women’s Donor Appreciation Event to celebrate and express heartfelt gratitude to its dedicated supporters. This gathering was unique in that it was not a fundraiser, but rather a special evening devoted to acknowledging the significant contributions of MEF’s women donors, whose commitment plays a crucial role in enabling their work.
The event offered a platform to share MEF’s mission and its vision for excellence in Chabad Chinuch. Through an inspiring program, MEF highlighted its ongoing efforts to elevate and improve educational practices within the Chabad community.
The evening was led by MC Morah Shana Tiechtel, who guided participants through a series of presentations showcasing MEF’s impact on Chinuch. Rabbi Levke Kaplan, principal of Cheder Chabad of Monsey, shared firsthand how MEF’s teacher training programs have helped to elevate the quality of education in our schools, bringing teaching to a new level. Mrs. Sarah Chuzhin, early childhood consultant, also expressed her gratitude for MEF’s impact on Chinuch, noting their tailored approach to supporting educators in meeting the needs of each child.
Rabbi Zalman Shneur, MEF Executive Director, spoke about the centrality of Chinuch in the Chabad community, emphasizing how the foundation’s programs have created an ecosystem of support for educators. He highlighted the evolution of these programs and their essential role in providing the tools necessary for effective teaching and spiritual growth, and thanked the event hostess, Mrs. Malky Smetana, for being one of the first philanthropists to believe in MEF’s work.
Mrs. Chanah Rose, MEF Educational Director, invited participants to break into small groups for focused discussion on what our community’s top priorities should be for Chinuch going forward. The lively discussions allowed participants to share their ideas and perspectives, further solidifying the communal commitment to enhancing education in the Chabad world.
Most poignantly, Mrs. Esther Shifra Matuf, development specialist at MEF, unveiled a video showing MEF constituents speaking about the impact of their work.
“One of the greatest contributions of the principal retreat is an opportunity for the principals to collaborate and share,” said Mrs. Chanie Pinson, Principal of Beis Rebbe Junior High, Los Angeles. “A lot of the practical suggestions transferred over to real solutions that improved the quality of education for our most vulnerable students.”
“I have Baruch Hashem had the opportunity to participate in the monthly Mechanchos Farbrengens of MEF,” shared Mrs. Nechama Dina Goldenberg, a teacher in Cheder Menachem, NJ. “It’s a breath of fresh air… [reminding me that] it’s not just a job, it’s a shlichus!”
“Twelve years ago, MEF offered me the opportunity to take a professional mentoring course to become a teacher mentor,” said Rabbi Pinny Rapoport, a Mechanech in Oholei Menachem, NY. “Proper training and mentorship make a world of a difference. I am incredibly grateful to MEF for the impact they’ve made.”
Mrs. Rivka Fishman, teacher and special program coordinator at Torah Day School of Houston, TX, is now teaching MEF’s social-emotional curriculum, Project Tomim, for the third year. “I’m so excited to be teaching Project Tomim,” she shared. “It’s so impactful for my students when they learn that each of us has a piece of Hashem inside of us, which means there’s nothing we can’t overcome.”
Other educators in the video lauded the impact of the Kinus Mechanchim and Kinus Mechanchos Chabad, the Teach for Lubavitch teacher training and shlichus program, the Zekelman Standards for Chumash, and more.
Participants left with a deep understanding of MEF’s transformational work, and how their support makes a tangible difference in the lives of teachers and students. They also left with a beautiful gift bag, including the MEF publication “Chinuch with the Times,” a sample unit of the Project Tomim curriculum, and a beautiful matchbox for Shabbos to thank them for lighting up the world through Chabad Chinuch.
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