Leadership & Vision
The Bereishis Foundation’s Department of Ruach & Resilience is a crucial step in our mission: protecting children, empowering caregivers, and strengthening communities. This department balances child wellbeing with parental concerns, honoring existing wisdom while providing new tools for confidence.
Under the direction of Chana Kaiman, LCSW-RPT, Board member and Education and school relations lead, we integrate clinical expertise with real-world school relationships to be responsive to our community’s needs.
Our Comprehensive Approach
We weave together religious values and community wellbeing to create safe, confident environments. Our work focuses on a holistic approach that simultaneously supports the curriculum students learn, the parents who raise them, and the teachers who guide them.
Curriculum
- Teacher Training: Equipping educators with strategies for nurturing resilience and unity.
- Student Workshops: Interactive sessions for communication and healthy relationships.
- Ready-to-Use Lessons: Blending Torah values with resilience-building activities.
Parents
- Education & Awareness: Mental health guidance and family learning circles.
- Support & Advocacy: 1-on-1 consultations and direct resource access.
- Connection: Building strong school–home bridges and family celebrations.
Teachers
- Relationships First: Cultivating authentic trust between students and teachers.
- Regulation & Resilience: Practical tools for emotional problem-solving in the classroom.
- Restorative Practices: Facilitating harm-repair to restore trust and shift away from purely policing behavior.
Rising Hate Crimes
Children today face a world where hate crimes are sharply rising, making it harder to feel safe while holding onto pride in their identity.
The Data: In 2023, New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas accounted for roughly 54% of all U.S. antisemitic incidents. Our resilience programs are a direct response to this environment.