News

During the fall semester, Shevach students participated in a compelling literary contest and had the privilege of hearing unique and inspiring guest speakers. These events exemplified the concept that learning and thinking about history teaches us what was, increases our understanding of what is, and helps us design our hopes for what will be.

Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) Grades 1-5 enjoyed a special “Peulat Tevet” organized by Morah Osnat Fried, Elementary School Judaic Studies Teacher, and Rabbi Michael Ribalt, Elementary School Assistant Principal. The students learned about the miracle of the Hebrew language being spoken again, after 2,000 years of no spoken Hebrew. They watched a short video about the life and accomplishments of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the father of modern Hebrew, and ended the activity with a fun game of Bingo in the Hebrew language.

The seventh grade at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion had a fantastic experience last Thursday when they went to Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Kew Gardens Hills. They visited Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Akiva Grunblatt to be farhered (tested) on the two blatt Gemara that they learned. This was followed by beis midrash learning with older bachurim of the Yeshiva and a trip to the Yeshiva’s gym to enjoy some basketball. The boys had an amazing time and are already looking forward to completing the next chunk of Gemara to visit another prominent yeshivah!

MTA Freshmen had an incredible time on their Freshman Shabbaton at the Hudson Valley Resort. The exciting trip began with laser tag on Thursday night and continued on through Friday and Shabbos with lively davening, meaningful learning programs, beautiful s’udos, fun games, team-building activities, sports, swimming, and so much more.

Partnership helps educators better understand and help struggling learners in mainstream classrooms

The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) and Hidden Sparks are celebrating the fifth year of a collaborative effort to help struggling learners in mainstream classes. As part of the partnership, HALB utilizes an embedded Hidden Sparks Coach, Tamar Bauman, PhD, who works with educators on-site each week while also mentoring the school’s other education coaches.

We are taught that more than the good student desires to learn, the good teacher desires to teach. The capable mechanech does more than simply give over information. Every lesson taught properly becomes an act of impression. When done correctly, the mind, body, and heart are all engaged. Imagination flows, and abstract concepts are concretized and put into action. As a parent, I often hear about an exceptional teacher or extraordinary rebbi. But it is rare to hear about a school filled with spectacular teachers and rabbanim who utilize every method at their disposal towards a single and sacred goal. Indeed, I have found that The Cheder has a reputation for being more than an educational institution; it is a devoted learning center sparing no expense and ensuring no child is ever left behind. It is therefore a great pleasure to interview the man behind the method, Rabbi Meir Chaim Gutfreund, Founder and Menahel of The Cheder.