Rabbi Yitzhak Cohen Urges Youth Mentors to Shape Future Generations at Annual Conference
At the annual youth mentorship conference held at the Vert Hotel in Jerusalem, approximately 1,000 mentors gathered for a day of empowerment and unity under the theme "Letters to Generations." The event, sponsored by the Achia Institute and the Teachers' Institute, aimed to strengthen mentors in their vital role. Rabbi Yitzhak Cohen, chief rabbi of the Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood in Jerusalem, delivered the keynote address emphasizing the profound responsibility mentors bear in shaping the next generation. He stated, "When you wake up every morning, you must know and feel that you have a great responsibility for how the next generation will look. You are truly shaping future generations, and these moments with the youth can influence their entire lives, their future homes, and their children."
The conference featured lectures from prominent rabbis and included a panel with leading Torah scholars who addressed mentors' questions with clear and direct responses. Rabbi Shlomo Dahan, program director, praised the mentors for their dedication, highlighting that their efforts support 8,500 mentees across more than 500 educational institutions in 70 municipalities. He expressed confidence that the mentors' work will bear fruit for generations and blessed them with success in their sacred mission. The conference underscored the critical role of youth mentors in the community and reinforced their impact on the spiritual and social development of young people.