Oholei Torah Continues to Lead the Way
BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — Chinuch is an ongoing and growing experience, constantly in need of new initiatives. This is especially true at the Rebbe’s yeshiva, where everything must be based on true chassidishe values.
Over half a century old, Educational Institute Oholei Torah does not rest on its laurels, and continues to look for better ways to empower its melamdim and scholastic staff, giving them the tools and resources needed to improve and raise the levels of chinuch, derech eretz and hiskashrus to the Rebbe.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
To that end, Oholei Torah undertook an unprecedented chinuch project this past summer. Sponsored by the administration, the project comprised of a vigorous two-week course on implementing teaching methods by Rabbi Binyomin Ginsburg, principal of Torah Academy Day School in Minneapolis, MN.
The principals and over 30 melamdim from across our school’s divisions participated, joined by many staff members of other Crown Heights schools.
With his years of experience, knowledge and practical ideas in chinuch, Rabbi Ginsburg took the melamdim on a journey into how to get the kids excited about learning, keeping their attention, and a long list of other vital teacher-classroom values.
The melamdim were tested, given to feel for themselves how to be stimulated and excited about learning. Rabbi Ginsburg also gave model class lessons with children from Oholei Torah Day Camp, giving the melamdim real hands-on experience.
Recognizing the challenges which teachers face from the strong influences of the modern world, Rabbi Ginsburg presented concrete ideas and advice on how to address and overcome many of these challenges
Other principals and Rebbeim from the New York area spoke as well, each adding their area of expertise.
Young Melmadim who are starting their first years and Melamdim who are teaching second generations were intrigued and left the courses with fresh ideas and renewed excitement that will carry them through the upcoming school years.
Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, Executive Director of Oholei Torah, addressed the conference, wishing them his very best and thanking his staff for taking of their time to attend. Rabbi Rosenfeld spoke of the importance of having the talmidim be happy in school, eagerly awaiting the next day.
Rabbi Ginsburg, who has consulted with teachers from day schools and yeshivos across the United States and Canada, was touched by the sincerity and dedication of the Oholei Torah melamdim: “You are privileged and lucky to have such a devoted group of teachers. Their passion and keen interest for teaching was the key for the success of this program.”
The close relationship built between Rabbi Ginsburg and the Oholei Torah melamdim was evident when at the end of the two weeks, they sat down for a chassidishe Farbrengen until the wee hours of the morning.
Rabbi Herschel Lustig, a long time dean of the Oholei Torah Cheder, commented that it was the most in-depth and practical program that he has seen in his years of chinuch. Rabbi Lustig is proud that Oholei Torah is the first yeshiva to implement such a program and looks forward to implementing many more such endeavors in the coming year.
The administration wishes to thank Reb Shmuel Brook for initiating this project. Taking this seminar to the next step, Oholei Torah is looking to have Rabbi Ginsburg continue this important project throughout the year, and is looking for sponsors for this project.
Oholei Torah led the way with this first of such in-depth seminars in the Lubavitch school system, with many other schools already planning similar projects for their own school staff.
yitz
All sounds good and well. the question is whether the hanholo will actually allow the teachers to follow through with the methods they just learned.only time will tell whther this was a wothwhile invesment.
Bored on Empire
Filler, Looking good
keep up the great work
Melamdim need all the encouragment they can get, they are the ones who give the main chinuch nowadays,
know it all
He is Hashliach Rabbi Aron Ginsburg’s Brother
Not so clueless
Great that OT finally offered their teachers some real training.
Some comments on snips from this OT PR bit:
1. “This is especially true at the Rebbe’s yeshiva”
OT is a private institution not under the auspices of Merkos and is thus not “the Rebbe’s yeshiva”. It is owned,run and taught by people who claim to be his chassidim, but the “Rebbe’s yeshiva” is called “Tomchei Tmimim”, and to be called that, a yeshiva has to be accountable to a higher authority, which OT is not.
2. “Oholei Torah…continues to look for better ways to empower its melamdim and scholastic staff, giving them the tools and resources needed to improve and raise the levels of chinuch”
How about the basics? Like a curriculum for all classes? Teach ONE language…
3. “Sponsored by the administration, the project…”
Yeh. Only after senior administration almost had their arm twisted off to pay up.
4. “Rabbi Lustig is proud that Oholei Torah is the first yeshiva to implement such a program”
Huh? OT is probably the only Yeshiva that DIDN’T, until this project, offer real training to/for its teachers. Hundreds of Yeshivos invest greatly in their teachers, sponsoring seminars, training programs, extra education. Maybe the sentence should have read “this is the first time this yeshiva has implemented such a type program”
4. “…and looks forward to implementing many more such endeavors in the coming year.”
And exactly how is he looking forward? By doing what? Waiting for Brook to arrange the next project? Perhaps he could outline exactly what is the schedule for such quality projects in the coming year.
5. “The administration wishes to thank Reb Shmuel Brook for initiating this project.”
