Newsletter Teves5777 PRINT

A Fascinating
Glimpse
Inside the
Curriculum
We live in a world that is losing its sense of busha. Everything
goes, and everything has to be permitted because you are
otherwise infringing on the liberties of others. A world without
shame is a scary thing because it almost has no conscience.
Yirmiyahu 8:12: They shall be put to shame since they have
committed abomination. Neither are they ashamed nor do they
know to feel disgrace. They will therefore fall among the slain; at the
time I have visited upon them, they will stumble, says Hashem.
Rashi: Neither are they ashamed: They are not ashamed of their evil
deeds to take heart to repent.
The Navi is describing a generation where people are not
embarrassed to do the lowest things. Busha is non-existent; people
don’t even seem to realize that what they’ve done is disgraceful,
repulsive. Doesn’t this seem to describe our generation? We are
at a point where one is expected to be embarrassed about being
embarrassed. Society promotes an attitude that no one should feel
!
A Generation Without Shame
Excerpts from Technology Curriculum Unit 5 • BUSHA
embarrassed about their lifestyle choices, or comments. In such a
world, we begin to lose an objective sense of right and wrong.
Why did the lack of busha become so
much more prevalent in our generation?
Psychologist John Suller wrote a paper on this in 2004, entitled
“The Online Disinhibition Effect” and here is what he has to say:
It’s well known that people say and do things in cyberspace that they
wouldn’t ordinarily say or do in the face-to-face world. They loosen
up, feel more uninhibited, and express themselves more openly.
Researchers call this the “disinhibition effect.” Sometimes people
share very personal things about themselves. They reveal secret
emotions, fears, wishes. Their disinhibition can even spill out in rude
language and harsh criticisms, anger, hatred, even threats. Or people
explore the dark underworld of the internet, places of immorality
and violence, places they would never visit in the real world.
What causes this online disinhibition? What is it about cyberspace that loosens the psychological
barriers that block the release of these inner feelings and needs? Several factors are at play:
YOU DON’T
KNOW ME
Dissociative
anonymity
(“my actions can’t
be attributed to
my person”)
YOU CAN’T
SEE ME
Invisibility
(“nobody can tell
what I look like, or
judge my tone”)
SEE YOU
LATER
Asynchronicity
(“my actions do
not occur in
real-time”)
IT’S ALL IN
MY HEAD
Solipsistic
Introjection (“I can’t
see these people,
I have to guess at
who they are and
their intent”)
The combination of any number of these leads to people behaving in ways that
they would otherwise not when away from the screen.
IT’S JUST
A GAME
Dissociative
imagination
(“this is not the
real world, these
are not real
people”)
SEE YOU
LATER
Asynchronicity
(“my actions do
not occur in
real-time”)
Dedicated in
loving memory of
Mrs. Tzipori Uhr
צפורה בת
ר'‏ ישראל,‏ ע"ה,‏
נפטרה כד'‏ טבת תשע"ו.‏
A shining paragon of
tznius, humility and
what it means to be
a true bas melech.
ISSUE 1 • TEVES 5777 • JANUARY 2017
INSIDE
Welcome
to the Penimi Newsletter,
where you, our valued
partner, will have the periodic opportunity to see the impact your
support is having on the chinuch of our children.
Nowadays, contemporary challenges demand that chinuch include
more than just the knowledge of Torah and mitzvos. No matter the
community, we can no longer assume that our children are safe from
the dangers of today’s challenges. Chinuch must encompass more.
Enter Penimi.
We understand the challenges facing today’s teens, we recognize
the difficulties they face and we are here to help. Our approach is to
work with them, not against them. Our goal is to educate, inform
and inspire, thereby empowering students to clearly understand and
navigate contemporary challenges. In doing so, chinuch becomes
more meaningful, lasting way beyond high school;
imbued within them throughout life.
How do we accomplish this goal?
