Healing Without Barriers: How Bereishis Foundation is Rewriting the Future of Children's Mental Health

Healing Without Barriers: How Bereishis Foundation is Rewriting the Future of Children’s Mental Health

Across Brooklyn and beyond, a quiet crisis is unfolding, children in urgent need of therapy are being turned away, not because help doesn’t exist, but because access comes with a price many families can’t afford. The Bereishis Foundation is changing that.

Founded by a young Chabad visionary who intimately understands the pain of being locked out of care, Bereishis isn’t just funding therapy, it’s redefining how communities respond to childhood mental health needs, especially in the face of racism, antisemitism, financial hardship, and identity-based trauma.

Therapy, Reimagined: No Red Tape, Just Results

Bereishis operates on a radical principle: parents should choose the therapist their child needs, not a funder, not a system. With grants that fully or partially cover licensed therapy, families are empowered to find clinicians who understand their child’s background, culture, and struggles. For those who feel overwhelmed by the process, Bereishis also offers an optional referral network of trusted professionals with reduced rates.

Unlike traditional programs, there’s no bureaucracy here. No waiting lists bloated with outdated protocols. No one-size-fits-all approach. Just responsive, child-centered care, fast.

From Toddlers to Teens: A Diverse Range of Needs

The children Bereishis serves are as varied as the borough itself:

A 4-year-old facing developmental delays whose immigrant parents felt invisible in the healthcare system.
A 13-year-old Jewish girl battling anxiety after antisemitic bullying, unsure where to turn.
A 17-year-old Black teen coping with depression triggered by relentless microaggressions and school trauma.

These aren’t theoretical cases. These are real kids. Real families. And real breakthroughs, because someone said yes when the system said no.

Growth Comes With a Cost – And a Call

In just months, Bereishis has seen a surge in applications from parents desperate for help. The mission is working, but the need is growing faster than current funding can support. That’s why Bereishis is launching a campaign to fund immediate access to therapy for children already approved and waiting.

$100 gives a child one session with a therapist of their family’s choice.
$1,000 gives that child an entire month of care and stability.
$10,000 helps us eliminate our waitlist and say yes to every family that qualifies.

Donations go directly to therapy, not overhead, not marketing fluff. Just healing.

Expanding Impact: Not Just Grants, but Change

While therapy grants remain the heart of Bereishis, the foundation is now building:

Free group therapy led by licensed therapists, targeting kids impacted by trauma, bullying, or loss.
School-based mental health education, helping teachers and students talk openly about emotional wellbeing.
Community referral systems that match culturally competent therapists with underserved families.

These next steps are bold, but with the right support, they’re inevitable.

Guided by Visionaries: The Leadership Behind the Movement

The Bereishis team is more than staff, they’re activists, professionals, and survivors with firsthand knowledge of what broken systems feel like. At the helm:

Frayde Yudkowsky, Chief Strategic Advisor
Zissel Klein, LCSW, Clinical Director
Yisroel Goldstein, Public Relations Lead
Shayna Ash, Digital Operations

Now, Bereishis is assembling a rabbinical board of leaders who are ready to elevate mental health as a community priority. This isn’t about politics. It’s about purpose.

Join the Movement: Every Child Deserves a Chance

Bereishis means “in the beginning.” For the families we serve, it’s not just a name, it’s a lifeline. A reset. A real shot at healing.

We don’t just want your donation. We want your voice. Your advocacy. Your presence. Whether you’re a rabbi, teacher, therapist, or parent, there’s a role for you here.

Visit bereishisfoundation.org to: