By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
In the 1970s, a daycare center opened in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, which would accommodate children as young as two years of age.
Many mothers felt that sending such young kids was unhealthy, and preferred sacrificing their careers in order to stay at home with their children.
Frida Schapiro, who had a degree in education, decided to postpone her career until her youngest child would be in day school full-time.
In a private audience with the Rebbe, she explained her decision.
The Rebbe responded that sending children to a daycare center is an acceptable notion, as “they have children to play with.”
Later, when her youngest child was already in school, she sought the Rebbe’s counsel regarding several career opportunities. The Rebbe was most enthusiastic about one option: teaching in a daycare center.
Find Hasidic Archives latest books on HasidicArchives.com Story Bites: Short Stories to Savor and Dear Rebbe: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson corresponds with a singer, a writer, a sculptor & a Holocaust survivor, also available on Amazon Prime.
What a wonderful article! Thank you so much for publishing the Rebbe’s point of view on sending two year olds to play with friends at daycare.
Also proud of my amazing dear cousin Mrs. Frida Schapiro who is a true example of an outstanding Chassida and educator as well as being a Dugma Chaya of an excellent mother, Bubby and Elter Bubbe KAH!
I learned so very much from her while she was my sons’ most amazing “cheder class” teacher at Mosdos Day Care Center!! Thank you for this wonderful story!!