CAHAL (Communities Acting to Heighten Awareness and Learning) is a program of self-contained classes for children from Kindergarten through High School with various learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, and hearing and speech impairments.

CAHAL is a partnership, serving students in eleven yeshivas in the 5-Towns, Far Rockaway, Queens and greater Nassau County. Each school has learning disabled children, yet most do not have enough students on the same grade level to open a class, nor the funding to provide related support services or professional guidance. Only through the yeshivas’ joint efforts and CAHAL’s system of associated classes and services do the special needs children in our community have a school to call their own. As a consortium, decision-making is a joint process, with the involvement of principals and lay leaders from each school. In a beautiful display of unity, meetings and continuous discussions are held each year to discuss the needs of CAHAL and the children in the community.

CAHAL classes are in the local yeshivas. This way, the children are not isolated in a "special school," which would be a tremendous psychological burden for the children and their parents. They are also in the same school as their friends, neighbors and siblings. Their classroom is adjacent to all the other rooms, and outwardly looks the same. There is no sign on the door that says "CAHAL." CAHAL students and mainstream students jointly participate in all non-academic activities such as class trips, gym, recess, lunch, plays, spelling bees and science fairs. The children, therefore, feel like students of the host school rather than students of CAHAL.

The goal of the program is to mainstream the children into conventional classes. As the children develop their learning and social skills, CAHAL will mainstream them into the regular classes. The fact that CAHAL classes are located in the local yeshivas rather than in a separate, special school helps to facilitate and streamline the mainstreaming process. There are no travel or transportation issues to delay or impede this process. The children can be mainstreamed for even one period a day.

At CAHAL, the small classes, highly individualized attention (4 to 1 student to teacher ratio) and uniquely designed programs encourage and foster the children’s success, preparing them for advanced studies and adulthood.

CAHAL Data

  •  Founded in 1992.
  •  11 participating yeshivas
  •  13 special education classes
  •  Kindergarten through 12th grade
  •  Over 100 students
  •  50 staff members (teachers, support staff, administration)
  •  Counseling support
  •  Integration of speech, occupational and physical therapy within the classroom
  •  Full tuition fee $25,000- $29,000 per student, depending on grade level
  •  Tuition Assistance available for those in need

THIRTEEN CAHAL CLASSES

"Even I can’t believe it!" says Dr. Norman N. Blumenthal, founder and Chairman of the Board of Education of CAHAL. "When we began our first class in 1992, it was a miracle. Imagine, a class for children with learning disabilities in a yeshiva. It was unheard of. Today, with 13 self-contained classes, we are among the largest special-ed programs in the nation."

"We have always been a most unique organization," explains Dr. Blumenthal. "CAHAL unites eleven schools from across the spectrum. Don’t kid yourself - this is an unprecedented feat. In today’s age of divisiveness and splintered factions, we can all be proud of the schools in our community that work together closely and faithfully for the benefit of our special needs children."

CAHAL schools include Bnos Bais Yaakov, Bnot Shulamith, Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns & Rockaway, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, Siach Yitzchak, Torah Academy for Girls, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island and Yeshiva of South Shore.

CAHAL would not endure were it not for the harmony and unity that exists among these schools. There is nothing more beautiful or inspiring than seeing the principals and board members from all the schools meet to discuss ways to help our neighborhood children with learning disabilities. Differences in hashkafa are pushed aside for the common good of the community. CAHAL is the Jewish people at their best.

Beginning its 18th year of service to the Jewish community, CAHAL has become a nationally acclaimed program, winning the admiration of educators throughout the United States. Yet CAHAL remains a local, community-based organization, serving the needs of its neighborhood children. The progress that has been made with learning-disabled children who live in our community can make us all proud.

CAHAL. A shining star in our community. A bright future for our children.

CLASS LOCATIONS 2009 - 2010

GRADE SCHOOL
Kindergarten* Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
609 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead, N.Y. 11552
Rabbi Benjamin Yasgur, Principal
Grade 1 boys

Yeshiva of South Shore
1170 William Street, Hewlett, N.Y. 11557
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Rosh HaYeshiva
Rabbi Chanina Herzberg, Menahel
Rabbi Mair Wolofsky, Principal

Grade 2-3 boys Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island
321 Doughty Blvd., Inwood, N.Y. 11096
Rabbi Zvi Bajnon, Menahel
Mrs. Golda Gross, Educational Consultant
Rabbi Dov Edell, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Larissa Steele, Assistant Principal
Grade 2-3 girls Torah Academy for Girls
444 Beach 6th Street, Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691
Rabbi Meyer Weitman, Associate Dean
Mrs. Sarah Drillman, Hebrew Principal
Mrs. Sarah Goldstein, General Studies Principal
Mrs. Menucha Levin, Assistant Principal
Grade 4 coed Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway
33 Washington Avenue, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559
Rabbi David Leibtag, Head of School
Ms. Joy Hammer, Principal
Rabbi Gavriel Herzig, Associate Principal
Grade 5-6 girls

Bnos Bais Yaakov
613 Beach 9th Street, Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691
Rabbi Shmuel Hiller, Dean
Mrs. Yitty Halpert, Hebrew Principal
Mrs. Chavie Katz, English Principal

Grade 5 boys Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (located at Yeshiva Darchei Torah)
530 West Broadway, Long Beach, N.Y. 11561
Rabbi Shmuli Klammer, Principal
Rabbi Zvi A. Koff, Associate Principal
Mrs. Michelle Bergman, Associate Principal, General Studies
Grade 6-7 boys Yeshiva Darchei Torah
211 B. 17th Street, Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691
Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva
Rabbi Shmuel Strickman, Elementary School Menahel
Mrs. Ariella Kelman, Elementary General Studies Principal
Rabbi Yitzchak Goldberg, Junior H.S. General Studies Principal
Grade 7-8 boys Grade 7-8 girls Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway Middle School
24 Frost Lane, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559
Rabbi Dovid Kupchik, Principal
Mrs. Mala Goldberg, Assistant Principal
Grade H.S. girls Torah Academy for Girls High School
636 Lanett Avenue, Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691
Mrs. Aleeza Berkowitz, Hebrew Principal
Rabbi Michoel Shepard, General Studies Principal
Grade H.S. boys Mesivta Ateres Yaakov- Inclusion Program
1170 William Street, Hewlett, N.Y. 11557
Rabbi, Dr. Mordechai Yaffe, Menahel
Rabbi Sam Rudansky, General Studies Principal

* This kindergarten class incorporates a comprehensive sensory integration program.
    It is the only such Jewish program for this age group in the entire New York area.