Cheder Levi Yitzchok and Bnos Chana exist to actualise the vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneersohn, as it applies to the education of Jewish children.
The Rebbe regards education as the fulcrum to achieve his hugely ambitious social vision. He contends that education must be geared towards the moral development of the child rather than the accumulation of a wide general knowledge. Education of this nature engenders a value system in which a sincere faith in God is axiomatically intertwined with civic responsibility.
In an interview with American educator and sociologist Dr Gershon Kranzler in 1951, the Rebbe elaborated on this vision for the interplay between education and much-needed social renaissance, as follows:
America's great genius has been in the development of the individual, of the pioneering and self-made man type. Although this helped in developing our potentialities by demanding every last ounce of ingenuity and perseverance, it has on the other hand focus too much attention not egoistic aims and interests. Personal goals have dominated. Only in our spare and leisure time, after we have carved our group in terms of economic or social success, have rededicated some time and efforts to philanthropic and communal affairs. We have been social workers on an amateur, after working hours basis. This pattern of life has been no less characteristic of American Jews than of other Americans.
But it is at this point that there must be a change of basic outlook and concomitant redirection and reorganisation of our existence as a community and as individuals. Primarily you must live the life of social beings, with the responsibility and dedication of our best efforts for the klal, the community. Only then can we afford to invest in our own individual aims and goals.
The Rebbe contends that a vertical dimension – reflecting Man's relationship with G-D – must be the unshakeable bedrock of activity in a benevolent society. In his talks and published works spanning over 70 years, the Rebbe seamlessly fused religious principle with subjects such as education, national security, stewardship of the environment, the criminal justice system and geopolitical relationships.
In this light, the educational diet offered to the students of the Cheder which strongly prioritises the development of prideful self-identity and an active moral compass, prepares our students for meaningful and even altruistic participation in an contribution to community and broader society.
… The underlying content [of chinuch] should be to reveal in the students their chelek Eloka mi’maal mamash in a way that it should penetrate their entire essence. This means that all of their actions, speech, and even thoughts will be permeated with G-dliness. …
… In all of their affairs there needs to be a a common, unchanging point, לא שיניתי, that fits with the will of the neshamah, the chelek Eloka mi’maal mamash. Although due to their young age this needs to be revealed to them, nevertheless, it is not necessary to create something new; one need only reveal what they already possess. One needs to bring it from a state of concealment to revelation.
… The role of a true educator is to find the right words to explain these matters to children. Even though they are still young and their intellect is not well-developed, the fact remains that they possess a chelek Eloka mi’maal mamash, and therefore their conduct needs to be befitting of this. All of their actions need to be permeated with G-dliness, Torah, and its mitzvos.
Hisvaaduyos 5745, vol. 4, p. 2301-2302