Under the guidance and support of leading
Rabbanim, we have developed fascinating chomer
driven by Torah thoughts. For the Technology
Curriculum, research and statistical data were
incorporated. We’ve melded this information with
a very specific, proven methodology that addresses
the primary contemporary challenges of the 21st
century in an honest and direct fashion. We delve
into the psyche of the teen and then use those
insights to provide students with the opportunity
to truly understand and work through their
challenges on an intellectual and emotional level.
Rather than relying on rules alone, we focus on
intrinsic understanding.
Our chomer speaks so strongly on its own that the
choices become clear without the need for us to
dictate direction. The true essence of Penimi was
recently described by a student who explained: “Until
now when I needed to do something, it was a kabala
and I needed to fight with myself the entire time to
achieve it. Now it’s just something that comes from
the inside out. I developed a sense of - I don’t want to
do this, I don’t want to live my life this way. So, making
decisions to do away with an iPhone or lengthening
a skirt just happens on its own.”
Institutions around the world have recognized the impact of our work
and we have seen a tremendous increased demand for our curricula,
professional development seminars, parent workshops and on-going
teacher coaching and support. Penimi’s programs are now offered in
partnership with over one hundred schools internationally, and with
your support, this number continues to grow.
Thank you for partnering with us. Your ongoing financial support
continues to ensure that we have the means to develop and provide
the information needed to enrich, empower and protect the lives of
our children, the future of klal Yisroel. It is people like you that give
us tremendous encouragement and enable our efforts, and b’siyatta
dishmaya, our success, to continue.
With appreciation,
Mrs. F. Z elcer
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENT
Rabbi Elya Brundy shlita, Strongly Supports Penimi
We would like to express our hakoras hatov to our partners MR. & MRS. AVI SCHRON for opening up
their home on March 15 th to generously host a parlor meeting in honor of Penimi. The Schron Family has been a
supporter and friend of Penimi since its inception. Thank you for your unwavering faith in our mission.

Training Highlights
Ongoing Teacher Training,
Professional Development
Seminars and Parent Workshops
augment our curricula. These
high-impact events help
teachers, principals, parents
and mentors achieve the
heightened perception necessary
to understand the challenges
and the tools needed to reach
students of all levels.
AUGUST 30TH-31ST
Beis Yaakov Chicago IL,
Principal and Teacher Presentation
Effective communication regarding contemporary challenges was
the mission for this training series. The first evening, we addressed
the mothers of Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov, explaining why tznius is a
critical component for the overall development and wellbeing of
their daughters. The discussion included practical tips and a Q&A
session. The next day was geared towards all Elementary school
teachers and focused on the differences between intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation as a means to subliminally teach tznius, and an
honest look at how to do it effectively.
Penimi also met with teachers of both the Bais
Yaakov High School and Hanna Sacks High School
and discussed the “Six-Pronged Reactive Approach”;
how to effectively react to inevitable negative
student behavior and/or infractions through
creating a positive chinuch opportunity. Techniques
for non-defensive, positive interactions geared
towards influencing long term adherence rather
than short term compliance were introduced and
then practiced first-hand by way of interactive role
playing scenarios which proved highly enlightening.
Actions and Reactions
WORKSHOP/SEMINAR MAY 21ST
Bais Yaakov, Toronto, ON - Student
Penimi joined Bais Yaakov and their students on a trip to the countryside.
The primary focus of this one-and-a-half-day workshop was how technology
affects the human being. The girls described the workshop as “eye-opening,
powerful and intense” and spent several hours debating the issues.
Bais Yaakov, Toronto, ON - Student
Penimi joined Bais Yaakov and their students on a trip to the countryside.
The primary focus of this one-and-a-half-day workshop was how technology
affects the human being. The girls described the workshop as “eye-opening,
powerful and intense” and spent several hours debating the issues.
