The neat, raw wooden frame set within a brightly lit room is strung with all the internal and external electrical workings of a house. The white-shirted, black yarmulke-clad boys of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo gather around their teacher, Rabbi Moshe Lubart, while some of the students attach electrical switches; others observe, taking turns, with all having a hand in the construction of the electrical complex.
“I always enjoyed handiwork,” said Rabbi Lubart. “I was always interested in electrical and plumbing work; I always watched workers. I enjoy it myself and am enthusiastic to give it over to the boys.”
More than 125 boys have graduated from the Mor and Deborah Weiss Vocational Program of the Rabenstein Learning Center of Yeshiva Darchei Torah since its founding 13 years ago.
The Rabenstein Learning Center tackles students’ learning, behavior and coping challenges with separate tracked classes, individual tutoring, social workers and therapists. They work together with teachers, fostering the educational and social growth of each child. The Weiss Vocational Program is a part of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and is integrated with the high school, providing a limudei kodesh program in the morning until 1:00 p.m. and secular studies and career-oriented technical classes in the afternoon. The day ends for all students at 6:30 pm.
“We found out that there were a lot of kids who were not mainstream, [in] self-contained classes and resource room” in the elementary school, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, said Rabbi Shimon Dachs, principal of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and director of the Weiss Vocational Program. “These children had other talents, they needed to move around. It was Rabbi Bender’s idea; some people are dreamers and [others are] doers –– he’s both.”
Rabbi Yaakov Bender is the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah and Mesivta Chaim Shlomo.
With modesty, knowledge and pride in their skills, the boys in the vocational courses exhibited their accomplishments, pointing out the craftsmanship in the plumbing room, the expert soldering, the leak proof joints, the magnificently tiled and grouted fully plumbed bathrooms, one from last year one from this.
“They usually tear it down,” said Yitzy, one of the students, “but we said it’s so nice, please leave it until we leave. We worked hard on it.”
One of the students pointed out that it’s raised a few feet above the floor to enable them to work underneath.
The program began with a ninth grade. Currently 40 students who are part of the mainstream mesivta program attend Gemara shiurim in the morning, and take two vocational courses, in place of two of the six secular courses, in the afternoon. The students learn professional trades, developing workplace skills and building self-esteem that carries over into academic studies and life skills. The technical courses include woodworking, construction, plumbing, electrical training, heating and air conditioning, photography, graphic design, optics, culinary training, and auto repair and maintenance.
“The courses are taught by professionals in the field,” noted Rabbi Baruch Rothman, Director of Special Programs at Yeshiva Darchei Torah and Mesivta Chaim Shlomo. “Most are successful and do it to give back,” he said. “They get paid but are doing it because it is something they believe in.”
All the students receive diplomas; some take regents, and some take the RCT.
“The students in Mesivta Chaim Shlomo can take calculus, optics or woodworking, nobody looks at anybody differently, that is Rabbi Bender’s influence, said Rabbi Dachs. “There is no stigma.”
“It’s an inclusional program,” stressed Rabbi Rothman.
In woodworking they started with a shtender and a nightstand and got comfortable with tools. Then, the students built a mini-house on the campus with windows, a door, a roof, steps and a deck.
“At their age they know more than I did,” said Rabbi Lubart. “We let them make all the mistakes here. On the real site they do it right and safe.”
The students work summers at camps doing maintenance and construction and often, upon graduation, enter fields that they trained in. One photography student works at B &H Photo and Video in Manhattan. A student who learned how to “dissect” computers is now an expert in that field, said Rabbi Rothman. Others are business owners, or in construction, plumbing or electrical work.
“Before the program I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Yitzy. “Now I have too many options.”
“My father said he wishes he had this,” commented Mosh, another student.
“This is very unique,” explained Rabbi Lubart. “We are a regular yeshiva, we are mainstream and yet we have this program for two periods a day, beautifully integrated into the Yeshiva.”
(Malka Eisenberg – The Jewish Star)
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18 Responses
Rabbi Bender’s vision, dedication and determination is inspiring and uplifting to see and hear about.
