Chaya Aydel Seminary Offers Community Outreach and Academic Excellence

Chabad-sponsored teacher training program makes inroads worldwide in Jewish education

They come from all over the world, beckoned by the promise of a toasty, warm winter and the opportunity to study Judaism in a unique environment.

Every year, around 25 girls are trained at the Chaya Aydel Seminary in Hallandale Beach, a Lubavitch school that focuses on rigorous, diverse academics and community involvement and outreach. Located in a separate building next to the Chabad of South Broward, Chaya Aydel is the only Lubavitch teachers’ seminary for females in the United States outside of New York.

“This school is one of the jewels in the crown of Yiddishkeit in Florida,” school principal Rabbi Yossi Lebovics said recently following ceremonies for the school’s fifth graduating class.

The school was established in honor of Lebovics’ late mother, Chaya Aydel, who also was the sister of Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, head shaliach of Chabad of South Broward for the last 27 years.

Tennenhaus explained that the idea of starting a seminary first surfaced in September, 2001 when the family was sitting shiva for Chaya Aydel. Tennenhaus said his sister was a talented, dedicated woman who taught at every level and had a special affinity for students who needed an extra boost.

“She really fought for the underdogs,” Tennenhaus said. “She had a way of bringing the best out of individuals who perhaps were written off by some schools or by some communities.”

Most of the seminary students are products of Lubavitch families, Lebvovics said, but around 30 percent never attended a Lubavitch day school. Sarah Harrouch, happy to escape the long, cold winter in Toronto, attended a Bais Yakov and wasn’t used to studying Chassidus.

“It was a little hard in the beginning but the girls were very helpful,” she said. “I knew it was going to be different but I thought it would be something that I’d really appreciate. I think I made a very good decision to come here.”

Harrouch, who said she had heard “great things” about the seminary, also knew Chaya Aydel offered courses that could help her with her career goal of teaching special needs children. In fact, next year Harrouch will be working with the Friendship Circle for special children at the Chabad Lubavitch of Atlantic County in Margate, N.J.

The seminary’s one-year program is an attractive choice for recent high school graduates who are examining their options in life. Some seminary graduates go to Israel or attend college. Others eventually marry and raise families. Still others become shluchim, spreading Chabad’s message and reaching out to Jews everywhere.

During their year in the seminary, most of the students teach in area Sunday schools and participate in Shabbatons and learning programs at other Chabad houses in South Florida.

After high school, Gitty Cousin of England had the opportunity of going to Israel, New York or Florida and decided on Chaya Aydel because of its focus on shluchos.

“I had an amazing time,” she said. “We went everywhere around Florida and learned a tremendous amount. I made some very close friendships here. The whole Florida experience was amazing.”

Sarah Bialo of Cleveland said she was impressed with the kindness of the seminary staff (“They treat you like you are their children”) and gained a greater appreciation of shluchos.

“Before I came here I didn’t care for it at all,” she said, “but the seminary really opened my eyes to the fact that these people are going out there and dedicating their whole lives for other Jews. It’s actually inspired me to do some type of outreach.”

Because of South Florida’s dense Jewish population, Lebovics said the students are taught by top-notch instructors, including guest speakers who visit Florida in the winter. Lebovics said the school usually receives around 40 applications each year. Tuition is $12,000.

“We look for girls who are committed to serious study for a year and at the same time have an interest in outreach work,” he said. “Unlike some other seminaries where the main focus is only the classroom, community involvement is an integral part of what this seminary is all about. And we look for serious girls who can enjoy the South Florida experience but at the same time will not abuse the beach, things like that.

”Thank God we’ve been able to select wonderful students over the years. The seminary has had a great impact on them and they’ve had a great impact on the community.”