Every year at the farbrengen commemorating Chof Menahem Av, which is the yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Reb Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe made an appeal to donate charity in his father’s memory.
“Those who donate in commeoration of Reb Levi Yitzchak,” said the Rebbe “will receive a tremendous reward.” It is said this reward will be 500 times greater than usual. On Tuesday afternoon erev Chof Menachem Av, while my second letter was being read by thousands, I arranged for a farbrengen to be held in honor of Chof Av here in Lakewood which I agreed to sponsor . Just a few short hours later, a board member for a wonderful school in Lakewood reached out to me based on the letters I published online.
Though I had put out for the idea of launching another school, fortunately for my sanity (and shalom bayis), no one really reached out with potential students. While there was an outpouring of donations (thank you to all of you), no one indicated any student interest. Hence I was slowly realizing that I was in the same spot I faced a few weeks ago – no school and no serious interest to create a new school. For me, my only option seemed to be to send my five year old daughter in a car 70 mins each way.
Tuesday night a wonderful board member reached out to me. He is a member of the board of Ateres Tziporah. He expressed a similar frustration with the Lakewood school system and assured me that he had been through the same issues. He said this school was dedicated not to give anyone the-run-around. He asked why create a new school when I can join one with the same mission. After a long conversation with this wonderful Yid that went will past 1:00am in the morning and after meeting this morning with a very very dedicated Menhels, my daughter was warmly accepted for the coming school year. We have tremendous harkars hatov to her and the school. All the more so for them reaching out to our plea and cry for help.
People asked me today is that it. Is it all over. The short awnser is no. I am not done. Just because my child is in school does not end it. I hope and pray to do my part to help children get into school and be proactive in the solution. The pain is real. The emotions are real. Yasher koach to the people in this town who helped me. Though we had many generous donors who offered to push my daughter to this school or another, I did not want to accept another’s tzedaka when so many need it more than us. Further, I wanted to be welcomed into a school that genuinely liked and appreciated my daughter for who she is. Thank you Ateres Tziporah for opening your doors and welcoming our family and our daughter’s wonderful personality and strong zeal for learning everything she can.
I must go now to honor and farbregan in honor of Reb Levi Yitzchak. Lachaim! Obviously a reward of 500 fold was sent our way. Thank you Hashem and thank you to the Brachas of the Lubvitcher Rebbe
I am so happy for you! Why didn’t you try getting into this school to begin with? Were you not aware of this school before they reached out to you?
We are very glad you found a school . Did anybody suggest that you try this school several months ago ? If yes ,why didn’t you want to try it then ?
We need to have a central number established that will take calls from parents who tried and still can’t place their kids into a Yiddish school . By having one central number and place to complain we could spring into action a lot more quicker
I’m very happy for this dude but why are you posting lebabich propaganda. This town is not lebabich.
Come on! (although Lubavitch is not an English word, be more creative with your transliteration)
Most similar stories in Lakewood have this happy ending. Been there done that several times over.
The best school ever! Welcome!:)
Mazel tov! But like Bh said, it usually ends this way. 12 years ago my daughter got into school four days before the start if school. I really took this whole waiting period in stride, believing that there simply was no room. No panic whatsoever. So to all those that are still waiting, there’s 99.9 percent chance your child will be in a school on the first day. Continue praying!!!!
To the comment above ‘no Chabad’
This is the exact reason moshiach isn’t here yet. How disgusting of a being you are to not be able to tolerate a different type than you? And to belittle the scoop for welcoming every type of yid? Shame on you.
I for one applaud the scoop for being so open minded and giving all a forum and for covering every type of event, whether it is chassidish, litvish, and even not Jewish. You really need to do some serious soul searching.
So glad for your daughter that this had a happy ending, good luck. If you can clarify for the sake of transparency was this school approached before this point and you were rejected? Because this would have been a natural first choice for your daughter?
Ateres Tzipora seriously has the most warm, wholesome atmosphere for a girl to grow up in! If only ALL educators were more like Mrs. Insel! So happy for you and your daughter!
Maybe those donations can be sent to AZ
They can use the money desperately
We applied at a point earlier this year. For a few reasons (not for here), it seemed the option was just not going to work, that said It is with tremendous hakaras hatov that they, the school board reached out to us and said “we want your daughter.”
Its amazing to have that.
Wow I agree with you 100% a yid is a yid is a yid.
To Wow, A few years ago my son was accepted to a Chabad HS in Atlantic City, only on condition that he does not Shave. Why is that different.
Yosef, reading between the lines of your response, it seems that you turned the school down at first for whatever reasons you don’t want to mention and only after you were stuck and they reached out to you, you had no better option but to acquiesce. Am I wrong?
There is a central number and there is a very hard working volunteer who works very hard to place primary girls . The problem is when he suggests names of schools that he thinks have room and he will try for their child ,and the parents thumb their noses and hold out for something else. Many people assume that AT school would have been mentioned to any parent without a school and many people are wondering if so , why did the parents not pursue this,several months ago .
So happy with this ending.
I happen to know fist hand from relatives of mine that Ateres Tzipora is exceptionally warm. The principle is said to be really special, she has a way of making every girl succeed and feel special.
Yosef – Maybe you can help the word get out there so that others should make Ateres Tzipora their first choice!
So Lakewood is not so bad after all! Lechaim!
Its good to hear i heard that this school was in financial trouble i am sure poeple like myself would b happy to contribute financially so they can continue servicing the Lakewood community
I heard very good things about ateres tziporoh we should support such a mossad so poeple like mr shidler have an accepting warm place for their children.