I’m wondering why more mechanchim don’t integrate this system into their high schools?
What I particularly appreciate is that Rabbi Bender holds them responsible for 4 hours of limudei kodesh and they have to participate in english classes and get a Regents diploma or RCT.
The most important thing we can teach our chidren is self confidence and achrayus for themselves and the tzibur.
May Hashem give the siyata dishmaya to our devoted mechanchim who are moser nefesh for our children to be matzliach.
zayer shain
Way to go Rabbi Bender and Rabbi Lubart.
Two people Klal Yisroel really needs and enjoys.
This is great to see!
Rabbi Bender is way ahead on this issue, as usual.
Others talk about it. He acts!
Rabbi Bender is one of few people in the world, who his only goal is to make the world a better place. We need more Rabbi Benders and Rabbi Trenks in the world!
Wow! Finally a yeshiva that understands the meaning of “chanoch linaar al pi darcho” that not every child is the same, and the impotrance of teaching a child an “Oomnis”. A child that doesnt have the biggest cheshek or head for learning can actually stay “bidaled amos shel haloco”, and not have his self worth blown to shreds, and we all know too well where that leads to.
Rabbi Bender and the whole hanholo, may you be zoche to continue your avodas hakosh in putting out many many more talmidei chachomim, marbitzi torah,and at the same time not forgetting those that cant (for whatever reason) take that path.
Heartwarming article. Good to see dedicated people and practical sense combine to address contemporary needs. Cain Yirbu.
DARCHEI (plural) torah- chanoch linaar al pi darkoi
This is a fantastic program. My son is in this program and it changed his life. Before joining this program he felt like a “rag”. Darchei Torah built him up and his confidence has gone up 1000%. He is mainstreamed and learns Gemara, will obtain a regular regents diploma, and will be shown many skills that he did not know he had. This is all done in a Torahdik environment filled with Limud Hatorah, Yiras Shamayim, and Derech Eretz. Many more Yeshivas should have similar programs. This way a boy that cannot learn all day will be shown other options. My son now enjoys and wants to hear Shiurim. This program has been a lifesaver for many boys. Thank you Rabbi Bender, Rabbi Trenk, Rabbi Daks, and all the wonderfully dedicated Rebayim and teachers.
Rabbis Lubart and Bender, I must commend you on this. Finally, someone has enough common sense to realize that not everyone is cut out to be the next Reb Moshe and that the boys need skills to earn a living. I know for a fact that several years ago, it was suggested to another yeshiva to perhaps teach boys such skills. (after hours when the kids wander around during mishmor). The answer was “Chas Vesholom our boys should work”. The next time that school called me for a donation, i told them that I would never give them another dime. Rabbi Lubart, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
Can they open a branch in Monsey? Please? Pretty Please?
#15
You are 100% correct. Rabbi Dr. Twersky speaks alot about this subject. Please see my comment on the May 16th subject.
This question was addressed by the Magazine section of Hamodia by Rabbi Greenwald this week.
Who’s concern is it for the future parnossa of a bochur and the family that he will raise — is it the parents, yeshiva or bochur himself?
Rav Bender is a yachid with a yeshiva that recognizes and anticipates future needs and concerns of their bochurim. Are there others out there (besides parents) who are noting the financial straits that families are in NOW, and that is getting worse daily?
Rabbi Bender is a true mechanich! Someone who truly understands chanoch l’nar al pi darko. That means the talmid’s darko and not the cookie cutter yeshiva’s darko!
Wow. I wish they had something like this when I was a bochur.
to bklynmom
the gemoro in kiddushin explictly states that a father is “mechuyav” to teach his son tradesmanship, to ensure his parnossa for the future.(btw, it says that someone who teaches his son how to deal (think merchant) is not yoitzeh. he has to teach him a trade, e.g. carpentry, sewing etc., because if he has no customers he will sit emptyhanded, whereas if he knows how to do something, he can carry on and wait for customers, ayen shom.) ASHRECHA RABBIS BENDER AND LUBART!!
Go Vocational I am in it and it rocks Go Darchei and Rabbi Dachs I love Vocational!!!