Torah Youth – A Proven Method
In 2003, I and my dear friend Moshe Starkman, created an initiative for a problem that has been neglected for years. There are many organizations working on kiruv r’chokim (bringing the far ones closer) and there are plenty of organizations that focus on youth who are already ‘At Risk’. I had an opportunity to volunteer time for one of these organizations, and while watching how the youth were brought closer to Judaism, it dawned on us, that there is something lacking. Participants of this group included perfectly religious kids, who took the opportunity to spend time with their ‘loved’ ones. There were many who did not belong.
We asked ourselves, why is no one paying any attention to the kids ‘in the system’? Why don’t we focus on the children who daven (pray) and learn Torah everyday? Some of these kids are fantastic kids with no juvenile issues. However, many pretend that they are emotionally intact on the outside but in reality they feel (rightfully so) they have no outlet. They feel that they are being pushed to the limit. They start to begrudge learning Torah. These kids are potential for becoming ‘At Risk’.
Today, we have programming in the Baltimore and Greater Washington areas, separate programs for both boys & girls of middle and high school ages. Support has come from the likes of Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky, to our local school principals. In the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, one Rebbi (teacher) stopped class to tell the boys how important it was to participate in our events. From the positive feedback we have received it is evident that this is a long awaited solution.
Case Studies
I hope that the background information provided gives a sense of appreciation to what we are trying to accomplish. Let me give a few examples of where our programming has proven itself:
Ø From the month of September through March, we have Saturday Night Tennis Tournaments. The program spans from 9pm until 12am with pizza as the nightly nutritious supplement. It took only the first tournament for one of the “cooler” kids to scream out, “I did not even hang out at the pizza shop with the girls tonight!” Need I say more?
Ø “Cooler” kids. These are the kids who speak in “cool” and who hang out with only a select number of friends who act as if they need nobody else. When planning our first Super Bowl party, I found out that there was a group of 10 or so “cool” kids who were not going to come to our party, and hang out by themselves. I decided to confront the leader of the bunch in his home.
I said to him, “I heard that you are making your own party. Why are you not joining us?”
He responded, “Well…tell me what you are having?”
I said, “Let’s see…we are renting a 57” big screen television, we will have 15 feet of deli sub, a few pans of BBQ wings, and we will have a great time.”
He then responded, “Uh…hold on.”
He went to the back to make a phone call to one of his buddies, and when he came back he told me that they (all 10 of them) would join our party. However, the story does not end there. During the Superbowl, one of the boys pulled out a siddur when he wanted his team to score! The guy to grab the siddur was the leader of the “cool” kids.
Ø Paintball Trip May 2006. Paintball is an opportunity for a teenager to let loose and even potential to act in a wild manner. I am however proud to report, that the kids were on their best behavior. So good in fact, that the owner of the Paintball operation made it a point to come over to the boys before they left to tell them that it was the best group he has ever had.
It is much easier for a teenager to open up to those who are allowing them to act as themselves than it is for them to open up to the teachers and Rabbis who push Torah. Do not get me wrong, the Torah is the guide by which we live and is extremely important and I hope the kids continue to learn it everyday. However, we at Torah Youth have an understanding that in order to encourage the growth of these teens, they need to be stimulated outside the bais medrash as well. If I had to describe our mission statement under 10 words, I would have to say it is Derech Eretz Kodma L’Torah.
We are always looking for volunteers and sponsors, so please do not hesitate to come forward.
I can be reached at 443-857-4304 or gcohn@torahyouth.org.
Gavi Cohn
