Rockland County, NY – Melava Malka Celebrates Over a Decade of Helping Troubled Teens in Monsey and Beyond

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    Rockland County, NY – Over 350 people turned out for the 11th annual dinner of Areivim, the Monsey based organization (http://www.areivim.com/) that helps troubled teens and their families by providing numerous programs including mentoring, crisis counseling and intervention, summer camps for both boys and girls, shabbatonim and more. Speakers at the dinner, which was held November 26th at Ateres Charna in New Square, included Areivim director, Rabbi Shmuel Gluck, Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg of Beis Medrash Netzach Yisroel in Forshay and Christopher St. Lawrence, Ramapo Town Supervisor.

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    Areivim began twelve years ago as Camp Gavriel, a traveling summer camp targeting disaffected youth, founded liluy nishmas Gavriel Klatzco, brother of Areivim’s assistant director, Avraham Chaim Klatzco, more commonly known as “Ace”.

    “That was our pilot program,” Rabbi Klatzco told VIN News. “And everything just grew from there. We try to fill the gaps where they are needed, liaising between parents and children, offering GED programs, traveling camps for both boys and girls, emergency housing for kids who need a place to stay, crisis intervention and so much more.”

    As the number of troubled teens from all across the religious spectrum has skyrocketed in recent years, Areivim has helped thousands of teens and their families deal with issues such as substance abuse and emotional, educational and social issues.

    Rabbi Shmuel Gluck, director of Areivim, explains that it is impossible to pinpoint one reason why there are so many teens in crisis today, as the problem is complex and multi-layered.

    “I believe that our community as a whole has an increasing number of families that are not emotionally healthy,” explained Rabbi Gluck. “We are bringing up a generation of kids that aren’t getting enough individual attention. Both parents are working, our Shuls are too big, our schools are too big and because our children are lacking that all important individual connection, their self esteem is frayed and they are just not being emotionally grounded. Additionally, the standards in many of our yeshivos are too high for so many as we try to create future Roshei Yeshiva from too young an age. These kids aren’t anti-religion, their foundations are weak and they aren’t getting the personal attention they need to fully absorb what Yiddishkeit is all about.”

    Areivim attempts to prevent problems before they occur with educational courses, weekly columns in a Monsey magazine and informative pamphlets. Other programs include a summer tutoring program to keep students from falling behind and a placement service that has placed over 800 students in various yeshivos, Bais Yaakovs and other educational institutions.

    The Grove, located on Grove Street in Monsey, is open around the clock for drop-ins, emergency housing and offers positive recreational opportunities. Not only does Areivim have an outreach program for unaffiliated teens, they also work closely with prison chaplains to maintain a positive working relationship with law enforcement and the legal system, should the need arise. And Areivim co-founders Rabbi Klatzco and Rabbi Moshe Frankel make three annual trips to Israel to monitor the progress of Areivim teens who are in Israel, to scout out new programs that may be appropriate for Areivim’s clientele and to host a Shabbaton for any teens in Israel who are in need of Areivim’s services.

    While Areivim may be based in Monsey they have helped teen from England, Australia and all over the world. They work closely with other similar organizations and have a special connection with the Brooklyn based Our Place, another group dedicated to helping troubled teens.

    “In the world of helping people there is no such thing as competition,” said Zvi Gluck, who does crisis management at Our Place. “Sadly there are teens everywhere in need of guidance and counseling. Our Place is happy to show offer chizuk and show support for any organization that does good work, especially Areivim.”

    Supervisor Christopher St.Lawrence, Rabbi Klatzko,Assistant Director

    (L-R) Rabbi Frankel ,Assistant Director Mr Tuvia Grama ,Shocen Tov award Rabbi Gluck ,Director

    Rabbi Leibish Rottenberg of Beis Medrash Netzach Yisroel

    Mr Eli Weiner ,Executive Director Mr Boruch Stefansky Mr Yedidya Rabi

    Below video: Singer Kuppy Elenbogen singing the Areivim diner.


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    8 Comments
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    12 years ago

    Why is Christopher St. Lawrence there? Are Rockland taxes being used?

    Vasserman
    Vasserman
    12 years ago

    Great organization and an asset to klal Yisroel.

    garyone
    garyone
    12 years ago

    Kol Hakoved for the Monsey community for supporting this special organization
    Did anybody notice some local Rabonim there ???????????????????????
    (other then Rabbi Rottenberg)Wondring where they went to

    DRSLZ
    DRSLZ
    12 years ago

    In my experience as a child neurologist, the two main causes of “drop out” teens are:
    1) Unrecognized and untreated learning disabilities (which affect 10-15% of children and teens) and ADHD (5%). The kids struggle, and eventually develop learned helplessness and low self-esteem, which sets them up for a downward spiral including in many cases alcohol and drug use.
    2) Dysfunctional families.
    Of course, the other causes mentioned in the article play a significant role as well.