MyShliach: Big Brothers Meet for Elite Training Program
What better a way to honor the Rebbe the day after Gimmel Tammuz, than a meeting of bochrim from across the globe, training as mentors to shluchim’s children. These elite bochurim gathered at the Levi Yitzchak Library over bagels and lox, to discuss their mentoring experience
More pictures in the Extended Article!
The My ShliAch, Big Brother initiative opened its doors as a pilot program 6 months ago to help fill the need for greater emotional, educational, and social support to the children of shluchim. Often beyond the scope or capacity of schools and yeshivos to provide sufficient individual attention to each young student, My ShliAch now offers personal advice, friendship, and caring attention to these precious children, our future shluchim.
One parent who has witnessed the tremendous impact of the My ShliAch program, is Chabad Shaliach, Rabbi Menachem Rapoport, from Mequon, Wisconsin. Rabbi Rapoport spoke to the group about the deep and positive affect which the mentorship has had on his own son. He added that how much more so an increase in mentorship could affect all of shluchim’s children, who are spread out in far out places. He emphasized that the value of a personal one on one role model has been critical to the growth of his son’s education and general development and expressed hope that all children should benefit from such a service.
Director of My ShliAch, Rabbi Berl Frankel, further discussed the success of the pilot program thus far, sharing how receptive the parents and bochrim have been to this innovative endeavor. Rabbi Frankel stated an expansion of another 100 students as a goal for the upcoming year, doubling the already 100 members in the current pilot program.
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of the Lubavitch Educational Division, affirmed the crucial importance of expanding this invaluable program, stressing the Rebbe’s view on preventative education and how much can be gained by shluchim’s children from such mentorship. and thanked the Rohr family for their care, concern and all that they do for shluchim worldwide.
The next speaker at the event was Rabbi Shea Hecht, Chairman of the Board of NCFJE.As part of on-going training for the mentors, Rabbi Hecht provided guidelines and tips in how to be a good listener, mentor and a good friend. Rabbi Hecht helped to further prepare the bochrim in their role as not only friends and counselors, but well trained, professional mentors. Bochrim were able to ask questions and receive specific instructions in their particular situations.
To conclude the already filled program, each mentor received the new sefer Shaarei Chinuch, as a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication.
MyShliach is a project of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and is sponsored through a generous grant of the Rohr family foundation.
BT Mommy
This is really a beautiful thing you are doing, but please consider that it’s not just the children of shluchim who will be the next generation of shluchim. What about children whose parents are not shluchim? Why shouldn’t they be a part of this program? I understand there are shluchim who live in very isolated areas and truly need and can benefit from this new endeavor. I think it’s great for them. But what about the shluchim kids who live in frum communities, surrounded by other frum kids and lots of other shluchim kids? Why are they more deserving than their nonshluchim classmates? This just perpetuates the Us and Them issues that already exist.
Very proud
This is such a wonderful idea! But the article does not explain how it all works. Does the mentor live with the shluchim? Or in their community? Is this mentoring done over the phone? Or through occasional visits? Does the bochur/mentor also help and assist the shluchim? Can someone from this program describe it to me. Thank you and yasher koach. An amazing group of young men!
Anonymous
To “BT Mommy”;
Check out this article.
http://www.crownheights.inf…
-Techie
to BT mommy -
Your concern is a fair one – but the program has to start somewhere.
I know that there is much though about opening this program to all children, the staff at my shliach are working out the logistics and budget for such a program – stay tuned and your wish might be granted
—
Chaver
i was woudering why Mendy Kotlarsky wasnt at the Kinus meeting…
keep up the good work mendy…
BT Mommy
Techie,
I read the article a long time ago. If you took out the word, “shliach”, you’d be talking about my son. I know we are not the only family who do the same kinds of things that shluchim do, but without the “official certificate”. We have no family or friends in NY or any other big city with yeshivas. Who will take my son under his wing?
And yes, I do believe these programs need to start somewhere. So, why isn’t there some kind of program for children of BT parents who have no connections outside of their communities?????
kinus
to Chaver..
Mendel Kotlarsky was at the Kinus meeting. look at the pictures, he was siting next to Moshe.
anon
We are so proud of you Hersh!
srully f.
first thing i would like to say is that this is a wonderful program and to bt mommmy yes your children do need this and all lubavitcher children do but when a person starts a program anmakes it available to everyone, within a few weeks\moonths it falls throught and it isnt successful when you do things one group at a time the you can spread out and finally it will be made available to all children so lets all be patient. my second thing is that i would like to know how to sign up to be a big brother for this wonderful program so please lmk also is there such a thing for girls???
Your LA cousin
Hey Zalmy Dov levertov looking good!
reuven-s brother
nice to see you hersh
a MyShliach Mentor
i was by the meeting and rabbi kotlarsky anonced that, yes, this program will hopefully soon spread to the wider lubavitch family
shliach
Rabbi Frankel, Thanks for helping with my sons.
You are realy saving our children
Millicent Chira
Berl your grandma is beaming with pride for you and your efforts.