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Spreading Awareness.

Creating Change.

What we do

Yaffed employs a two-pronged approach. We believe it is the government’s responsibility to enforce the law and ensure every child receives the education to which they are entitled. However, we also believe that it is important to build grassroots and community-based support for change. This is why we launched our Rabbinical Council in August 2019 and continue to reach out to all Jewish communities in New York.

Who we are

Yaffed is a nonprofit organization founded by individuals raised within Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox communities, and is committed to improving secular education in Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox schools.

Yaffed believes that all students should receive a quality education in the schools they currently attend.

Some states, such as New York, require all non-public schools to provide classes in basic subjects such as English, mathematics, reading, writing, music, arts, history, geography, and science. This is called “substantial equivalency,” meaning that private schools should at least be teaching the bare minimum that public schools are required to.

Currently, many Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox elementary schools do not provide this basic education. This has been documented in news reports, government investigations, and in personal testimonies from students and parents.

Our mission is to ensure that students receive the academic skills they need in order to pursue lives of economic self-sufficiency with a broad range of opportunities for personal choice and individual fulfillment.

What We Stand For

Awareness.

Raising awareness about education equality issues that matter to everyone.

Advocacy.

Grassroots and community-based advocacy to support change.

Action.

Acting to enforce laws ensuring every child receives the education they deserve.

Take Action. Join Us.

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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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