As South Florida public schools begin a new school year, hundreds of Jewish children will also be starting an exciting year at CHAP—Chabad Chayil’s daily after-school Hebrew School. More than a traditional once-a-week Hebrew school, CHAP is a comprehensive educational program designed specifically for Jewish children attending public schools who do not receive a formal Jewish education.
The program serves boys and girls ages 5–12 from schools including Aventura Waterways K–8, American Heritage, BridgePrep, Charter, Country Dade, Nova, Ojus, Pine Crest, Riviera, Virginia A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary (VABHOE), and many others. Any family looking for a high-quality daily after-school Jewish education is welcome.
Before Rosh Hashanah, every Jewish child is invited to experience CHAP completely free of charge, with no obligation to enroll. Simply choose one of the CHAP Trial Days. No membership, prior Jewish knowledge, or synagogue affiliation is required. Following the holidays, regular classes continue at affordable tuition rates. The program follows the public school calendar and meets every weekday immediately after school at Chabad Chayil in West Aventura, conveniently located across from Aventura Waterways K–8.
The curriculum includes Jewish traditions, holidays, history, Parshah, Hebrew reading, prayer, Judaic studies, and creative art projects. A primary emphasis is placed on personalized Hebrew reading instruction, allowing each child to progress at his or her own pace.
Our goal is to give every child a joyful first taste of Jewish learning through creative, hands-on, and engaging lessons. We strive to instill a lifelong love of Judaism and Jewish tradition by combining timeless values with innovative teaching methods. This is a Hebrew school where children genuinely look forward to coming each day.
CHAP’s commitment to excellence has been recognized throughout Miami-Dade County. An independent educational consulting company hired by the county to evaluate after-school programs rated Chabad Chayil’s program among the very best. After spending two weeks observing every aspect of the program, Cynthia Serure, president of A Gift for the Soul, Inc., described it as exemplary.
“This program scored at the top on virtually all analytical criteria, including quality of staff, student-teacher interaction, and curriculum. It is a model program.”
Study after study has shown that meaningful Jewish education is one of the strongest factors in fostering lifelong Jewish identity, involvement, and continuity. Our mission is to ensure that every Jewish child has access to a warm, meaningful, and high-quality Jewish education. CHAP provides an environment where parents feel comfortable, children thrive, and Jewish learning becomes something they eagerly anticipate.
Today, CHAP serves children from numerous public and private schools throughout the area and is popular among homeschooling families as well. As enrollment continues to grow, Chabad Chayil remains committed to expanding its educational facilities to meet the community’s needs.
Transportation is currently available for students attending Virginia A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary (VABHOE), Ojus Elementary, and BridgePrep Academy. Families from other schools often organize carpools, and when enough students enroll from a particular school, additional transportation can often be arranged.
Everyone is welcome. CHAP embraces every Jewish child regardless of religious background, affiliation, or level of observance. Membership is never required for enrollment.
Chabad Chayil’s mission is to strengthen Jewish awareness, pride, and observance by providing educational, cultural, and social opportunities for every Jewish individual and family. One of our flagship programs, CHAP, exists to provide affordable, high-quality Jewish education for children who are not enrolled in Jewish day schools. We also aim to give parents peace of mind, knowing their children are safe, happy, active, and growing in a warm Jewish environment that nurtures a lasting love for their heritage, Torah, and Israel.
To register or learn about our additional after-school programs—including Leadership 4 Kids, Homework Help, Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation, the JewQ International Torah Championship, once-a-week Hebrew School, private tutoring, and Camp Gan Israel—please contact our school director, Mrs. Layah Kievman, at (305) 770-1919 or visit HebrewSchool.info.
A Jewish day school remains the ideal educational choice for every Jewish child. But for families who, for whatever reason, are unable to choose that option, CHAP provides an outstanding alternative—offering children the opportunity to build a strong Jewish identity, develop Hebrew literacy, and experience the joy of being part of the Jewish community every single day.
About the author:
Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of CHAP – an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools, Gan Chabad Preschool and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at (305) 770-1919 or [email protected], where you can also sign up for his weekly Torah Thought & Newsletter. ChabadChayil.org/Partner
Credit: The Jewish Chronicle Subscribe to the JFN Website and to the JFN WhatsApp Channel