Read that again. Brook, a parent, initiated this. Didn’t the article say “Oholei Torah…continues to look for better ways to empower its melamdim…”
6. “Oholei Torah led the way”
Er, Brook led the way.
OK. OK. I’ll give credit to OT where it is due –
It paid the bill.
It ALLOWED the project to happen.
It recognized afterwards the value of such a project.
But what should NOT be absorbed from this article is that OT’s administration is pioneering advance in chinuch. This pioneering-for-OT project had little to do with OT admin and alot to do with Brook trying to shoehorn in something good for chinuch, in spite of the admin’s cluelessness in chinuch matters.
But to do justice to THAT topic is another article.
mosh
i went through sixteen years of oholei torah and think that these programs are great. I did not have any real problems with the system however this can take away the problems that are there ocationnally.
bro of mendy
Go mendy. keep up the good work. how you do well this yr in school.
CHERTYH
“Educational Institute Oholei Torah does not rest on its laurels.”
Is this some kind of joke?
Just to mention
The Rebbe’s Yeshiva
Why don;t you look into Hayom Yom where is says that the Rebbe was meyased Oholei Torah in 1956.
Doesnt that count for being the Rebbe’s Yeshiva?
PR
this is just another “lipstick on a pig”
the school has gotten to big for itself and the administration (read: old fogeys who should have never been there in the first place) are doing NOTHING other than filling a “figure” position.
what a shame!
and to Yitz: you are %10000 right. Rabbi Ginsberg should be there at least once a month to evaluate that implementation of his lectures.
HAH! it will NEVER happen!
oh, well. meanwhile ULY crown street (and ohr menachem, darchei menachem etc.) continue doing their work, continue doing what they are good at.
Big S.Brook fan...
Obviously some people have some issues with OT – Truth is, I don’t know of any school that is problem free, and doesn’t have some angry parents!
But that doesn’t justify the problem here.
Each school has to be looked at individually.
Shmuel Brook, was/is(?) a parent. That’s true, but he also took on responsibilities as a member of OT. so I think they could write: “Oholei Torah led the way”. The fact that R. Rosenfeld allowed S.Brook to make progress only proves the point. S.Brook was apart of OT.They were a team!! R.Rosenfeld doesn’t have to come up with every bright idea, and actually run every project to be considered leading the way. it’s called delegation.
Should parent be allowed to make a web site forum dedicated to “help OT”? if the site was only for the benefit of OT’s progress I think, instead, they could of got a petition with signatures of parents, and present it to R.Rosenfeld, saying all the specific problems they have and the changes they want…and if it is in fact a majority (or at least substantial), then I’m sure he would be glad to listen or have to listen. But just having a forum of angry discussion won’t help anyone. Everyone will just end up mad at each other…a lose/lose situation.
But maybe this should be on the forum ;-)
Whataboutme
everything is good and fine, but what about actually paying the teachers, you know OT is behind in payroll, and I wonder who is in charge? There is a list of directors, call them (the father & son team)and demand they pay up the teachers, or else all good will go in the garbage
eli from there
not good enough we need more change from the school bored and the principles and teachers
anon
iwas in ot for 7 years i only had one teacher that actually cared. not one principal that i had cared ot needs a lot of improvement if it wants to be considered a good yeshiva the child abuse over is just crazy and it needs to be taken care of fast which means firing rabbi lustig rabbi rappaport rabbi shimshoni and rabbi goldstein
Not so Happy
This great project happened IN SPITE of the adminstration and hanholo (or lack thereof).
Shameful that they try and take the credit for it.
looking at think straight
Oh come on
all of you seem to be so angry,
why not direct your anger to good and volenteer or help out OT
Many more lessons to come
Maybe the next project could consist of confiring with Bais Rivka’s hanhola who know how to set up a better more organised practicle and realistick curiculum and actualy help their teachers.
mimi
There are many wonderful oppportunities to volunteer thereby enhancing the yeshiva.
not so clueless
To “Big S.Brook fan” who wrote:
1. “Shmuel Brook…took on responsibilities as a member of OT”
SB was a volunteer, not employee. OT can take zero credit for anything SB accomplished.
2. “The fact that R. Rosenfeld allowed S.Brook to make progress”
RR allowed SB to proceed in some areas and put stumbling blocks in other areas. And “allowing” a volunteer to “make progress” in areas that are explicit responsibilities owned by paid employees, speaks volumes about the lack of organization, management, ETC.
Case in point this project. Teacher training does not fall under a principal’s or dean’s responsibility!? BROOK had to find this guy, solicit him, etc?!
3. “R.Rosenfeld doesn’t have to come up with every bright idea, and actually run every project to be considered leading the way. it’s called delegation.”
