New School Year Begins at Cheder Ohr Menachem

Gimmel Elul, a hot day, just early August and in the streets of Crown heights you’ll see an uncommon scene… children wearing regular button-down dress-shirts. Is this a camp uniform?

In accordance with the Rebbe’s wishes and clear directive, it’s the “first day of cheder” in Cheder Ohr Menachem in Crown Heights, the 1st school to open post vacation:

יש לקצר זמן החופש וכידוע מרז”ל […] תעזבני יום יומיים אעזבך […] תקותי שאצל חלק חשוב מהתלמידות יפעלו שינוי זה שעכ”פ יקצרו בזמן החופש” -אג”ק ח”ט עמוד ק”פ

מובן ופשוט אשר אין זה מספיק להכין תלמידים-ות אפילו במקצת לימי הסליחות והענינים דחודש תשרי, ולכן בודאי שבכל בתי הספר יתחילו הלימודים קודם לזה ומה טוב בתחילת חודש הרחמים הוא חודש אלול -אגרות קודש חי”א עמ’ שלא

Following some exchanges between Talmidim catching up with pairs on their summer experiences. The welcome at Cheder began with a Kinus of Torah, Tefilla and Tzedaka.

Talmidim were addressed and heard Shofar from the Rabbi Zalman Goldstein of our Hanhala. The Menahel Rabbi Mendel Yusewitz then explained the unique time of chodesh Elul, where the king is close and smiling to us giving us the Koach to step up a notch for the Shnas Halimudim 5782.

Vice principal Rabbi Yossef Overlander gave every Talmid Tzedoka and they were introduced to their new melamed.

Concluding the day, every melamed gave his Talmidim a special treat – a taste of Torah’s sweetness.

Unlike all years, this year’s cheder began two days later than every year (into Elul), to enable all staff to attend the annual Kinus Hamechanchim. Following the first day, melamdim got met to share their take-aways from the 2-day kinus retreat, briefing and planning for the new year together.