MAY 20TH-22ND
Torah Umesorah Convention, Presentations to Principals,
Brooklyn, NY
Penimi was honored to present at this prestigious annual convention. We
focused on guiding high school principals on the integration of the Technology
curriculum, as well as best practices for principals and teachers at the elementary
school level to be mechanech their students, both directly and indirectly, on the
impact and import of tznius. The goal of long-lasting appreciation and sensitivity
to inner tznius was discussed, along with time tested methods to achieve this
goal. Penimi then gave a crash course on “Six Pie - Six Categories of Tznius”,
availing principals of the language usage that hones in on these lessons. The
workshops were a resounding success and Penimi was inundated with requests
to present these ideas within individual schools.
JULY 28TH
MAY 27TH
Principal Workshop/Seminar,
South Fallsburg, NY
Sixty-five elementary and high school principals
from Boro Park joined this 5-hour training course
on how to better relate to the contemporary
challenges that students are facing. The top three
topics included: what are the challenges, how do our
students perceive teachers’ and parents’ reaction to
the challenges, and how can we be more effective in
dealing with them. Penimi also gave a crash course
on tznius. We explored rules - what they do and
what they don’t do- and took an in-depth look at the
concept of control vs. influence, discussing what the
short-term vs. long-term impact and implications are.
A lot of good questions followed, as did numerous
invitations for full-staff training.
Bais Rochel of Monsey, Parent Presentation,
Monsey NY
Penimi provided a 3-hour evening seminar to mothers
of 7th and 8th graders on the impact of technology.
The school placed such high value on this information,
they made attendance mandatory. Mothers were
given a virtual tool box of facts and issues to know
as well as guidance on how to develop an effective
language and communication about these issues with
pre-teen and teenage children. The presentation was
followed by a one hour Q&A session.
“On a scale of 1 – 10, I think
I would rate this class as a 17”
“This learning opportunity definitely changed me in many different ways, for one, it changed
my perspective on tznius as a mitzvah. Before, at times I used to get frustrated or upset or
maybe even a little annoyed. Now, I no longer despise this mitzvah. On a scale of 1 – 10, I think
I would rate this class as a 17. How do the writing critics phrase it? – “A MUST READ!!”, it was a
whole new way of learning and really was an amazing class.”
“Today our teacher Talia Schuss had her students present some concepts they learned on tznius
to the rest of the school - it was incredible!!!! They were confident, knowledgeable, entertaining,
deep; they fielded hard questions.......and these are girls who are not (yet) totally tznius!
Thank you for your program!”
“What I love about the style of the curriculum is: information, inspiration, awareness and then,
let the girls fly with it on their level. There’s no telling them what to do, it’s allowing each girl to
explore on her own – and that is the recipe for making the girls grow.”
“At the end of last school year, we sat with all of the students and teachers of Bais Chinuch
Seminary. Each teacher spoke and then students shared what they gained that year. One girl
said: The point which changed her mindset is what she learned in our tznius lessons- that we
ARE our neshama and don’t want to be seen as guf.”
Excerpted from a student’s
end-of-year Tznius Class
journal entry
Mrs. Tova Greenblatt,
Principal of Esther Miller
Bais Yaakov of St. Louis
Mrs. Frankel,
Principal of Bais Yaakov
d’Rav Hirsch, Monsey, NY
Mrs. Rechi Ovitz,
Teacher in Bais Chinuch,
Antwerp, Belgium
Monroe NY, Principal Presentation
Thousands of students were positively affected when Penimi met with the Principals, Assistant Principals and Curriculum
developers of this very large school. Penimi conducted a 10-hour training on contemporary challenges, and how an effective
targeted response can be developed. We conducted an in-depth training on the preliminary pieces, proactive approaches and
a reactive plan. Finally, we discussed how to ensure students remain open to and accepting of our messages.
“I just started the lesson on Busha and I am astounded anew at the potency and brilliance of
the work. The concepts, the build-up, the relevance, I am awed and grateful to be zoche to
share in spreading the message.”
Mrs. Fayge Loewi,
Assistant Principal,
Masores Bais Yaakov
High School, Brooklyn, NY
Penimi currently collaborates with over 110 schools worldwide, impacting thousands of students every year