Nearly every Bais Yaakov high school principal and mechaneches in Lakewood gathered this week for a professional evening hosted at the central lounge of InReach Behavioral Health.

Following brief remarks by Mr. Matis Miller, LCSW, founder of InReach, Harav Elya Brudny, shlita, delivered the keynote address. He told the mechanchos that “the primary strength of a Jewish woman, and her foundational tafkid, is chesed,” adding that women possess “a natural inclination to give, to be present, and to sense needs even before they are spoken.” He said that while academic growth is important, nurturing the capacity for chesed “is the foundation of a bas Yisrael.”

Rav Elya spoke on the theme “Beyond the Smile,” noting that both students and teachers may appear cheerful while carrying unspoken struggles. He referenced the Chazal of Moshe Rabbeinu and the thirsty lamb, explaining that “a yawn, a sigh, or a moment of defiance may be a silent cry for help the student cannot voice.” Recognizing that possibility, he said, is essential to leadership in chinuch.

Mrs. Liba Neuman, clinical outreach coordinator at InReach and a veteran school psychologist, thanked the crowd for the strong turnout. She explained that InReach provides a full-service intensive outpatient program for adolescents and adults, allowing individuals to remain in their homes, schools, and community while receiving care. She emphasized that InReach supports, rather than replaces, schools and families, and highlighted the value of a “frum, tznius-centered therapeutic setting where girls can heal while remaining anchored in their identity and values.”

Mr. Miller then presented practical guidance on addressing emotional struggles in adolescents. He praised mechanchos for their “intuition, sincerity, and extraordinary influence,” noting that “one sincere comment or genuine moment of being seen can stay with a girl for years and shape the direction of her life.”

He described validation as a key tool—“to listen without judgment,” “to reflect a feeling before offering advice,” and to communicate “You make sense.” A role-play demonstrated how quick reassurances can escalate distress, whereas validating statements help a student open up.

Mr. Miller concluded with a story about Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l. During a classroom visit, a child who could not answer questions received three candies instead of one. “In Yiddishkeit, we do not reward results. We reward effort.” Years later, the boy said that the moment of validation helped spark his return to Torah.

After the program, many principals remained to ask questions, tour the building, and speak with InReach clinicians, creating a sense of connection and shared purpose.

[Press Release]