Seventeen-year-old Shloimie was raised in a frum
household. Everything about Shloimie's family exudes
frumkeit — except Shloimie.
Shloimie's father reminds him to take his black hat for
davening, unaware that his son seldom davens any more at all.
His mother is sure he'll be a great talmid chochom
someday, yet she is oblivious to the fact that her son
has lost interest in learning and introduces himself to new
friends as "Steven."
Shloimie has fallen through the cracks.
A new yeshiva opening in Jerusalem this fall seeks to reach
out to the Shloimies of the world. Netsach, a 1-2 year post
high school yeshiva program, understands the struggle of
these boys and addresses their issues directly. Netsach
balances a low-pressure atmosphere with stimulating classes
from rebbeim acclaimed for their ability to motivate. It
offers a warm and secure atmosphere, where rebbeim and
professionals establish open lines of communication with
students, instilling in them a sense of stability and
safety.
"We don't just educate, we develop and inspire people," Rabbi
Aaron Brody, founder and director says. "Netsach offers a
warm, family atmosphere with singing, inspirational
Shabbotonim, visits to gedolim, and trips to the Kotel
every week. Netsach aims to inspire its students to
rediscover Judaism. We encourage boys to open up, shun peer
pressure and develop an appreciation of Torah."
Rabbi Brody, a former Chicago community rabbi, founded and
directed Ohr Somayach's successful Kesher program which
served hundreds of young men for six years.
At Netsach, on-staff therapists and professionals will cater
to the individual needs of each student. Each student will
maintain a personal connection with the staff and a rebbe in
particular who supports and encourages his development.
The program has been developed and fine-tuned through the
counsel of educational leaders such as Rabbi Noach Orloweck
and Rabbi Mendel Weinbach. The varied learning curriculum
allows each student to find his niche in Torah study, whether
it be Chumash, Novi, Mishnah, or something else.
Classes are delivered in short, 45-minute segments.
"Our goal is not only for mastery of the topics studied, but
to feel that Torah is friendly, safe, fulfilling,
exhilarating and a desired future," the director explains.
Along with the requisite dose of recreation and outings (bi-
monthly trips and weekly visits to the Kosel followed by
brunch) students develop relationships with rebbeim and peers
like themselves.
"The word Netsach means `forever.' The inspiration and
connections generated by this program are for life. Netsach
also means `to win.' That same force that caused these boys
to break away from the crowd in their search for identity or
escape will lead them to discover their talents. A boy who
knows what he is, and can celebrate it, is a winner."
Rabbi Brody will be in the U.S. from May 25 to June 8 to
interview students for the coming year. He can be reached by
phone at the Netsach office, 347.448.4178 or during his visit
at 347.291.6622. Rabbi Brody can be contacted by email at
Brody@Netsach.org.
