With today’s world waiting more than ever for the Torah and Tefilla of Jewish children to take effect, bringing the Yeshua and Geulah that we need, the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF) is doubling down to invest in Chabad Chinuch.
MEF has identified the 7 areas of support and input that a healthy Chinuch community needs, and is here to report to our community its past accomplishments and future goals in these areas – MEF’s annual “report card”. For more details, you can view our Annual Report here: https://mymef.org/wp-content/
1. Teacher Training and Recruitment: A healthy Chabad Chinuch system needs an influx of qualified and dedicated new teachers to fill vacancies each year. In 5783, MEF certified 20 new Mechanchim in the pilot Kadima Lechinuch teacher training internship in Crown Heights schools. Additionally, 25 Mechanchos joined a “Back to School Crash Course” on important classroom skills this summer, and 45 educators were trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
In 5784, MEF aims to recruit and train 50+ new teachers to lead the way in Chabad Chinuch, through replicating Kadima Lechinuch, and a parallel program for young women teaching and training in Chabad schools.
2. Leadership Capacity Building: Strong school leaders create a positive cycle of growth in their schools and communities, and they, in turn, need our investment and support. In 5783, 67 principals joined MEF’s annual Chabad School Leadership Retreat, participating in professional development and collaboration for two packed days.
In 5784, MEF is scheduling two such retreats, one for men and one for women, aiming to equip and empower 100+ principals in total.
3. Community and Collaboration: To be at their best, educators need a community of practice to collaborate with, and to feel empowered that they belong to the greatest army in the world. This summer, 600 Mechanchos from 142 schools across 5 continents got together for tools and inspiration at the Kinus Mechanchos Chabad. Furthermore, 12 Hakhel gatherings and online farbrengens took place in 5783 and 15 day school leaders formed a cohort for a 10 week course focusing specifically on marketing and recruitment.
In 5784, MEF aims to grow the summer Kinus to 700 participants, and to gather 100 Mechanchim and Mechanchos from around the world in monthly Zoom farbrengens, which are already underway.
4. Curricular Resources: Our schools can do their job best when they are provided with high quality curriculum and learning standards that allow each child to thrive. In 5783, MEF continued its efforts in raising the bar for Torah learning through the Zekelman Standards for Chumash, with 850 users on zekelmanstandards.org, and 4 new schools in the U.S., Canada and Europe comprehensively trained. Furthermore, MEF invested extensively in building a social-emotional curriculum based in Torah and Chassidus, “Project Tomim,” reaching 480 children in 8 pilot schools.
In 5784, MEF plans an upgrade to zekelmanstandards.org, adding additional features and resources for teachers. Building on the successful pilot of Project Tomim, it is also slated to launch year 1 of the 3-year curriculum to all Chabad schools, bringing Torah-based social-emotional learning to children worldwide.
5. Access to Funding: In the premiere Our Heritage program, dollars translate directly into more Jewish children transferring from public school to Chabad day schools around the world. In 5783, MEF awarded $500,000 in matching tuition grants to enroll 206 new students in 14 Chabad Day Schools, reaching a grand total of 556 students enrolled in four years.
In 5784, MEF will set out to raise an additional half a million dollars to enroll new students, providing ever more Jewish children with the Torah true education they need and deserve.
6. Upleveling Educators: Chinuch is a moving target, and educators are always looking for ways to develop and grow. In 5783, MEF provided a comprehensive and affordable solution by launching its Chinuch Consulting department, providing 24 schools around the world with workshops, coaching and consultation to help them succeed.
In 5784, MEF aims to provide over a dozen customized workshops, and individually coach at least 30 teachers and leaders, in schools around the world. It will also make teacher coaching even more accessible through subsidizing 30% of the cost for those who need it.
7. Inspiration for Chabad Chinuch Values: Without fanning the flame of Chassidishe Chinuch, how can we hope to inspire a new generation of dedicated Chassidim? As part of this effort, in 5783 MEF published “Chinuch With the Times,” offering inspiration for Chassidishe Chinuch throughout the year. MEF also launched the weekly “Chinuch Vitamin,” providing a steady flow of inspirational content, videos, articles and resources for educators.
In 5784, MEF will iy”H publish “Chinuch with the Times – the Parsha Edition,” and launch a Chabad Chinuch podcast for the educator on the go.
The world thrives on the Torah and Tefillah of children in a vibrant Chinuch community. This Tuesday and Wednesday, MEF is launching a $1.2M urgent campaign to invest in the הבל פיהם של תינוקות של בית רבן. Will you join them in meeting these goals?
Support Chinuch to keep children safe, empowered, and inspired to utter the words of Torah and Tefilla that sustain our world. Donate now at charidy.com/mef.
