Silverstein Hebrew Academy (SHA), in partnership with Chabad of Great Neck and Lake Success Chabad, recently sponsored a community workshop for local parents featuring Columbia University psychologist and mediator, Kira Nurieli.
More than twenty parents attended the interactive program, which focused on defining and refreshing values and how parents can best convey their values to their children.
“Everyone in attendance greatly benefitted from Kira discussing the challenges we all face as parents in trying to teach values to our children,” said Shireen Butman, the head of school at SHA. “As Kira so clearly explained, it starts with our own self-reflection and defining what our own values are and understanding how our everyday actions either do or don’t convey those values to our children.”
“At Silverstein Hebrew Academy, we pride ourselves in educating the individual inside and outside of the classroom, Butmann continued. “Ensuring that we raise individuals who exemplify values is critical to us. Kira has offered fantastic advice to our parents to help them overcome everyday challenges and communicate with their children more effectively.”
Chanie Geisinsky , the associate head of school, noted, “Teaching values is so very much a part of what we are dedicated to at Silverstein. Teaching with an open mind and an open heart truly means teaching not only academics and our Judaic traditions, but the values we hold dear as parents and educators; both our Jewish values and our responsibilities to our Jewish community and the values we cherish as members of a global society. When we as educators can align and partner with our parents in what we are trying to impart to our children, the possibilities are limitless.”
Parents at the workshop participated in an open discussion, while Nurieli offered techniques to assist parents in defining and discussing values with their significant other and their children. The workshop also focused on family dynamics, such as how to deal with and express anxiety and stress both personally and in front of children.
Kira Nurieli is a New York certified mediator with a Master of Arts degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University. Her work centers around working with groups to create innovative solutions to corporate, community, family, and school challenges. Her coaching, workshops, and consulting empower clients with greater awareness of dialogue patterns, socio-cultural schemas, and power dynamics to enhance and energize individual and group performance. Personally, Nurieli applies her conflict management experience in raising her five children to be resilient, mindful, and well-adjusted.
Silverstein Hebrew Academy, Chabad of Great Neck and Lake Success Chabad acknowledge the graciousness and hospitality of Natalie and Uri Pinchasov for hosting the workshop in their home.
For more information about the Silverstein Hebrew Academy, visit www.shagn.org or call the school at 516-466-8522.
