The following account comes from a graduate of 1985 who now lives in Neve Yaakov. It connects early yeshiva experiences with a professional life devoted to children and young adults. The narrative threads together family details, cherished recollections from time at Skokie, and a pair of lasting lessons that still guide daily choices.
Professionally, this individual works as a school psychologist for towns in the Jerusalem area and provides therapeutic support to children and young adults in Jerusalem. On the home front, the family is large and multigenerational: married with seven children, all of whom are married, and more than twenty grandchildren. These two spheres—work and home—inform one another, creating a life centered on relationships, education, and community.
Memories from yeshiva and early community life
Time at Skokie left a patchwork of vivid memories, ranging from serious study to lighthearted moments. The graduate remembers being present through multiple stages: high school, the Beis Midrash, and even marrying while connected to the kollel community. Those varied settings shaped both academic growth and social bonds.
One unexpected memory centers on the nearby Holiday Inn arcade. Long hours spent at a racing game became a humorous anecdote later on; the graduate admits they are “not proud” of the time spent there but notes how even playful activities left their mark—learning to anticipate turns and react quickly, skills that amusingly translated into driving in Israel. These lighter recollections sit alongside the deeper friendships formed with figures such as Rabbi Morgenstein, Rabbi Zev Cohen, Rabbi Cooperman, and many kollel members. The blend of study, mentorship, and camaraderie made the period formative.
A moment of communal song and late-night learning
One evening stands out: exhausted on Simchas Torah, the graduate lay down to rest, but was called to the Beis Midrash, where friends greeted them with a playful chant to the tune of a familiar hakafot song. That spontaneous celebration captures how humor and devotion coexisted. Another meaningful initiative from those years was the creation of a Motzai Shabbos learning program launched in collaboration with Rabbi Isenberg—an effort that highlighted commitment to communal learning outside regular hours.
Professional path and approach to work
Choosing a career that centers on children and adolescents, the graduate became a therapist working with young clients in Jerusalem while serving as a school psychologist in nearby towns. The professional emphasis is on building relationships, understanding developmental needs, and creating supportive environments for growth. The practical wisdom gained in the Beis Midrash—consistency, respect for process, and the value of sustained attention—translated naturally into therapeutic practice.
Day-to-day responsibilities include assessment, counseling, collaboration with educators, and guiding families through developmental or emotional challenges. The work requires both clinical knowledge and emotional resilience; the insights gathered from years of communal and spiritual learning reinforce the practice of listening first and interpreting context carefully.
How family life and career influence one another
Living in Neve Yaakov with a large family has meant constantly balancing professional obligations with household life. With seven children and over twenty grandchildren, family rhythms—celebrations, holidays, ordinary routines—provide constant reminders of why the work matters. Household experience offers a laboratory for observing developmental stages, while clinical work deepens empathy and practical parenting skills. Both realms feed each other, enriching the individual’s capacity to support others.
Lessons from Skokie for current students
Two clear takeaways emerge from this recollection. First, the value of personal initiative: the alumnus emphasizes that the benefits of yeshiva life are proportional to what each student invests. Rather than waiting for others to shape the experience, students are encouraged to create opportunities for serious study and meaningful connection. When the group returned from a period in Eretz Yisroel, they consciously decided to cultivate the Beis Midrash into a more focused makom Torah, demonstrating that environments can be intentionally improved by committed individuals.
Second, discernment in interpretation: an anecdote from a Sunday afternoon illustrates this point. During the nearby Taste of Kosher Chicago event, many left learning to attend. When asked why he stayed, the alumnus explained that he judged learning to be the priority. Another student countered that Rabbi Morgenstern had said they should attend. The alumnus clarified that the rabbi permitted attendance but did not insist it was the preferred choice. The moral is that people often hear what they want to hear; careful reading and personal responsibility are essential.
Taken together, these lessons—be proactive, and listen carefully—offer practical guidance to students aiming to make the most of their yeshiva years. The legacy of those years is both the friendships and the habit of intentional learning, qualities that shaped a career dedicated to supporting children, young adults, and family life in Jerusalem and beyond.
