Released Time

Released Time religious education activities, abbreviated as "Shelah" (in English: NCFJE), is an educational framework for children who do not receive Jewish education in their regular educational setting.

History

Until 1940, the American Constitution prohibited religious education within public schools. In 1940, a law was passed allowing a weekly one-hour release on Wednesdays in public schools to enable students to study their religion outside the school framework.

When the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived in America and Machne Israel was established, this framework was created under the leadership of Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Hecht and Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Machne Israel began operating to utilize this hour for teaching Judaism. The hour was the last hour on Wednesday, hence its popular name "Wednesday Hour" ("Mitvoch Hour").

Within this framework, Temimim students would go out to teach Judaism throughout New York and its surroundings. Over time, this organization developed into Mesibos Shabbos. In 1976, with the announcement of Mivtza Chinuch, this organization gained momentum and became established.

Over the years, the activity was transferred to the responsibility of the Committee of Jewish Education.

In years when Lag B'Omer falls on Sunday, the organization is responsible for conducting the 'parade' in front of 770, where Eastern Parkway is closed to traffic and tens of thousands of children pass before the Rebbe accompanied by exhibits and signs with Jewish messages.

Foundation Years

The institution "Shelah," or by its common name "Committee of Jewish Education," was founded by the Frierdiker Rebbe as part of the "Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch," under the directorship of his son-in-law, the Rebbe. The organization's purpose was to provide Torah and Judaism classes to hundreds and thousands of Jewish children who studied in public schools in the United States, within the framework of the Greater New York Release Time program.

Many Jewish families were saved from assimilation and became Torah and mitzvah observant thanks to the Shelah program, which brought them to recognize their Judaism, revealed their Jewish pride, and encouraged them to learn more about their Jewish identity.

Publishing

In 1945, children's booklets called "Shelah" began to be published and distributed free to Shelah participants. They featured serialized stories illustrated by Mr. Michael Schwartz. The Rebbe (then "The Ramash") who guided him and taught him a chapter in Jewish illustrations, would advise him on improving the drawings both from a Jewish and visual perspective, to make them more engaging and attention-grabbing.

Once (in 1945 or 1946), Mr. Schwartz came to the Rebbe, who was wearing tallis and tefillin, and the Rebbe pointed out several necessary corrections.

Cost of Participation

In the farbrengen of Simchas Torah 1956 ('Toras Menachem' Vol. 15 p. 159), the Rebbe spoke painfully about the lack of proper participation in the work of Chabad institutions. The Rebbe enumerated and detailed one by one the important institutions of his father-in-law, the Frierdiker Rebbe, with "Released Time Studies" – a weekly hour for Jewish studies with public school children – appearing between "Tomchei Tmimim" and "Beis Rivkah":

"He has no time to deal with the Rebbe's matters, like 'Tomchei Tmimim', 'Ohalei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch', 'Machne Israel', 'Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch', 'Released Time Studies', 'Beis Rivkah'..."

A Good Beginning

In a report written by the Shelah committee to the Rebbe in 1963 about activities to expand classes, the Rebbe responded:

"May it be His will that this be a good beginning to fulfill our Sages' command to 'establish many students' as required."

Next to the section in the report about instructors who stay ten minutes or more after the study hour to talk with the children and influence them to observe additional mitzvos at home and register for Torah schools, the Rebbe wrote:

"Thank you for the good news."

And when they noted that they request the Rebbe's blessing for success in all the mentioned activities, he wrote:

"I will mention at the tziyun for the above, and this is the year of [150 years since] the passing of the Alter Rebbe..."

Later, in 1975, the Hebrew-speaking department was established, following the wave of emigrants from Israel. For Purim 1976, an issue of "Daf LaYad" that they prepared for the children was brought to the Rebbe. The Rebbe, who had just arrived from his home, immediately turned to read the issue, despite piles of mail that had been waiting earlier for his responses, and commented on the story there that Mordechai HaYehudi, Esther HaMalka's uncle, did not bow to Haman. The Rebbe circled the word "uncle" and wrote:

"Son, Megillah 7:2, to correct."

That is: in Megillas Esther there it states: "And he raised Hadassah, she is Esther, his uncle's daughter."

In New York

Every week, hundreds of bochurim go out for activities on Wednesdays throughout New York City. Thousands of children participate weekly, and several camps are held throughout the year. The activity managers are:

• Rabbi Shimon Hecht
• Rabbi Shneur Zalman Kalman Tzirkind
• Rabbi Saadia HaKohen Engel
• Rabbi Yehoshua Shneur
• Rabbi Yitzchak Bogomilsky

Release Time is also conducted in several states across the United States.

In Israel

In Israel, although there isn't a weekly hour, Chabad chassidim take advantage of summer vacation to provide Jewish knowledge to children who study in frameworks that don't teach enough Judaism.

During summer vacation, dozens of camps are established where hundreds and thousands of children receive kosher Jewish education. Special booklets for Jewish learning and activities were issued by Tzeirei Agudas Chabad of the Holy Land.

In recent years, the Yehadudas organization was established - which aims to restore former glory and institutionalize Shelah activities in Israel. The organization maintains dozens of summer clubs throughout the country, where children learn Jewish values in a fun and enjoyable way.

See Also

Chadrei Torah Temimah Lubavitch