The story of Achoseinu

AS

the sun majestically dips below the horizon every Friday night, the glow of candles fills each home with beauty and light. Shabbos spreads its blanket of peace over every home — and now you just want to relax. The days are full, and the couch beckons. And yet, a growing group of enterprising high school girls refuses to succumb to this weekly inertia. Mustering energy and enthusiasm, they march forward to lead groups of younger girls, teaching, inspiring, and guiding them in the halachos of shemiras halashon, ona’as devarim, and ahavas Yisrael.

Putting Down Roots

Five years ago, Mrs. Mimi Haskell was a student in a Lakewood seminary. A born teacher, Mimi had a strong desire to give and decided to form a Friday night shmiras halashon group for younger girls in her neighborhood.

“It gave me tremendous sipuk,” Mimi says. “Hashem gave me the ability and desire to teach, and I found it deeply satisfying.”

“Why stop there?” her aunt wondered. “Why not create groups all over Lakewood?”

Intrigued by the idea, Mimi roped in her friend Nechama B. and got to work. They reached out to the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation (CCHF), and with trademark enthusiasm, Mr. Rothschild and the CCHF offered support to help the program spread. With Mimi and Nechama at the helm and CCHF on board, Achoseinu was born.

The Early Days

“Accompanied by my aunt, we spoke in some local schools to recruit leaders. Thoughtful girls stepped up to be leaders, and we realized they needed materials. How could the girls teach without resources? So, Nechama and I found printed lessons on shemiras halashon and photocopied and distributed them to our new leaders,” explains Mimi. In short order, Mr. Rothschild hired the two girls to run the program under the auspices of CCHF.

During their second year, they expanded their efforts and went to speak in schools in the Five Towns and in other cities as well. They also spoke at a Mishmeres convention, which was a wonderful opportunity for publicity and recruiting leaders. Mishmeres, another innovative program spearheaded by the CCHF, is a monthly extracurricular program in high schools focused on speech, middos, and relationships. Eleventh and twelfth graders serve as Mishmeres heads, utilizing creative materials and projects to improve relationships between students.

The exponential and rapid growth of Achoseinu is breathtaking! In 2021, Achoseinu spanned many places across the world, including New Jersey, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Connecticut, California, Maryland, Canada, England, Austria, Vienna, and Brazil. Since then, even more cities have joined, and the ripples continue to spread.

“We have an amazing recruiter in Canada, Leahle K. Last year, she began a Yiddish version of Achoseinu, and we hope to continue that this year,” Mimi says. “It is a zechus and privilege to manage Achoseinu, and I’m grateful for the help of my wonderful secretary and sister, Gitty N. My other sister, Hindy, is also a huge help, bringing along friends each year to help us package mailings.”