Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe "No Child Left Behind Initiative"

one of the moments i look forward to the most every week is a class i give once a week for students of public schools these kids are the most amazing ones that come to the class and we have an enjoyable time but something that always makes my hair stand on end are the stories that they tell me of things that happen in school they feel the pressure the peer pressure by the others in the school to do things that they know are incorrect things that they inherently don't want to do i ask them i say have you considered going to yeshiva and they say we really do but our parents don't want to and then you ask them why and they say the following they say the parents feel that they can teach them in the home how to be they say they don't understand the pressure we feel when we get to school my experience has been talking to many parents and they're right they say you know we went to public school in those days and in the countries where we all lived we didn't have the issues that we're facing today today the world has gone crazy look at the papers we hear the radio we hear what new things are coming up every day that is taking society down the wrong path this wasn't there in those days we didn't have to worry about it when parents sometimes ask me for advice they say where should i send my child i say to them the following do you want a child who's going to grow up to respect you and not argue with you and despise you and walk away from you and treat you in a bad way send them to yeshiva because they come they learn me god they learn what this commandment of honor your father and mother is all about because they are taught it one concern that many parents have they say you know public school is free after all free is good the answer is yes but there are two points to be made number one the free is going to take them on the wrong path and paying some money is going to make them be wonderful children children you're proud of children you love and children who love you in return and follow the right paths it's worth every cent and number two yes there are parents who are truly not in a position to pay or not in a position to pay what is asked hazak have started this amazing initiative of making sure that every child has the right and the ability to go to a yeshiva and grow up as good people fine people and good jews you can trust them they have their finger on the pulse they know what is going on go to them speak to them take their advice