Dear Parents and Students,
Unfortunately, over the past few days, the internet has become the source of much false information including frightening lashan harah regarding the closure of Michlelet Morasha. In order to beוהיית נקי מה' ומישראל I would like to clarify the facts.
Before I go into details, I want to reiterate our commitment to reimburse every parent who paid a deposit for the next academic year. The process has begun already. Some people were reimbursed already. It will take about 2 to 3 weeks. But again, every cent will be returned.
Michlelet Morasha Responds:
Dear Parents and Students,
Unfortunately, over the past few days, the internet has become the source of much false information including frightening lashan harah regarding the closure of Michlelet Morasha. In order to beוהיית נקי מה’ ומישראל I would like to clarify the facts.
Before I go into details, I want to reiterate our commitment to reimburse every parent who paid a deposit for the next academic year. The process has begun already. Some people were reimbursed already. It will take about 2 to 3 weeks. But again, every cent will be returned.
The set up Michlelet Morasha was my initiative. I saw that there was a need for it. There was a shortage of places in the existing Seminaries. Lubavitch high schools around the world turned out approximately 400 graduates every year and most of them wanted to study at a seminary in Israel which in total could cater for around 250 students.
I received very positive encouragement for that project. Some generous people here in Melbourne helped me financially to make this a reality. I found Chani and Yisroel Sudry as the ideal couple to run this project. They took a very modest salary and worked very, very hard to run that seminary. Chani gave birth to a baby and 2 days later was already at the seminary working.
The first year, 2006/7 we managed to break even. But still with the initial debt from setting it up. The second year 2007/8, we improved in our operation, hiring better teachers, installing fire sprinklers etc. According to our projected budget we would again break even and maybe be able to begin reducing the old debt.
However, the Ribono Shel Olam had different plans. Various problems arose, some of which could not have been predicted.
1. The U$ fell from 4.50 Shekel to 3.25 Shekel and we began to go backwards. We tried to raise some funds but because of the down turn in the American economy, it became impossible. (Except for a few donations from some benefactors).
2. The manner in which MASA paid their scholarships became particularly relevant during these difficult times. They pay the first 25% only 45 days after the start of the program. The next 35% they pay 45 days after the middle of the program and the last 40% they pay only after the end of the program.
3. There were also parents who defaulted and did not pay their fees. Unlike other seminaries we were not prepared to expel any students regardless of their financial situation.
4. Without going into personal details there were very serious health problems on the part of senior staff which also impacted on the program,
5. The landlord raised the rent to a totally unsustainable level.
6. We had some last minute cancellations which considering the precarious financial situation we faced, had a significant effect on our budget.
We tried to hang on. We tried to raise funds. We tried to find a sponsor for the whole seminary. But we were not successful. Up until the last moment we intended to continue.
I want to point out that we are not the only ones to close our doors. Machon Gold, a Mizrachi Seminary which was established approximately 50 years ago, closed its doors because of the fall of the American dollar. Kfar Chabad had a program for chutz laaretz girls which closed. The Lod seminary closed recently.
At no time did I personally have any benefit from the seminary. It costed me many tens of thousands of dollars and many sleepless nights.
Once again I reiterate our commitment to return the deposits of every parent. Where necessary, this money will come out of my personal pocket. And besides these monies, there are still many debts which will have to be paid in Israel. Everything is also being done now to try and find places for the girls in other seminaries.
Finally, I would like to personally apologize for the frustration and inconvenience the closure of Michlelet Morasha has caused to many families and in particular, the students. If at any time, you wish to discuss this, please feel free to contact me. I remain committed to doing everything I possibly can to assist you during this difficult time.
Shmuel Gurewicz
happy it is clarified.
Thank you so much rabbi gurwitz for clarifying the situation. Hopefully this will stop the nasty comments people were writing.
Emes sheker?
“In order to beוהיית נקי מה’ ומישראל I would like to clarify the facts.”
Shmuel Gurewicz’s seminary cashed our cheques on August 15th and then sent an email on August 19th telling us the Seminary was closing down due to financial crisis. Why take our money a few days before the letter was sent. The decision to actually close may have even been earlier. Who knows? This does not sound והיית נקי מה’ ומישראל.
“I want to point out that we are not the only ones to close our doors. Machon Gold, a Mizrachi Seminary which was established approximately 50 years ago, closed its doors because of the fall of the American dollar. Kfar Chabad had a program for chutz laaretz girls which closed. The Lod seminary closed recently.”
