Winner of Chinuch Pitch Receives $18,000 Grant

By Yossi Weinstein

“Raise your hand if you truly do not like report cards,” joked Rabbi Shmuel Gniwisch to a room of mechanchim. Laughter filled the hall, but the challenge behind the joke was real.

This year at the Kinus Hamechanchim, mechanchim came together for the first-ever Chinuch Pitch, an exciting event where teachers shared ideas straight from their classrooms.

These were not theoretical ideas; they are practical, hands-on, and designed to make a real difference for students. The room was buzzing with energy as teachers, roshei yeshiva, and principals gathered to celebrate the creativity and dedication of our educators.

“The strongest answers in chinuch don’t come from policies or theories, they come from mechanchim who understand their students,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, General Chairman of the Chinuch Office of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch. “The Rebbe taught us that true chinuch grows from the ground up, through personal connection and guidance. That’s why the most meaningful innovation will always begin in the classroom.”

The program was part of this year’s Kinus Hamechanchim, organized by Mrs. Shterna Rapoport of Merkos’s Chinuch Office.

Funded by Merkos 302, the final event had the energy of a boardroom meets chassidishe farbrengen, urgent, unscripted, and entirely focused on impact. Each presenter had five minutes to deliver. The crowd wasn’t passive; they were leaning in, asking sharp questions, weighing which idea could carry the Rebbe’s Chinuch into the future. The room, 354 Mechanchim strong, cast their votes in real time, with a live countdown clock pushing the tension higher.

Three finalists presented remarkable proposals.

Rabbi Gniwisch, representing Rabbi Levi Lipinski, introduced the Global Chabad Education Framework, a system to track student progress across all grades. The platform gives teachers, parents, and students clear goals and helps identify where students need extra support. Schools worldwide can align on learning objectives while still tailoring to each child, making sure no student falls through the cracks.

“We want to ensure every child reaches his full potential,” Gniwisch said. “But we have to know where they’re lacking. If we don’t know, we can’t help.”

Rabbi Shmuel Graj presented Sugya-Based Iyun Learning, a structured approach to studying Gemara and Halacha. He provides ready-to-use booklets with sources, summaries, and guided study plans, giving every bochur, not just the top students, the tools and confidence to learn deeply.

“Iyun must be for everyone, not the top 20%,” said Graj. “Bochurim should walk out of yeshiva proud to learn the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, with real depth and clarity.”

Rabbi Menachem Cadaner shared the idea of Moshiach Youth Centers, community hubs that give Chabad children a safe, welcoming, and engaging place outside of school. These centers offer mentorship, social support, and immersive Chassidishe programming, helping children feel connected, inspired, and excited about their purpose.

“Many children are doing everything right, but inside they feel empty,” said Cadaner. “Moshiach Youth is about filling that space with belonging, identity, and purpose.” Rabbi Cadaner’s vision is about nurturing the whole child, creating a sense of community wherever these centers are established.

After the presentations, the audience of Mechanchim asked thoughtful questions about how these ideas could grow, what they would cost, and how quickly they could be implemented. Then it was time to vote.

“The votes are in, a clear lead,” the host announced.

The 2025 Chinuch Pitch winner was Rabbi Gniwisch, representing Rabbi Levi Lipinski, for the Global Chabad Education Framework. Rabbi Zalmy Loewenthal, Associate Director of the Chinuch Office, presented the $18,000 grant from Merkos 302 to bring the project to life, along with a $1,000 personal prize.

As Rabbi Loewenthal said, “Every idea here is a step toward building the next generation. When we listen to our mechanchim, we strengthen Chinuch from the inside out.”

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