Project D.E.R.E.C.H. originated in Toronto and has now
reached Manchester, U.K. It has the haskomos of
leading mechanchim throughout the world.
It consists of a coordinated school program for all grades
covering the essential elements of derech eretz, from
the basic principles of behavior, such as the middoh
of hakoras hatov, through detailed analysis of
kovod and yir'oh for parents and teachers. Each
element is accompanied by a wealth of carefully graded
material and work sheets.
Project Derech has weekly bulletins to send home to keep
parents up-to-date with their children so that they can
review the lessons together. The scheme has been tried,
tested and enthusiastically acclaimed by many mosdos
chinuch in the States and in England, including London
and Gateshead.
The inaugural meeting was introduced and chaired by Rabbi B.
C. Dunner, in the presence of most of the leading rabbonim
and mechanchim of Manchester. Over seven hundred
people packed into the Prestwich Yesoday Hatorah Hall to hear
divrei his'orerus from Rabbi Shimon Hirschler of
London and Rabbi Chaim Kaufman of Gateshead.
The campaign is now in full swing. This is indeed a unique
campaign, combining all the various institutions of
chinuch in town so that everyone in town is learning
the same topic together!
The town coordinator is Rabbi Michoel Thursch, who is
ensuring that all the mosdos have appropriate
material. However, each school will implement the campaign in
its own way over the coming months. Surely, all of Klal
Yisroel will benefit together from this important
campaign!