The other seminaries that closed, did so months before the new year started, and although, no doubt, troubling to the parents, at least there was
reasonable time to make other arrangements. Shmuel Gurewicz’s seminary sent closure notices 10 days before they were starting the school year.
“Everything is also being done now to try and find places for the girls in other seminaries.”
That’s news to me. I haven’t received any communication from them other than that they are closing down.
“However, the Ribono Shel Olam had different plans.”
G-d’s fault now.
a future seminary mom
wow – what a mentch!! We really admire you! Telchi m’chayil el choyil! We hope in the near future you’ll be able to open the seminary and make a mint!
sh
Kol Hakavod, much success in your future endevours, may you all see very soon that Gam Zu Le’tovah
Hatzlacha raba
As an administrator of a moisad I want to say that I can hear my own struggles expressed in the words of Rabbi Gurewicz. Unless you have actually run a moisad you cannot imagine how much agmas nefesh goes into it and how hard the struggle is to keep it alive. So much of it is mazel and not effort and I am sure the seminary didn’t close down for lack of trying to keep it open. I hope people will have the good sense to understand that and do their best to move on without villifying the administration. Hatzlacha Raba to all the parents and girls looking for a place.
loving caring parent
Bravo
I know there will be negative feedback here but as i am one of the first i would like to take this opportunity to thank Shnuel Gurewicz for all his efforts he tried as hard as he could and was hanging in as long as he could.
I am sure people knew he was struggling and a helping hand could have been thrown in
we dealt with bigger problems as a people we can deal with this too
BE STRONG
DON’T PLACE BLAME
WE WILL PREVAIL
Kfar chabad grad
Kfar chabad semingary closed for totally different reasons completely unconnected to the fall of the american dollar. I was there.
Daniel
It is exceedingly refreshing to hear a rabbi owning up to financial responsibility. You will surely be successful in your future endeavors to bring Bnos Yisroel to Torah and Mitzvos.
Levi
Dear Shmuel Gurewicz,
For someone who has been following the whole story, your response was very much necessary. The girls are stuck with no place to go yet with tickets to get there.
I sincerely hope that the girls find a new place and that all the money’s are refunded soon. In addition, I wish you the best of luck in getting out of the dept you are in.
rivka
so sad that the ‘lubavitch media’ has forced this to be written.
an american living in israel
Kol Hakovod for him to really trying to fix this mess!!! It definately takes alot of courage!!
student of mochon morasha
I was a student in Mochon Morasha the first year. For all those that said that going to sem is a bad thing and that it ruines girls lives, sorry but you are mistaken. For me, that year in sem was the best year in my life. I learnt tons, grew, and had a blast. I dont recall ever visiting a pub or anything like that. I would like to thank Rabbi Gurewicz for all his hard work and for giving me such an amazing year.
Thank you, your student
hm
mrs g’s honesty and sense of responsibilty is refreshing. he is a mench. he admits there were poroblems outlines them, says what he is doing about them and what he he is going to do to try and fix this.
he has taken responsibility and many including my self will take a lesson from this
Bored on empire
I think we can learn, “Vhachai Yitein el libo” about mosdos in general and mosdos of chinuch in particular.
It is imperative that every mosad have a strong base of 5-10 ba’alebatim who are devoted, to each and every detail of the mosad, who can offer both gashmius and ruchnius advice, and pitch in so we won’t have such problems wait until they have to close.
The current hanholas have to realize this is not communist russia and it is time to “tear this wall down” and allow yungeleit to get involved. only good will come out of this.
A CONCERND PARENT
Rabbi Gurewicz
Kol Hakavod,
I sympathies with the parents that have paid, unlike others that have closed last year some are still waiting for a refund or acknowledgment, at least you’re getting that.
Rabbi Gurewicz, Just a suggestion, speak to Rebbetzin Yurkovitz to see if together you can open a desperately Needed seminary.
I would like to suggest to the ashirim that have been blessed please get in contact with Rabbi Gurewicz or Rebbetzin Yurkovitz to help them open up.
Mother
I am a parent of one of the girls. We bh have a new seminary not in eretz yisroel. I know Mr G from my youth. I would not be frum if not for his kindness and generosity, I have no resentments but it is true they cashed my check two weeks before they closed. They said the bank had the checks and it was automatic deposit.
