What is the yeshiva behind ChanceX12 all about? Shaarei Adirim is giving boys who never had a chance a unique opportunity to succeed.
If you’re not the type that has luck with raffles, ChanceX12 is definitely the raffle for you. The odds are an incredible 1/292…compare that to the odds of winning the Powerball…which is 1/292,000,000.
There’s a winner drawn every single month. The next drawing is THIS THURSDAY, November 29th!
But, I wanted to know, what’s the cause behind ChanceX12?
And I learned, it’s a great one that we’re proud to get behind.
ChanceX12 benefits Mesivta Shaarei Adirim, a yeshiva endorsed by Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva, and Roshei Kollel from around the Midwest and beyond.
“There are lots of good kids that want to be matzliach. They’re quality bochurim. They might have struggled in yeshiva academically, but we provide them with many opportunities to shine outside of the academic curriculum. Once they feel successful at life, they shine academically too. Our goal is to get them ready to be matzliach in life.” -Rabbi Mordechai Elbaum, Rosh haMesivta
Each year, Shaarei Adirim runs a confidence campaign where bochurim work on building confidence to overcome their personal “I can’t” moments. The following story took place during last year’s campaign:
For Chaim, a 9th grader, it was the first time he was away from home. So when he needed medical attention on the shortest Friday of the year, his mother researched and found the right Chicago-based doctor that could help her son. But Chaim was scared to go alone.
“I never went to this doctor before, and I’ve never been to downtown Chicago. I can’t…” he told Rabbi Elbaum.
Rabbi Elbaum went back to his office and called Chaim’s mother to talk it over. They came up with a plan, deciding that a friend would accompany him and his mother arranged for an Uber to take them directly to the office. Rabbi Elbaum went to tell Chaim the solution, but before he could speak, Chaim said, “Rebbi, I have the confidence. I will go.”
That Sunday afternoon, Chaim attended his acrobatics class. He had been working on a technique that was very difficult, where one bochur leaps onto the shoulders of another. It’s a complicated move that takes practice and skill. But, today, Chaim gathered the confidence he had armed himself with on Friday and mastered it. And then, while on the other bochur’s shoulders, he also learned to juggle.
The next morning, he arrived early to yeshiva. “Let’s start a Tosfos,” he told his rebbi, “I have confidence. I can do it.”
When a bochur is matzliach in one area, they learn they are capable. Even if they’re matzliach in something that’s out-of-the-box, it carries over into all areas of their day, including academics
Mesivta Shaarei Adirim, based in Chicago, is the midwest affiliate of Shaarei Arazim of Monsey, NY. It’s under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Elbaum, the Rosh haYeshiva Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ausband, and Rabbi Shlomo Caplan is the General studies principal. In addition to their limudei kodesh, where they learn Gemara during morning and night seder, in addition to Mishnayos and Chumash, there’s a full limudei chol schedule [Shaarei Adirim is accredited and registered with the state of Illinois], and the boys are afforded with many more experiences that give them opportunities to build confidence. When they come into yeshiva, the first extracurricular project they undertake is building their own desk in woodshop. On Sunday afternoons, they learn acrobatics, training with world class coaches. They learn life skills; what it means to be a good brother/son/friend and later husband/father. There’s daily physical education; the boys can take electives in photography; they’re also safrus, which makes them feel so important. They play on a rugby team. They’re part of a marching band. There’s a lot going on and the day keeps moving with no downtime.
Every single one of the programs was not chosen arbitrarily. They’re chosen specifically for the life skills they teach. “The prism we use when deciding what programs to bring to the yeshiva is asking the question: what is the growth?” Rugby is a team sport that builds team-working skills. Martial arts builds self-discipline. A bochur that builds core strength feels good and confident; likewise when he builds his own desk.
“Bochurim who leave out yeshiva will have what it takes to be successful at life. They’ll sit and learn with a Gemara and with a chavrusa, or go to a shiur if that’s what they prefer. They’ll be koveah ittim. They’ll get a job and know what their responsibilities are when taking care of a family. He’ll have it together. Not everything that Hashem sends us is in our control. Our chiyuv is to be mechanech our bochurim and give them to tools to be successful, with whatever abilities they were given,” says Rabbi Epstein
Shaarei Adirim is filling a need that’s recognized and supported by all the rabbanim. There is a need to reach and teach every child.
You Can Be Part of Giving Boys a Chance with ChanceX12!
How It Works:
Your monthly donation of $36 to Shaarei Adirim ensures a base of support for the yeshiva and enters you in a monthly drawing for $10,000. You have another chance every month! Enter before the drawing date to be eligible for this month’s prize and every one thereafter. The odds are an incredible 1 in 292.
Congrats to the winners so far:
ChanceX12’s September winner: Steve Berkovitch
Chance X 12’s October winner: Aderet Blazer
The post How One Mesivta is Finding Great Success Teaching Each Student “Al Pi Darcho” in a Very Unique Way appeared first on Between Carpools.