The 22nd Kinus Hamechanchim sponsored by the Merkos Chinuch Office will be held at the Armon Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut on 27-28 Menachem Av, August 14th and 15th. The kinus brings together hundreds of mechanchim from throughout the US and Canada.
Annually, the Vaad HaKinus takes the time to analyze the chinuch issues that are uppermost on the minds of the mosdos and the mechanchim to create a meaningful program that will both engage and challenge the assembled.
First among the presentations are those that concentrate of the spiritual development of children. Rabbi Dovid Dubov of Princeton, NJ and Rabbi Mendel Lipsker of Los Angeles will keynote.
Professional development always takes a front seat at kinusim. Helping mechanchim hone their skills is what the kinus is all about. This year the kinus will focus on Learning how to communicate more effectively, which all public servants must master and educators first among them. Better communication with students and their parents and even among faculty members can help build better understanding and stronger, more productive relationships.
Dr. Akiva Pearman will present and Rabbis Menachem M. Greenbaum and Yehoshua Lustig will discuss how to practice better communication skills in our mosdos. How well parents understand the objectives of the curriculum, the ethos within classrooms, and what they can do to enhance their children’s educational experience, depends upon successful communication.
Among the other issues that will be highlighted are: How to help children with their executive functioning skills, that that in many cases, mitigate special needs. How mechanchim need to deal with AIGPT and to harness the opportunities that artificial intelligence will bring. We need to be forward-looking and preemptive rather than reactionary.
A kinus is for mechanchim and also by mechanchim. Mechanchim come to learn, but they also come to share and to teach. In fact, some of the most rewarding experiences at the 20 Kinus haMechanchim are mealtimes, debate times and chinuch forums. The program at the 22nd Kinus HaMechanchim will feature a number of presentations and discussions among mechanchim. where mechanchim “talk chinuch”.
The Kinus program is still in formation and there are many interesting sessions and events being developed, stay tuned. Mechanchim are encouraged to apply to the kinus vaad if they have a novel idea to share.
Registration is open at www.chinuchoffice.org
Be out of sight and sound. Our kids need present adults. We can say all the right things but if we are not fully present, nothing else matters.