50 Years of Mivtza Chinuch: The Chinuch Office Expands to Strengthen Jewish Education
This year marks fifty years since the Rebbe launched Mivtza Chinuch, a campaign that emphasized viewing every aspect of life through the lens of chinuch, education as the foundation of Yiddishkeit. The Rebbe taught that every Jew is both a student and a teacher, and that empowering children during their formative years is essential to securing the future of the Jewish nation.
With this vision at its core, the Merkos Chinuch Office is proud to announce a strengthened leadership team dedicated to helping Lubavitcher mosdos around the world thrive, ensuring that every Yiddishe child receives a meaningful education infused with Torah and Chassidishe values.
“Our goal is clear: nurturing proud, committed chassidim,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, General Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch’s Chinuch Office. “By investing in our schools, we’re investing in the future leaders of Klal Yisroel. This expanded leadership team is here to make sure that every mechanech and mechaneches feels supported and equipped to carry out the Rebbe’s vision with strength and clarity.”
Under the continued leadership of Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, who serves as Director, and the recently appointed Rabbi Zalman Loewenthal as Associate Director, the Chinuch Office now welcomes two new Educational Directors.
Mrs. Shterna Rappaport will focus on preschool and primary school education. She brings 17 years of experience in chinuch, having served as an early childhood teacher, assistant director of two Manhattan preschools, co-director of Camp Gan Israel of Southampton, and seminary teacher. She currently mentors teachers one-on-one, lectures widely, and leads workshops for both parents and educators, helping them support today’s children while staying grounded in the eternal values of Torah and Chassidus.
“It’s a true honor to step into this role at the Merkos Chinuch Office,” said Mrs. Rappaport. “The Rebbe so strongly highlighted the importance of chinuch in the early years, when the foundation of a child’s entire life is set. I look forward to working together with school leaders and educators to strengthen these formative stages in a lasting way.”
Mrs. Sara Blau will focus on middle school and high school education. With over 15 years of experience in teen education, she has served as the Extracurricular Director at Bais Rivkah High School, Director of Bais Rivkah Day Camp, and a teacher of maamarim, sichos, and Tanya. She is also the author of numerous books for children and teens.
“It’s a privilege to take on this role with the Chinuch Office,” said Mrs. Blau.
Partnering with school leaders and mechanchos in the middle school and beyond is an opportunity to help our teens and young adults connect personally with their learning and develop into chassidishe leaders. I am excited to be part of that change.”
With these new appointments, the Chinuch Office is expanding its capacity to support schools through guidance, curriculum development, and shared resources. True to the Merkos mandate, “לחנך בני ובנות ישראל ברוח ישראל סבא”, the Chinuch Office remains committed to being a guiding light for mechanchim, mechanchos, and shluchim in their sacred work of chinuch.
At the Chinuch Office, our goal is to serve you. Your feedback helps us tailor our resources to the real needs of schools and educators on the ground. We invite you to share your input by filling out this feedback form.
https://forms.gle/h8x9S95js5nu8Myi9
Together, we can strengthen chinuch and ensure that every child receives the education they deserve.
