Reb Arel's vision for the Cheder
Reb Arel Serebryanski OBM, the driving force behind the Cheder, was a dedicated shliach of the Rebbe for almost 70 years. A shliach doesn't originate a vision, but rather he seeks to faithfully prosecute the vision of the Rebbe. In the context of chinuch, that ultimately compelled the establishment of a moisod locally that would deliver high-quality chinuch al taharas hakoidesh for the children of Anash.
Reb Arel envisioned a cheder suffused with chassidishe warmth and joy, where through the living example of the teachers and the careful construction and delivery of the special purpose curriculum, the talmidim would be infused with Yiras shomayim, hiskashrus to the Rebbe, a spirit of altruistic concern for the welfare of others, and a burning desire, through their own efforts, too accelerate the coming of Moshiach. During his lifetime Reb Arel empowered and inspired those more directly involved with the operation of the Cheder through the timely dispensation of wise counsel, encouragement and appreciation, and through his regular participation in special Cheder programs. Reb Arel also taught talmidim in the Cheder's original cohort and it was through Reb Arel they were able to gain proficiency in Yiddish, a love of Chassider maasehs and a deep appreciation of what it means to be a devoted chossid.
Reb Arel was at once highly idealistic and intensely practical and this translated into crystal-clear guidance about mission and strategy respectively. Set out directly below is a distillation of Reb Arel's primary takonas for the Cheder – what we refer to as ‘Reb Arel's Guiding Principles’.