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Fighting For The Education

Of Haredi Children

What Is YAFFED?

YAFFED is a nonprofit organization founded by individuals raised within Hasidic and Haredi communities, and is committed to improving secular education in Hasidic and Haredi schools.

Since 2012, YAFFED has been the sole organization advocating for the educational rights of Hasidic and Haredi children in New York. Without an education, yeshiva graduates are severely limited in work options and often are forced to rely on government aid to support themselves and their large families.

We believe that all children deserve an education that provides them with opportunity and choice. For almost a decade, we’ve been leading grassroots efforts towards educational reform in both the legislative front and the community. 

With your help, we can ensure that all children get the education that they are entitled to by law.

Why We Exist

For over a decade, YAFFED has been giving disenfranchised Hasidic people a voice and path towards the education entitled to them by law.

Hasidic families live in tight-knit communities with strong rabbinic leadership. Despite the fact that virtually no secular education is offered in Hasidic schools, public school is simply not an option due to the strong religious and social constraints of the community. Those who dissent from communal leaders face the risk of losing their livelihood, having their children expelled from school, and being completely ostracized from the community.

Because it feels too dangerous for them to speak out, Hasidic families rely on elected officials to protect their children’s rights to education… elected officials who have failed them time and time again. 

Not knowing where else to turn, many Hasidic families come to YAFFED in secret for assistance. YAFFED has provided a supportive home for these families by initiating community outreach programs, facilitating English, science, and coding classes, and fighting numerous court battles to advocate for the education of Hasidic children.

YAFFED will continue to exist until every Hasidic child gets the education they deserve.

Our Stories

“I left school when I was 18. After I was 18, and I do not have a high school diploma or even the knowledge that a high school diploma comes with.”

“The attitude was constantly that you could get hit. We were constantly under threat of that.”

Our Latest Posts

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Send a Letter

It is imperative that the people who hold the power to affect change, do. And your voice can help inspire education officials and political players to take action. Click below to submit a letter to NYC Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph. 

Invite Us to Speak

Awareness is the first step to achieving change. Please invite us to speak at your synagogue, club, community, center, etc.

Join a Network

You’re invited to band together with a community of individuals from your own area of expertise or personal interest to help advance Yaffed’s mission drawing on your personal experience or professional interests. 

Follow Us

You’re not going to want to miss our content! We’ll keep you posted on everything from media headlines and political players’ stance on this issue, to the real-life stories of individuals who have attended Hasidic Yeshivas.

Donate

A gift to Yaffed goes a long way in instilling meaningful change. With your financial support we can: amp up our advocacy efforts, launch strategic new initiatives, expand our reach, and place extra pressure on the people who hold the power to move this issue forward. 

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