How a Chabad Chasid Became a South Bronx Middle School Legend
The Forward today profiled R’ Tuvia Tatik, a Chabad Chossid and longtime Crown Heights resident, who has become something of a legend as the dean of a troubled South Bronx public middle school.
From The Forward by Deena Yellin:
It’s noontime at Jordan L. Mott Middle School in the South Bronx, and in the playground the tempers are flaring. A seventh-grade girl has discovered that a classmate had posted something about her on Facebook. The expletives are flying, and friends are taking sides. As the crowd grows, the tension thickens.
Enter Tuvia Tatik, dean of the seventh grade. He is dressed in a crisp white shirt, along with khakis and with tzitzit that sway as he walks. He listens carefully to both girls before speaking. “Is it worth fighting over?” he asks softly of the tall 13-year-old girl, who sullenly folds her arms over her bright-pink shirt and holds her oversized purse in her hands. Then he turns his attention to the other girl, whose thick black hair is pulled back with a white hair band: “I know you’re mad. But is this worth fighting over?” He invites both girls to his office, where they can talk it out. “Is that good by you?” he asks each girl, who nods in turn. “If you beat her up, it’s not going to make it better,” he reminds each of them, as such an act could bring suspension and a phone call to parents.
His role as dean is to handle behavior and disciplinary issues in the seventh grade. “I’m not a policeman,” Tatik said, asserting that he doles out discipline rather than strict punishment. “I’m here to help them become good citizens and train them for a good life.”
Enforcing the rules does not dampen his popularity. As he monitors the hallways and lunchroom for trouble, teens shake his hand and high-five him, “Yo, Tatik.” He grins back, slapping their shoulders. “Hey, this is my favorite student,” he says of each and every one. Some kids want to gab with him about sports, others about their problems. “He can get on your nerves and stuff, but he’s trying to push us to do good,” said 13-year-old Raven, who sided with her friend in the brawl. “He breaks up fights all the time. And he explains math when we don’t understand what the teacher is saying.”
Tatik stands out in the three-story, red brick middle school in the South Bronx, which is dominated by students of color from the surrounding neighborhood. The bearded, yarmulke-clad psychologist is a father of six from Brooklyn’s Crown Heights.
For the past nine years that Tatik has worked at the school, his day has begun at 5 a.m. with a bicycle ride to the mikveh, followed by morning prayers at a synagogue and then a rumbling 80-minute subway ride in which he thumbs his way through the Book of Psalms. He shrugs his shoulders at the arduous grind. “You get used to it,” he said, explaining that he peruses the Torah, and occasionally naps on his way home.
very special
kidush Hashem!
Chaya Tatik!
That’s my dad !! That is someone who I admire ! I love him, he’s the most understanding and caring dad that anyone has ever had! Congrats Dad for becoming known!
To Chaya
You have a lot to be proud of your father, may you walk in his ways!
Moshe
He is a special man
Congratulations Tuvia
Tuvia keep up the great work and kiddush Hashem!
President Street neighbor
A wonderful family! Tuvia, you should have continuing nachas from your students as well as from your family. You’re a true mentch, and it’s nice to see your accomplishments appreciated. A gut, gebentched yohr!
with the old breed
Mazel Tov Mazel Tov
you are a real kiddish lubavitch.
we are all so proud of you
CH mother...
Congratulations, Tuvia! Nice words written b’emes about a wonderful Yid.
ULYParent
Dr. Tatik worked in Lubavitch Yeshiva, and he was great. We need great people to stay in the yeshivas!