CAHAL: Communities Acting to Heighten Awareness and Learning

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.