JULY 14 • 2022 | 65
mental health.
Silfen intentionally
designed a program that
people could join anytime,
so there’s no need to worry
about registration deadlines
or missing classes. Classes
are held on Zoom but
also… live on the Chabad
Academy’s website for peo-
ple to access anytime.
Plus, programming is
entirely free.
CHANGING LIVES ONE
CLASS AT A TIME
The most rewarding part of
the program, Silfen says, is
to see the real-life impact on
its students. “When some-
body sends you a message
saying, ‘I’ve grown so much
over the past year, I want
to bring another person’ …
that’s the best,” he explains.
While Silfen sows the
seeds, so to speak, he says
the volunteer teachers who
make Chabad Academy a
reality are the ones who
grow their own roots — and
the program.
“Everyone’s taking their
own initiative,” he says.
With a 90% retention
rate, Chabad Academy has
seen incredible success in
just its first year of opera-
tion. Silfen says it’s due to
the personal design of their
programming.
“I want teachers to know
everyone’s name, and I want
you to address everybody
by their name,” he says. “I
want you to know that we’re
talking to you. We’re not
just a class.
“You can go on YouTube
and listen to any lectures,”
Silfen adds. “What people
like about us is that they
feel comfortable, there’s a
relationship.”
Learn more or sign up for a class at
https://chabadacademy.org.
A screenshot from an online class.
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