A School that Develops Every Child`s Individual Strengths and Talents

It was a novel idea, and yet so obvious. If children with special needs derive so much benefit from individualized
instruction, why can’t we give children without special needs the same advantage? Why not work with every child
to create a personal plan that fits his or her needs?
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The idea began when several parents
approached Mrs. Sarah Eidlitz,
principal of the Skill Building
Center. These parents each had at
least one child in the Skill Building
Center, a school for children with
various types of special needs. One
by one, they asked her why a similar
school did not exist for their other
children who did not have special
needs. “We saw how much children
benefited from the Skill Building
Center’s individualized program,”
Mrs. Eidlitz says. “And we realized
that mainstream children would
also benefit from a curriculum that
focuses on the individual needs of
each student.”
From this idea, two schools were
born: Bnos Bracha and Yeshiva Eitz
Chaim. Although the two schools
are separate, they are based on the
same philosophy. Rabbi Reuven
Eidlitz, along with his wife Mrs.
Eidlitz, founded both mainstream
schools with an eye toward reaching
the individual needs of each of
their students. Bnos Bracha and
Yeshiva Eitz Chaim both focus on
developing all aspects of the child—
academic, as well as social, spiritual
and emotional. For example, both
Girls’ Division Grades K-7
schools include a gifted track, with
an advanced curriculum in limudei
kodesh and secular studies. Perhaps
most important, staff members
constantly examine whether each
student’s needs are currently being
met by the instruction that the student
is receiving, making adjustments
whenever necessary.
Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky, shlita,
with whom the Eidlitzes regularly
consult, describes the Eidlitzes
as people who “care about and
devote themselves to every one
of their students, which is the
biggest complement you can give
to a school.” This, coupled with the
individual care and attention that
each student receives, has helped the
students in both schools to thrive.
Bnos Bracha parent Mrs. Chavie
Genack stresses that the staff “is
completely dedicated to the welfare
of each and every child. My daughter
feels this, and she loves school—she
continues to blossom.”
“Every single skill is worked on
in these schools,” explains Mrs.
Rivka Leah Yablonsky, who teaches
in both Bnos Bracha and Yeshiva
Eitz Chaim. “Nothing is left out.
The kids learn the academic skills
that they need, but the school also
helps them develop their creativity
and imagination, their social skills,
their emotional strength, and their
ability to work as a team.” One
important emphasis in both schools
is the ability of the students to
express themselves in verbal and
written language—a skill that is
vital for success in marriage, in the
workplace, and in every area of life.
Class instruction is hands-on and
interactive, which keeps the students
focused and motivated to succeed;
lessons are tangible and pertinent
to students’ lives. “Our whole focus
is to understand, and to appreciate
and love Torah,” says Rabbi Eidlitz.
To that end, each Rebbe strives to
maintain a close relationship with
each talmid. “I don’t teach at the
boys, I teach them,” Rabbi Eidlitz
explains. “My number one job is
to connect with the boys. Especially
for young boys, their Rebbe
represents Torah. When boys have a
good relationship with their Rebbe,
it gives them ahavas haTorah for
life.”
Boys’ Division Grades K-7