From the moment registration opened, the atmosphere could be felt throughout the hotel. Mechanchim reconnected with colleagues, continued conversations from previous years, and shared challenges and ideas from their classrooms and schools.

The opening program featured an Ikar Interactive, challenging mechanchim in the room to answer: What is the ikar of chinuch? Participants discussed the qualities they most want to see in their talmidim, ranked their priorities, and shared them through a live poll, turning the Kinus theme into a practical conversation from the very start. 

Following the opening program, the afternoon continued with a full slate of simultaneous sessions, with dedicated tracks geared toward the different roles within chinuch.

Classroom mechanchim focused on practical tools for reaching and guiding their talmidim, including Baby to Bochur with Rabbi Zalmy Kudan, Educational Director of Lamplighters Jewish Academy, and Proactive Behavior Management with Rabbi Yisroel Grossberg, Rabbinic Educational Director, Amudim/Darcheinu.

“I found that having the Kinus broken up into different tracks really helped me choose and personalize the sessions that were most relevant to me, ideas I’ll actually be able to institute in my classroom and in my teaching overall,” said Rabbi Mendel Pinson, a third-grade Rebbi at Cheder Menachem Los Angeles. 

Principals and school leaders had programming focused on educational intervention and leadership, including a conversation with Rabbi Zvi Bloom, Executive Director of Torah Umesorah, moderated by Rabbi Yehoshua Lustig, Menahel Klali, Oholei Torah, and The Menahel and His Responsibility to Struggling Students with Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, Director, Merkos Chinuch Office 

Curriculum educators explored scope and sequence and deeper student learning, with sessions led by Rabbi Yehuda Adelist, Director of Torah For Children, publishers of Applied Kodesh Curriculum and Rabbi Yosef Chaiton, Curriculum Coordinator, Desert Torah Academy; Founder, Chinuch Solutions, while administrators addressed the practical side of strengthening mosdos, including a session on fundraising and tuition with Rabbi Yossi Langsam, Executive Director, United Lubavitcher Yeshiva.

Base Commanders gathered to share what is working in their schools and think about the future of Tzivos Hashem with Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum, General of Chayolei Tzivos Hashem Brigade, while new Rebbis had dedicated programming with Rabbi Shmuly Gniwisch, Rebbi and Administrator at Torah Day School, Houston, TX, focused on preparing for the coming school year.

Technology was also a focus at the AI Lab, where mechanchim had the opportunity to beta test a new AI platform designed to support their classroom work. Participants also took part in hands-on sessions exploring practical ways to use AI, including Mastering AI Image & Video Generation with Rabbi Moishy Goldstein, Founder of AI770.com.

These are just some of the many sessions taking place throughout the day, with multiple tracks running simultaneously so that each area of chinuch receives focused attention.

Much of the Kinus is happening between the sessions as well, as mechanchim continue conversations in the hallways, exchange ideas and resources, and connect with others facing many of the same questions.

Photos: Sholem Srugo/Kinus Hamechanchim