Again I have no resentments because EVERYTHING G-D DOES IS FOR THE GOOD
and I pray that I really will get my money back in a timely fashion.
happy
funy how everyone knows everyones stuff.i think the ones should talking are the ones who lost there money. CASHING A CHEQUE ON THE 15 AND CLOSING THE 17 there the ones to talk.
stam
Kol Hakovod for this response and clarification.
michlelet morasha 08
I would like to reiterate what has been written above, my past year in Michlelet Morasha, has been a growing experience. I had an amazing time, learnt and grew alot. I wouldn’t trade my semianry year for anything.
Thankyou to Mr Guerwicz, Mrs Sudry and all the other people involved who helped make my year possible.
ya
Everyone, relax, things happen.
This guy sounds like a real mentch. Stating all the facts so nicely.
Good luck to everyone.
anony
I truly am sorry to hear your predicament. However, this really does sound fishy.
I agree with student of mochon morasha
excuse me please but i went to this seminary the first year i topened have NEVER had a better year in all my life!Mr G rox and you all dont have a right to say anything negative about the sem. esspecially if you were not even there and even so if you were. i echo the words of the person above ‘student of mochon morasha’. every word is true. i was a litle nervous at first you know going to a new Mosad bc had had a tough year the year before.but i can only say i am sorry for woeer was not lucky enough to spend a year at this seminary. Mr G you are an amazing guy and all the brochos.
Kol Tuv
an old student
I agree with student of mochon morasha
excuse me please but i went to this seminary the first year i topened have NEVER had a better year in all my life!Mr G rox and you all dont have a right to say anything negative about the sem. esspecially if you were not even there and even so if you were. i echo the words of the person above ‘student of mochon morasha’. every word is true. i was a litle nervous at first you know going to a new Mosad bc had had a tough year the year before.but i can only say i am sorry for woeer was not lucky enough to spend a year at this seminary. Mr G you are an amazing guy and all the brochos.
Kol Tuv
an old student
A Grateful Mother
My daughter attended Michlelet Morasha last year, & I can honestly say that it was the best year of her entire life.It did more for her spiritually than 4 years of high school.Her getting there was a hashgocha protis story of itself, & I will forever be grateful to Mr.G, Rabbi Sarfati, & Hashem. I”YH, this sem.should re-open one day stronger than before.
frank
I know in israel everyone has a good time. I have a sister and other family who were in israel it a free for all in MOST of this place;s $15.000 for a year vacation i wish i was 16 17 18 again and my parents had the cash.
YF
To Bored on Empire
I run a Mosad Chinuch and would love to get 5 to 10 involved Baalei Batim. This has nothing to do with communist russia. It’s just that no 10 or even 5 people ever approched me and offered to run the Gashmius of my mosad so I can focus on the ruchnius.
If you are such a Baal Habos and look to make a difference in a mosad please post your name and you will be contacted IY”H.
an old student
I went to this seminary the first year it opened. I can honestly say that my experience in seminary was the best experience of my life. It’s unfortunate that the seminary is closing, because I think every girl should have the opportunity to have a wonderful year of learning and spiritual growth. Michlelet Morasha changed my life and I owe it all to Rabbi G. Thank You!!!
Anon
To all the alumni of Michlelet Morasha who had a “great growing experience”:
STOP RUBBING IT IN!
There is a group of 40 girls who were expecting their awesome year to begin about now, and are now “seminaryless” (and penniless!) So now is really not the time to reminisce about the good old days of Michlelet Morasha Seminary and the “amazing” Rabbi G.
Mr. G. you do not know me
Well Mr. G.
Join the club. Running a public non profit in the frum world is no great shakes and as you are now well aware, no popularity contest (trust me, I ought to know). The internet does not help.
I pray that your skin is thick enough to withstand the aggravation you are doubtless being put through. It will pass.
May God bless you for your efforts and for what you accomplished till this point and may you know of only success from now on.
sad to see all this lashon hara!!
excuse me but who do u all think u are to tell the girls from previous years to stop rubbing it in. they are just standing up to all the terrible things people are saying about this seminary. yes it is a sad and terrible thing that the seminary closed down after chashing cheques three days later and leaving girls stranded in israel but whats done is done and its nice to see Mr. G standing up and explaining when he owes the public no explanation the only people he owes are those girls and parents and im sorry if he didnt explain it to them but he only owes it to them!! so every back off!!! and yes mrs sudry had some medical issues recently maybe if u heard about it u would be a bit more compassionate and lay off!! stop the lashon hara and unite to see if we can keep this seminary open!!! and then maybe moshiach will decide to show up!!!
shmuel
I am one of the parents who wrote the checks to the sem
so I have standing here.