Correct. In fact RR shouldn’t have to come up with ANY educational project. That’s the job of the people he chose as educational leaders and managers and to who he delegated that responsibility. But –
A – he shouldn’t then tell his delegates to give preferential treatment to certain $tudent$
B – To delegate you need to clarify the reponsibilty and then delgate it. I’d love to hear the clarification RR provided as responsibility for his dean which he has “delegated”
But if dissecting RR, I need to acknowledge that if he’d stick to raising $ and stay out of its education and fiscal management he’d be my top choice for the job.
4. “Should parent be allowed to make a web site forum dedicated to “help OT”?
Huh? Are you suggesting that the school can determine whether a parent can or cannot make a website forum?
5. ”if the site was only for the benefit of OT’s progress….they could…present it to R.Rosenfeld…I’m sure he would be glad to listen or have to listen.“
Doubtful you are a parent (or not employed by the school).
You are sure he’d listen, eh? You know how many parents have submitted petitions, made meetings ETC. over the past 2 decades? He listens. So does RL. And the world turns. Act on the listening? Change? Never. Unless you have serious $$$ or serious blackmail (and then you wouldn’t need a petition or mass meeting, just a private talk) your presentation, at best, is met with ”thanks for sharing, we’ll take it into consideration“
6. ”just having a forum of angry discussion won’t help anyone.“
A forum is open to people with compliments as much as to those with complaints. If it evolves to be that only of anger, that should indicate the seriousness of the matter. But true, a forum alone won’t help anyone. But if the forum exposes the level and frequency and pattern of problematic issues which until now have been kept under the rug and about which people have been successfully fooled into thinking they alone have the issue, then the forum can be a step in the necessary, corrective direction.
7. ”But maybe this should be on the forum”
Indeed. Feel free to post it: http://www.myoholeitorah.com
not so clueless
To “looking at think straight” who wrote: “why not direct your anger to good and volenteer or help out OT”
Because OT administration refuses to own up to its shortcomings.
Because OT administration refuses to seek solutions to issues it acknowledges exist.
Because those that are angry disagree with decision or non-decision by OT management
Volunteerism helps when there is a unified direction owned by a company CEO, its manager and employees and volunteers. When all do their job but extra hands could help make things even better, volunteerism helps. But if the CEO is clueless and the Manager disagrees with employees and volunteers, what exactly should the volunteer do?
hayom yom
To “Just to mention” who wrote:
Why don;t you look into Hayom Yom…
Please post the day in Hayon Yom to which you refer.
attention hayom yom
when I read that its written in the hayom yom, I understood that its in the beginning were the rabbeim and their accomplishments are mentioned, its not on a day!
HaYom Yom
In the accomplishemnts of each Rebbe there is a listing, Look under the rebbe in 1956
yid
Ohelei torah was a waste of a few years of my life, and many more peoples lives. why don’t they teach English? alot of people i know came out there feeling like they knew nothing. Thank God i left that institution thank God.
Big S.Brook fan
To “not so clueless”:
Sbrook was still a member, regardless of the fact if he was paid or a volunteer. Therefor I still maintain credit is given to RR as well. (yes 98% goes to Sbrook of course)
I do agree that they should have listened much more to Sbrook, and stuck with the “entire plan” and not just parts – but what can we do? They feel they have a better plan. RR does not have to agree with every person. As the Executive Director it’s his choice to pick out the parts he likes.
I do agree though that everyone should be heard. B/c as we clearly see – everyone has an opinion. but parents that work in business don’t necessarily have the edge in chinuch (although in many cases they could too – it’s dependent on the individual). So with that in mind, again, you can’t expect RR to carry out what every parent has in mind. or even a cluster of parents.
If in fact there is such a vast number – the forum won’t be any proof – a petition would more then suffice to get the point across, and clearly be more effective. You can’t easily put a number on the posts and I’m sure it would be harder to present evidence.
I’m with you all the way – Change is necessary, even in “the Rebbe’s Yeshiva” – my point is, the forum won’t work…it will just upset people (as it clearly is doing – and you would know that if you were deeply involved) – doing something that will promote real change.
People have to step up and not be afraid to say I _______ disagree with______ and so do so and so.
Best of luck
forum
To BigSBrookFan who wrote about the forum not being a good idea and people should petition:
There are many important differences between an online forum and a written petition but in a nutshell, an online forum is today’s most effective tool to make information available.
Perhaps the biggest reason why change is so difficult in OT is their ability to fragment those with valid complaints.
The internet neutralizes the power of the throne sitters. Information is no longer restricted to that which the throne sitter wants known.
To a truthseeker there’s no fear of exposure.
Yechi OT
Re the Hayom Yom indicating that OT is the Rebbe’s mosad –
Interesting. Earlier editions of the Hayom Yom don’t have the OT mentioned in 1956. Those printed in 5754 do.
Also, I don’t see on OT letterhead or their website (and I’ll bet not in their founding papers) verbiage like “Tachas Niseeyus…” or founded by… OT was founded by RMTeitelbaum with the blessings and support of the Rebbe.
History revisionists, fact perverters and wannabe leaders are what they are.