“We have the opportunity to save a generation!” exclaimed Rabbi Paysach Krohn, well-known mohel, author, and orator – and speaker on behalf of Our Jewish Children at the Garber home on Motza’ei Shabbos, December 30.
Our Jewish Children (a Chazaq affiliate) is currently is working on helping almost 200 children attend yeshivah. The organization donates supplemental funding to help students attend yeshivah – and stay in yeshivah.
Rabbi Robert Garber, Founder and Director of Our Jewish Children, greeted an overflowing and attentive crowd. He thanked everyone profusely for coming to show their support for such an important cause on this bitterly cold snowy night.
“How can you say no to helping a family that wants to send their child to yeshivah and doesn’t have the financial means to do it?” He explained the work of Our Jewish Children and how, with the infusion of Chazaq’s tremendous support and involvement, the number of families that need help is up to 180.
Rabbi Garber then introduced the first speaker, who stole the show. He began by saying that he is so happy and appreciative to see his three boys wearing tzitzis, saying brachos before food, and saying Al N’tilas Yadayim in the morning. When their friends who attend public school come to the house, and who don’t know to do any of this, he really notices the contrast. Without Our Jewish Children, none of this would be possible – his children would be in public school! He gave a tremendous thank you to Our Jewish Children and said he has tremendous gratitude for them helping his children attend yeshivah. He grew up in Russia and had no Jewish education. He is currently working as hard as he can to support his frum family, and his wife is disabled, so he explained that money is tight. Rabbi Krohn gave the parent a big hug and so many people at the event warmly shook this parent’s hand. He found the courage to stand in front of this large audience and share his personal story to everyone! This was because he wanted to help other parents and children, and he wanted to express his thanks publicly. You could feel the room light up and everyone there was touched by the story.
Rabbi Krohn said that the above speech set the tone for the evening. It wasn’t just a parlor meeting! It felt holy!
In the early 1900s, Rav Shlomo Heiman, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, had no children but he really had thousands: his thousands of talmidim! There was once a big snowstorm in Williamsburg, and only four students came to shiur. Rav Moshe Samuels was one of the four, and he told Rabbi Krohn that he assumed Rav Heiman wouldn’t teach the regular shiur. Not the case. Rav Heiman explained why: “I’m not just talking to you. I am talking to your children, and your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, and your talmidim. Rabbi Krohn imparted that when we donate money to help one child attend yeshivah, we aren’t just saving one child. We’re saving these children and their families and their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They will become part of the future of klal Yisrael!
Rabbi Krohn then spoke about how to do the important job of being m’chaneich a child. Firstly, there should be walls that separate your home from the many bad influences of the outside world. We must be extremely careful of what comes into our homes.
Secondly, make your home a happy and safe place for children to grow up in. This is done when there isn’t conflict in the home and children see parents demonstrate respect to one another. When parents disrespect each other, children feel unsafe. When there is conflict and strife among parents, it really breaks the children. The harm it does is hard to measure.
Thirdly, don’t make the home into a classroom. It’s not the place where children are tested and quizzed on what they know. Home should be a loving, warm, and embracing environment.
Fourth, spend focused individualized time with each child. Rav Shlomo Wolbe said you should spend as much time as each child needs. Rabbi Krohn shared how he spent 30 minutes of focused time with each of his children doing something they enjoyed with him.
“When was the last time you had a good conversation with your child? Do you know the names of your daughter’s three best friends and her favorite color? Do you know what masechta your son is learning?”
Fifth, we must be role models for our children. Children absorb what we do, not just what we say.
Lastly, one of the most important things we need to teach our children is that we are part of klal Yisrael. They are part of something greater.
Everything we ask for in Sh’moneh Esrei is written in the plural. We are davening for each other! We are connected to Yidden all over! In the sefer Nefesh HaChaim by Rav Chaim Volozhin, we see in the introduction, written by his son Rav Yitzchak, that a person is not created for himself. G-d gave us talents to help others and money to help others.
Everyone left inspired by this beautiful shiur and eager to help bring every Jewish child out of public school and into yeshivah where they belong. Hopefully, you are, too!
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For more information or to donate, you can send checks to Our Jewish Children, 147-37 70th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367, or visit to www.ourjewishchildren.com.
This shiur can be viewed on Torahanytime.com.
Rabbi Paysach Krohn Headlines Our Jewish Children Meeting In KGH
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