Leading Rabbis Launch Organization for Children of Divorced Parents

A new organization, "Katf Layeled" (Shoulder to Child), was established this week in Bnei Brak to support and guide children and teenagers whose parents have divorced. The founding conference was attended by prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Stern, a leading decisor of the generation; Rabbi Chaim Feinstein, a yeshiva head; Rabbi Itamar Garbuz, head of the Orchos Torah Yeshiva; Rabbi Chaim Yossef Biderman; the Pittsburgher Rebbe; and Rabbi Yechiel Druckman. The mayor, Hanoch Zeibert, emphasized the importance of the organization and the municipality's support. The conference was moderated by Rabbi Menachem Shapira, the organization's rabbi. The initial phase will involve establishing a system of mentors who will provide weekly support, including professional, emotional, and educational guidance. Mentors will undergo training and monthly lectures to equip them to assist the children and fill the void left by parental separation.

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Stern shared his personal pain as an orphan at age six, stating that the "scar is still present." He noted that while many organizations exist for orphans, children of divorced parents also face significant hardship, with some hiding their pain and others expressing it outwardly. He stressed the "duty of the hour" to establish an organization to identify this pain and pair these children with understanding mentors. The Pittsburgher Rebbe highlighted the silent suffering of these children, who may appear normal at school but lack a stable home environment to return to. He likened the organization's impact to "cold water for a weary soul" and called for support from those who can help.

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Kof, the organization's educational consultant, recounted his own experience of becoming an orphan at sixteen and the societal judgment faced by orphans. He shared poignant stories from children, including one who offered his bar mitzvah gift money to help his mother with expenses, and another who felt he aged prematurely due to his parents' divorce. Rabbi Meir Leifer mentioned that eight boys in one class alone have divorced parents, most of whom are unwilling to discuss their situation. Rabbi David Broverman drew a parallel to the "Erechim" organization's work with parents of struggling teens, emphasizing the need to "fix the bridge" for these children by providing a stable parental figure, citing a success story of a young man who found stability through a mentor.

The organization aims to provide a consistent, supportive figure for children, as explained by Rabbi Ariel Yazdi, who stressed the need for gentle, delicate guidance. The emotional therapist Rabbi Baruch Shechter also participated. The organization's management thanked Mayor Hanoch Zeibert and the Bnei Brak municipality's education and social services departments for their professional and educational support.