Simply stated, if there is a question as to whether the mosad will open or not, it is simply inexcusable to have checks go through days before the call. As a matter of law the funds are trust funds held in a fiduciary capacity until earned. The 11th hour grab can reasonably be seen as being “moyal b’hekdesh”.
That being said, we are all being asked to be dan l’kaf z’chus which we must certainly do. But by the same token those who put us in this situation are proscribed by the issur of “lifnei iver” from acting in a way that forces reasonable minds to draw certain inescapable conclusions.
I, together with the other parents, await the return of our money and I hope that this sad episode can be put behind us. Everything is b’hasgacha pratis and this happened for a reason. (My daughter who was accepted into 3 of the top sems will not be going to a Chabad moisad) Upon the return of my $5,000 I too will say “gam zu l’tova” and will wish “Mr. G” hatzlacha in his future chinch endeavors.
i was there too
israel is a free for all and i am sure that you all did have a blast and enjoyed yourselves. i had a blast with you. it was life-changing. i agree. now parents go shell out a fortune so your daughters can have a blast in the free for all party atmosphere.
girl who planned to go to New Yeru
First of all I would like to say that though being left two weeks before sem without a place to go is not the ideal situtation- I’m sure it was all for the best. I’m glad that the seminary realized that they wouldn’t be able to stay open this year before the year started so I am able to start off in another seminary and not have to change in the middle of the year.
Thank you Mr. G. for commiting to reimbursing our parents and though I’m a bit disappointed that I’m not going to Israel for seminary- You did the right thing- I probably would not have been this calm if I would have gotten to Israel and not recieved the gashmiusdike care that we all expected.
I’d also like to thank my parents for staying calm and making sure that e/t for the coming year is being taken care of.
Good luck to all my ex-sem mates! Sorry we won’t be spending the upcoming year together- I hope you all find the right place for you!
Mrs. CMR
All of the negative comments generated on the first story is the fault of the Seminary and the letter that *they* wrote and sent to the parents. It was cold and impersonal. It explained nothing and did not reassure anyone of their intentions.
I hope there will not be any more “oh poor Mr. G and poor seminary” when it was *their* poor handling that caused the uproar!! Their snippy, closed and noncommunicative announcement was devasting to parents and students. It explained nothing. Stop feeling sorry for them.
If the bank had the checks and deposited them automatically, then the money is sitting there in the account and can be reimbursed to parents immediately.
Mr. G’s above letter is the letter that should have been sent out *first!* to the parents and to the Jewish media. They could have avoided the understandable (on the parents’ part) uproar upon receiving it!! Stop blaming the internet, the commenters, and, most off all, Hashem for your own ineptitude.
Still Waiting
I’m very glad that the Rabbi has written a letter to the website. Unfortunately as a parent of one of the young women who were enrolled in his seminary, we have not heard one word from the school since the email telling us of the closure(as was printed here last week) My daughter has a flight to Israel in one week. When are they planning on helping her find another seminary? In what manner were they going to refund our money? Why are they writing a letter to the website instead of contacting the affected parents individually? That communication would have made a much bigger difference to us than this public confession? And who were the parents who already had their money refunded? Does anyone know them? And how were they chosen to get theirs back first. Basically I’m left with no money and no sem for my daughter? Rabbi G, with all due respect, lets see some action instead of posturing.
Benn there.
Unfortunatlly these situations do not usually end well. In most cases the parents did not get back all (if any!) of their money back. Until, as Mr. Gurewicz says, every last cent is returned, the cloud will remain over the mosed and Mr. Gurewicz.
Instead of focusing on the internet backlash he should focus on returning the money to parents. Once that happens people will begin to understand his position and it will turn out alright. History does not speak well of those adminstrators who ran failing mosdos, if Mr. Gurewicz manages to refund all the parents he will be vindicated as a truly rare individual. He should have much hatzlochoh in this last endeavor and put closure to the whole thing.
