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Thursday9 Teves 578112/24/2020

Report
First-Ever Conference with the "Board of Regents"


First-ever conference between "AR-PEC" and the "Board of Regents" sets out clear lines
The first major step of "AR-PEC"
is only a preparation for a
massive undertaking
New York Jewry follows with anticipation

New York – A colorful conference that took place this Tuesday, Parshas Vayigash, between several "AR-PEC" representatives on behalf of the parents of tens of thousands of children of the talmud torah system, and the New York State Board of Regents, passed with extraordinary strength and clarity, and opened a new world of steadfast and clear statements to the government on the entire matter of our "religious education."
As already reported last week, Torah-observant Jewry throughout New York welcomed with great joy the opening of the important AR-PEC organization, the organization that represents the parents who send their precious children to the Torah institutions throughout New York, wishing to raise upright Jewish generations in the way of Yisroel Saba, with the chinuch that we received from our forefathers and teachers, from generation to generation.

The news of the opening of AR-PEC was received with stormy joy by all the parents of tens of thousands of talmud torah students, since for the past several years we have been groping in the darkness, struggling with a harsh decree brought upon us by base informers and slanderers, and the worry over the future of the holy Torah institutions gives no rest, disturbing every bit of calm of the gedolei hador, who take a responsible view of the klal, and certainly of the concerned parents, who care about nothing in the world more than the chinuch of the holy flock.

As stated, AR-PEC was founded by highly energetic askanim and public servants, bringing onto its board parents of children who stand ready with a full measure of energy to step forward onto the front lines and fight for our chinuch with every tactic of war that will be needed, followed by a staff of experienced attorneys who give very professional guidance, and who also stand alert, ready for a possible legal battle in the highest courts.

Just one week after the spontaneous announcement of the news, fresh news now comes about the first link in the chain of concrete actions by AR-PEC, a step that promises to bring many greater accomplishments after it.

Now the good tidings have come about a historic virtual meeting that took place just now between several board members of the newly founded AR-PEC organization and the Board of Regents, which oversees the New York State Education Department.
Following a very productive virtual meeting that took place two weeks ago with the Board of Regents, a request came from the local state regent that she wishes to meet personally with the representatives and educators of the chassidic mosdos in Upstate, to become better acquainted with the chinuch given among us, and to go through various details that will help produce a clear picture of chassidic chinuch.

The askanim took the meeting very seriously, seeing in it an opportunity to clarify our response to the regent regarding our religious education, which is uncompromising, as they prepare to put out the new guidelines for our chassidic communities. A number of representatives were gathered to represent and present what we have to say.

On Monday during the day, a day before the assembly was to take place, the askanim went to gedolei Yisroel and discussed the particulars of what was planned to be raised and how it was planned to present the truth about our chinuch, and they went through the details with great seriousness, to make sure the message would come across effectively, clearly, and one hundred percent firm.

After a few minutes of sitting and discussing certain topics and answering all the questions the state regent had to present, clarifying along the way several details that until today had not been made fully clear to the political figures, the askanim unfolded a trove of documentary material prepared in advance virtually, documents and folders presenting in a very rich form everything about our chinuch, with concrete, clear proofs of what and how our children are educated, how the order of learning proceeds among us, and why we are not open to any change.

First, the facts and the course of how our studies are structured were presented to the state regent. Without entering into any word-games about the legal standpoint of our limudei kodesh, which could draw a line toward compromise and which should not be voiced before this board at such a time, they put forward very nicely and strongly that our chinuch is also very good, and is in fact even better than what the government has.

The discussion itself had a deep resonance, when a new sharp direction of "going into the finest details" was taken, opening their eyes that the entire decree is built on a hot-air balloon, since among us the children are very well educated even without any secular studies, and it was clearly evident, without a doubt, that the language and clarity that accompanied it "spoke words" and was heard just as it was intended to be heard.

Afterwards, the principle of "hearing is not like seeing" was demonstrated, as actual materials were brought, such as exams, report cards, study schedules, and various other documents of all the aspects used within our Torah institutions, and with this it was brought out very clearly and richly what words cannot explain, how strong, and how full of content and foundations for life, our chinuch is.
As expected, the explanatory talks, in addition to the materials provided, greatly impressed the state regent's officials, who expressed themselves with extraordinary admiration, saying the meeting was exceptionally productive for them, adding clearly that "things were brought out here that have never yet been heard in the political corridors"(!).

Throughout the entire meeting the askanim sat in suspense, realizing from minute to minute more and more the importance of the approach of demonstrating that our chinuch is very good, as with each fresh topic or document brought to the table it was clearly recognized that it was received as a dazzling revelation, being examined thoroughly and in great detail, and its impact appeared to be very strong and effective, b'ezras Hashem.

Right now, immediately after the assembly concluded, one hears back from all the participants and from the leading askanim who stood behind it of the great satisfaction and good feeling emerging from such a productive success, as all indicate that the success of the approach was beyond expectation, and with joyful spirits the faithful emissaries of klal Yisroel report to the peaceful and faithful of Yisroel that we are on our way to bringing further progress very soon.

In the name of Hashem we will act and succeed.