Students Get Life Lessons from the 12 Pesukim

It was still morning when the policeman showed up. He marched into the building, and proceeded to give a lecture about following directions. He wasn’t in an office building; he was in a school. He was not speaking to adults; he was speaking to children. He wasn’t referring to directions for traffic; he was talking about directions for life.

It was Cheder Menachem in Central Jersey and the theme was The 12 Pesukim: Directions for Life. Over the last year and a half, Cheder students have learned, discussed and applied the concepts and themes of the 12 Pesukim.

Tickets are distributed daily to students “caught” in the act of “resilience” (Yogati), “positive attitude” (Yismach), “Love and care” (Ve’Ohavta), and more. Each possuk gives insight and guidance into every day behavior and attitude. An interactive bulletin board with a 3-D Stop Sign is a favorite spot where the students deposit their tickets and await a weekly raffle to earn prizes.

The positive atmosphere generated in the school, where students are recognized and their positive traits valued, where the 12 Pesukim are not just words but truly a way of life, has impacted all subjects and all areas of the day. In Cheder, the students are not only learning subjects; they are learning character – כל ענין החסידות היא לשנות טבע מדותיו.

The finale – We Want Moshiach Now! – is being celebrated with ‘an interactive wall of bricks’ virtually created in every classroom, and an Imagine That! Theme implemented across curricula. The last day of school, the students will collaborate together to build a Beis HaMikdash out of lego led by The Lego Man, bringing to life how our Avoda virtually builds the Beis HaMikdash.

The Cheder continues to be an oasis in Central Jersey, providing Chassidishe Chinuch to families of Anash and Shluchim living in the area. With dedicated teachers, and an atmosphere of Chassidim Ein Mishpacha, it is a place where children learn, grow and feel empowered.

Special thanks to Mrs. Chanie Zaklikovsky, the academic director of the Cheder, for directing this project.

Please participate in Cheder Menachem’s 24 hour matching campaign. Log on to www.chedernj.org/match.

For more information about the Cheder and for employment opportunities, please contact Mrs. Goldie Azimov, gazimov@chedernj.org or call 732-297-3322.