We are right now in a critical period as the longstanding fight to ensure educational equality in non-public schools, including Haredi Yeshivas, hits a defining moment. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) recently released new regulations that aim to enforce the Substantial Equivalency education law. The public comment period, a window of time designated
Meet Shaindy Weichman, a mother whose son attends a Hasidic Yeshiva in New York. Like the other 65,000 boys attending such Yeshivas in this state, he’s a victim of educational neglect by the schools that are legally obligated to provide him with a basic secular education. But the reality that Shaindy is forced to contend
There are many, many hurdles and obstacles in the way of ensuring that every child attending a Yeshiva in New York State gets the education he or she deserves. The obvious one is the lack of political will. Another one is the present lack of clarity from the state regarding what constitutes “substantial equivalency” and
2021 saw Yaffed continuing to lead the charge towards lasting change for the tens of thousands of Haredi school children currently being denied a basic secular education in many Haredi yeshivas across New York. We are pleased to provide a round-up of our greatest achievements from the last 365 days, that all highlight Yaffed’s one
Yaffed is excited to partner with our allies for the first ever international Day of Choice – Yom HaBechira in Hebrew – on October 27th. What is Yom HaBechira? Translated from Hebrew, Yom HaBechira means the Day of Choice. Our allies in Israel, Yotzim Leshinuy, have taken the lead in formally inaugurating this important day,
Yaffed is a non-profit organization advocating for improved standards of secular education in New York’s Jewish ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) schools. While the lack of secular education in Hasidic Yeshivas may seem a niche issue or contained to a small corner of the Jewish community, that is not the case. The Hasidic community is the fastest growing
There are times where patience is a virtue. But patience has its limits. When government officials are blatantly failing in their responsibilities and allowing tens of thousands of children to be denied an education year after year after year, it is time to take drastic action. More than six years ago, 52 Yeshiva graduates and
Yaffed has been fighting to end the educational neglect in Hasidic yeshivas for almost a decade. Since May of 2020, Vanessa Meghnagi has played a crucial role in that fight. Her position as the Director of Operations and Planning makes her responsible for both the backend work and future planning of Yaffed’s endeavors. She recently
In New York alone, tens of thousands of young Haredi men are poised to finish high school without being able to communicate in English, do basic math, or have even a minimal grasp of American History. Without adequate secular education, more than half of Haredi Jews end up poor or near poor. Unfortunately, this educational
The New York mayoral race brought renewed attention to the question of the state of secular education in Haredi yeshivas. While Yaffed has been fighting for a decade to end educational neglect in Haredi schools, some mayoral candidates claimed that yeshivas provide an adequate education and that the state should not interfere. Joe Kolman, a
If you have come here for spoilers on My UnOrthodox Life, you’ll be disappointed because I haven’t watched it. But this post isn’t about My UnOrthodox Life per se, but about the reaction from Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox leaders, writers, and influencers to the show. Some of those writers and commentators hadn’t watched the show either.
Dr. Shalom Klein is a highly regarded community activist and entrepreneur who hosts the popular “Get Down to Business” radio show in Chicago. Dr. Klein has done extensive work researching education in Haredi communities and providing supplemental opportunities for ultra-Orthodox students. Dr. Klein spoke with Hannah Miller about his unique career path, what motivates him,
