As the school year begins and classrooms once again fill with the sound of davening and learning, mechanchim and mechanchos will go on to create a lasting impression on each of their students. This was the message at the 25th International Kinus Hamechanchim in Stamford, Connecticut.

As the school year begins, classrooms once again fill with the sound of davening and learning. Talmidim and Talmidos dive into new subjects, new friendships, and new growth. It is the perfect moment to pause and recognize the mechanchim and mechanchos who stand at the heart of it all. A simple interaction in the hallway, a thoughtful answer to a question, or a word of encouragement during a difficult day often leaves an impression on a student that stays with them for a lifetime.

This message was powerfully felt at the 25th International Kinus Hamechanchim in Stamford, Connecticut. One of the most moving moments came at the banquet, when four mechanchim, all teachers of Avraham Rappaport, a talmid in Oholei Torah – Rabbi Eliyohu Edelman from Pre-1A, Rabbi Berel Yarmush from Kita Alef, Rabbi Moshe Tzfasman from Kita Beis, and Rabbi Nuti Shpigelman from Kita Gimmel – joined their talmid on stage. Together, they sang a heartfelt song that expressed gratitude for the way each rebbi had shaped him, year after year. The song highlighted how every mechanech plays a part in building a talmid into a true chossid of the Rebbe.

The evening closed with a powerful video presentation featuring Rabbi Aharon Rabin, a Rebbi in LEC and his former student Avi Rosenberg, capturing how the influence of a mechanech continues to guide a talmid long after classroom years have passed, often in ways the mechanech himself may never even realize.

As the new year begins, the Chinuch Office wishes every mechanech and mechaneches tremendous Hatzlachah and we express our deepest appreciation. You are on the frontlines of the Rebbe’s mission, shaping neshamas and building the future of Klal Yisroel.

— Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch’s Chinuch Office
Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, Director 
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, General Chairman 
Rabbi Zalmy Loewenthal, Associate Director 
Mrs. Shterna Rappaport and Mrs. Sara Blau, Educational Development

The banquet was produced by Dovid Weinbaum Productions and Dovi Abrahams of Zikron Digital with the song written by Moishy Goldstein, and video presentations by Shlomo Chaim Rivkin and Yossi Margolin.

Photos: Sholem Srugo

Recap video:

A Mechnaech’s Impact: