What is Zusha?
Zusha is a group for Year 8 & 9 boys to learn, socialise, and simply hang out. We will be running a weekly program with professional and community speakers, workshops, social events, games nights and various outings. All our programs will be directly targeting teenage boys and thus will be age specific. For example, a professional speaker will be brought to run a workshop for the boys exploring the emotional challenges that teenage boys face throughout adolescence.
What’s with the name?
The name is inspired from the following Chasidic story told of Reb Zusha of Anipoli:
Reb Zusha, the great Chasidic master, was laying on his deathbed surrounded by his disciples. He was crying and no one could comfort him. One student asked his Rebbe, "Why do you cry? You were almost as wise as Moses and as kind as Abraham."Reb Zusha answered, "When I pass from this world and appear before the Heavenly Tribunal, they won't ask me, 'Zusha, why weren't you as wise as Moses or as kind as Abraham?' rather, they will ask me, 'Zusha, why weren't you Zusha?' Why didn't I fulfill my potential, why didn't I follow the path that could have been mine? And then what will I say?"
The primary goal for Zusha is that the boys will reach their potential as young men in the world and in the Jewish community.
Where?
The boys will receive their own unique and exclusive space, with Zusha running in the apartment located within the Shule building. This space will be decked out with age-appropriate accessories such as video games and a ‘games room’ featuring the likes of table tennis and foosball tables.
Why?
While our Bar Mitzvah program is very successful at Caulfield Shule, like many shules, we struggle to attract boys after their Bar Mitzvah journey is complete. Zusha will provide a post-Bar Mitzvah framework for teenage boys to continue their development as young Jews in the world, forming meaningful friendships and ultimately empowering the next generation of leaders at Caulfield Shule.
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