We address the difficulties in Chinuch of both 1. "Baalei Tshuvah" families and 2. "Bnei Torah" families:
1. Families of Ba’alei T’shuvah:
The lack of tradition in the matter of chinuch is a well-known problem among many ba’alei t’shuvah parents, resulting in difficulties in raising their children in the spirit of Yisroel saba and increasing the risk of “disconnect”.
Additionally, there is the complex problem of selective intake, whereby Bnei Torah institutions refuse to accept such talmidim, notwithstanding that acceptance would be of great benefit to the talmidim. (This is not the place to discuss the validity of this approach.)
Toras Chaim accepts full responsibility for such talmidim, giving special attention to placing them in a circle of success, fully absorbing them into the “system”. In parallel, the parents receive guidance, both privately and through participation in lectures and conferences: all this whether the father is in full-time learning or is working.
There are many ba’alei t’shuvah families in Rechasim (about 40%) and in the predominantly secular nearby Kiryat Tivon. Many of their sons are enrolled at Toras Chaim, all being received with love and treated with patience and understanding and molded in derech haTorah until their entrance to Yeshiva Ketanah. The parents also grow in Yiddishkeit along with the boys.
(Interestingly, one father removed his pony-tail, but only after several years.)
2. Families of Bnei Torah:
The Gedolei Yisroel who encouraged Rabbi Winnett to embark on this venture in 5763-2003 stated very clearly that drop-out does not begin at the ages of 17 to 20; rather, it is a consequence of inappropriate chinuch at the ages of 7 to 15. A talmid who does not feel love and understanding on the part of his teachers, or who has not succeeded in his studies, will inevitably revolt against Yiddishkeit as soon as he has the opportunity to do so.
The reality of families whose fathers are avreichim, who are blessed with many children, yet lack adequate financial resources – often results in great difficulty in devoting quality time to the children, the responsibility thereby falling on the Talmud Torah to compensate.
Toras Chaim has so far been blessed with over 170 “graduates” (in the seven years of the senior class): in this time, there were only four drop-outs, of which two returned. The close and warm relationship with graduates continues even with the talmidim who are now advanced bachurim in Yeshiva Gedola.