JCCGCI’s Crown Heights Mesivta Vocational Track: Building Skills, Purpose, and A Stronger Future

The Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) is proud to spotlight the continued success and momentum of the Crown Heights Mesivta Vocational Track, an innovative initiative that is transforming how students engage with education, purpose, and possibility. As we look ahead to the coming year, excitement is building around a program that has already proven to be impactful, meaningful, and deeply responsive to the needs of our community’s youth.

The foundation for this program was laid in May 2021, when JCCGCI convened a virtual listening tour that brought together educators, mental health professionals, community leaders, and institutions dedicated to supporting at-risk youth in Crown Heights. A clear and powerful consensus emerged: introducing a structured vocational track within Mesivta high schools was not only beneficial, but essential. The goal was to create an educational pathway that keeps students engaged in a Torah environment while offering practical skills that foster confidence, responsibility, and long-term stability.

After four years of careful planning, collaboration, and community input, that vision is now a reality. The Crown Heights Mesivta Vocational Track provides students with hands-on exposure to practical trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and low-voltage electrical work. By expanding the definition of success beyond traditional academics alone, the program enhances the Mesivta experience and allows students with diverse strengths and learning styles to thrive.

At its core, this program is about dignity and direction. Students gain a sense of purpose by learning tangible skills that align with their interests and abilities. The vocational track helps participants develop self-worth, accountability, and pride in their accomplishments, while reinforcing the idea that growth in gashmius can go hand in hand with growth in ruchnius. The result is a stronger, more inclusive educational model that meets students where they are and supports where they are going.

The success of the program has been made possible by a generous anonymous funder who awarded JCCGCI a two-year, $225,000 grant to pilot and administer this community-wide initiative across three Mesivta high schools in Crown Heights. This investment reflects a deep belief in the potential of our youth and the importance of early, thoughtful intervention. A key component of this grant is the requirement to secure matching funds, which will allow the program not only to continue, but to expand and reach even more students in the years ahead.

JCCGCI extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated educators and communal leaders whose partnership and leadership have been instrumental in bringing this program to life. We are deeply thankful to United Lubavitcher Yeshivos, under the leadership of Program Director Rabbi Moshe Zalman Vorovitch, Executive Director; Mesivta Oholei Torah, led by Rabbi Moshe Silman, Menahel; Mesivta Chovevei Torah, guided by Rabbi Menachem Minsky, Menahel; and Mesivta Darchai Menachem, led by Rabbi Mendy Vail, Executive Director. We are also sincerely grateful to our instructors, Yisroel Bernstein and Levi Weinbaum, whose hands-on guidance played a vital role in the success of this initiative. Their commitment to their students and to the broader Crown Heights community continues to shape lives in lasting ways.

The Crown Heights Mesivta Vocational Track is part of JCCGCI’s broader commitment to workforce development and youth empowerment in the neighborhood. Alongside programs such as the Crown Heights Career Assessment Program, Crown Heights Career Hub, Parnassah Employment Services, Workforce Development initiatives, and youth enrichment programs, this vocational track represents a holistic approach to supporting young people academically, emotionally, and practically.

As we prepare for the year ahead, JCCGCI is energized by the impact this program is already making and inspired by the potential still to come. By investing in skills, confidence, and purpose, the Crown Heights Mesivta Vocational Track is helping students build a future rooted in productivity, stability, and pride—strengthening not only individual lives, but the entire community.

Want to get involved? Email us at info@jccgci.org or call 718-449-5000 for more information.