Mother
The real point was there was one email not phone call that went out to parents. Some parents heard from other parents as they hadn’t checked their email. The letter posted from Mr G should have been sent to parents. They tell us nothing and was shmuel wrote is totally correct. They put our check in knowing the seminary was going to probably close. Today I received the bill for my daughters new seminary. How am I meant to come up with the money. I want a date when my money will be returned.
mom
First of all, it’s Mr Gurewitz not Rabbi. All the responses above give him credit for being a “big man” and saying the truth. He doesn’t have a great track record. As a parent of a girl unsure where to go, words, true or not, come cheap! The girls are still hurting.
WHILE BOARDING
“ALLREADY IN ISRAEL”
MY DAUGHTER got a text message from a friend while she was boarding the plane to israel, last week.She called me to tell me the news that she has nowhere to go, as soon as she got off the plane!
“ma!! what should i do now”? she screamed, panicing.I told her i will find out and let her know. I contacted Mrs. sudry. She said she will try to see what she can do . I emailed hewr each day, asking her, did you try to get her into another seminary? She replied, Im sorry but theyre all full. i said, “but ypou said youll try!!?? so she replied yesterday, i quote,this is what i got back, in response, ”Mrs. Sudry tried without success. I am very sorry but they are very full.”
Now i ask, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? So why did you offer to help, if they all all full? so what help are you offering?
WHILE BOARDING
YOU ARE SSSSSO RIGHT MRS. CMR
DO YOU THINK MY DAUGHTER SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR HER FLIGHT HOME NOW? SHE SHE ONLY FOUND OUT ON THE WAY TO ISRAEL?
Not a parent
Thank G-d for websites like this one. If it wasn’t for the publicity that this incident received, the letter from Mr Gurewicz above would never have been written and parents would still be in the dark.
Mr G should stick to running Beth Rivkah in Melbourne (which by most accounts he does well) and stay out of business ventures.
Keep up the great work CH.info!
shmuel
I spoke to both Shmuel Gurewicz and Chani Sudry in detail. They seem sincere. I think prudence dictates that we wait and see whether their funding plan pans out – until then, we should give them the benefit of the doubt – they may have handled this thing poorly but I don’t see any intent to defraud.
Mr S. Gurewicz
In light of the persistent rumours that Michlelet Morasha cashed cheques only a few days before they closed, I would again like to clarify the facts.
All post-dated cheques were deposited with the bank as a form of security for an overdraft facility which the bank had granted to the seminary. The last batch of cheques was deposited with the bank on the 5th of August almost two weeks before the decision to close which was made on 18th August.
Immediately when the decision to close the seminary was made, we notified the bank of our intention to cease operating. We requested that our account be closed. If any check was cashed after that time, it was because of the time it took for the bank to close the account as well as the fact that the cheques which were already in the system were not able to be stopped.
Once the decision to close was made, the seminary acted in an appropriate and professional manner. Any suggestion that was there was an attempt to take advantage of the fact that some students had already made initial payments is totally false and without foundation.
As stated previously, I again assure all parents will be repaid their deposits in full and that the process of repayment has already commenced.
Mr S. Gurewicz
chana
gam zu letova. parents thank hashem for saving you from your daughters downfall which is what would have happened if this seminary had not closed. its just money dont be upset about the potential financial loss that is nothing compared to the loss of your daughter’s innocence in israel. keep her home. now you have no choice and have to do so. be thankful not resentful.
truthbetold
to the person who wrote “First of all, it’s Mr Gurewitz not Rabbi.”
In actual fact Mr/Rabbi G IS a Rabbi with smicha two times over.
The fact that he chooses to go by the title Mr does not detract from the reality that he is a Rabbi.
Anyone that knows him well enough knows that your accusation about his track record is false and unfounded!
regretful
i agree with chana and so will any girl who is honest and willing to admit what their year in israel was like. except for a few chitrik girls the rest of us all lived it up. true we had a bliast but our parents would be sick if they knew what we were doing on their hard earned dollars. you girls that wrote what a great year you had…i too had a great year but great to me and great to my parents is a whole different thing. what a different perspective. and now that i am almost engaged and face the prospect of being honest with my choson about what i did in the past i am embarrassed and wish the year in israel never happened at all.
Thankful Parent
Thank you to Morasha and Rabbi Gurewicz for being true to your word and returning our money. And thank you to Beth Rivkah for helping our daughter find another seminary.