NAFSHY: A Breakthrough in Chinuch - Connecting Children with their Parents.

Date: 8 January 2017 at 16:51

NAFSHY: A Breakthrough in Chinuch - Connecting Children with their Parents.

A packed audience filled Yetev Lev Hall on a freezing Thursday night. This wasn’t a fundraiser event, nor a gala dinner.  It was the launch of an innovative organisation set up by local askonim, with the backing of Rav Ephrayim Padwa Rov of the UOHC in Stamford Hill and other leading Rabbonim SHLITA.

Nafshy was established with one objective: to strengthen the relationship between parents and their children. In our times, every parent understands the importance of investing in the Chinuch of their child. As with many other pressing needs, there are some parents who fall short in their fulfillment of this obligation for the simple reason that they lack the tools, knowledge or time.  Nafshy is here to address this shortcoming by augmenting the already existing Chinuch system with help, advice and encouragement so as to facilitate the crucial role that parents play in their children’s lives.

Chaired by Rabbi Menasche Scharf, the audience heard Divrei Brochoh from the Mora d’Asra, Rav Ephrayim Padwa SHLITA, who stressed the importance of this Yesod, making it clear that Nafshy is an organisation we have all been waiting for and it deserves the backing and active support from every parent.

The Nafshy guest speaker Rabbi Pinchas Jung, a renowned Mechanech from Monsey, New York addressed the packed hall, having curtailed his attendance at a family own Simchah, to attend this momentous event. He discussed amongst others how important it is to be available to our children and having an open relationship so that children feel comfortable to raise any questions and share their deepest fears, concerns or curiosities.  He so to speak nailed his colours to the Nafshy mast, by proclaiming that this organisation has broken new ground in effective parenting and went so far as to announce that - upon his return to the United States of America - he will introduce this idea to the educational establishments where he is a frequent speaker.

The next speaker was Rabbi Shmayah Low, Dayan and Rosh Kollel Satmar, who focused on the link between cheder and home, where parents are truly partners with the teachers and the Moisad that is investing so much in educating their children.  

Rabbi Mordechai Klein, Menahel of the junior department in the Bobov Cheder - with his trademark energetic manner and Yiddishe bren - kept the audience spell-bound until well past closing time.  He gave practical strategies for parents to engage with their children. For example, how a parent should address their child during those first few minutes after coming home from a long day at school/cheder. He stressed parents’ responsibility for their children’s chinuch - if they send a relaxed child to cheder, he is like a vessel ready to accept what the Rebbis have to offer.   Rabbi Klein encouraged parents to continue focusing on their children’s chinuch, and outlined Nafshy’s plans to arrange monthly gatherings for parents. Led by local mechanchim, Nafshy's programme will cover a specific chinuch-related topic each time.  At the same time, Nafshy will arrange smaller gatherings within the Chadorim and schools so the parents can appreciate the work that is being done there, this will lead them to participate more in the studies and chinuch of their children.

Nafshy is funded Le'iluy Nishmas Reb Pinches B"R Meir Gedalyeh Ostreicher from London,

Nafshy is happy to provide for Askonim around the world with all the necessary material - including the full advertising campaign (to be personalised) and the audio of the speeches, ready for redistribution.  The goal of Nafshy's founders is to enable anyone who so wishes to start their local branch of Nafshy, free of charge, so that this this great educational resource can effect change in every corner of the globe.

More details can be received by writing to nafshylondon@gmail.com