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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