Priority-1 marks 24th year in counseling and educating

On Sept. 7, Priority-1 and Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh, which are based in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, will hold their 24th anniversary dinner. Founded in 1987 in Cedarhurst, Priority-1 addresses “at-risk” teenagers, those who feel alienated by the Jewish educational system, and more susceptible towards reckless behavior. Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh and its Kollel Ner Yehoshua, is a mainstream yeshiva located in Bayswater, NY with a program of advanced Torah learning, which also provides extensive training to students to prepare them for the world of Jewish education.
Through its Community Training Initiative, Priority-1 provides free professional counseling for parents, teachers and students, in preventing substance abuse, addressing psychological needs, and learning disabilities. The Jewish Star spoke with founder and dean Rabbi Shaya Cohen on Priority-1’s mission in strengthening observance among teens that are born observant.
SERGEY KADINSKY: What is the best-known aspect of Priority-1? How do you identify signs of at-risk behavior?
RABBI SHAYA COHEN: We’ve pioneered that field with our alternative high school, the Torah Academy High School. It’s for young men whose needs were not being met in other schools; those who’ve found themselves pulled from the classrooms. We’ve given them insights and guidance. The key to recognizing this problem is to train teachers and parents to understand their needs, temptations and difficulties. The students deal with these issues. We’ve recognized the early signs of drifting.


SK: How does Priority-1 promote a positive image of the Torah among teens who are “drifting” from the Torah?
SC: The strongest insurance policy that we have against drinking, drug abuse, and gambling, among other addictions, is an appreciation of the Torah lifestyle and its benefits.

SK: What makes for a positive and inspiring learning experience?
SC: The learning experience has to be very interactive, more than lectures for a generation that was raised on sound bites. Lectures are not our mode of choice and as you can see, schools are no longer building huge lecture halls, but smaller rooms for sessions. We teach that the Torah will benefit you and is a source of happiness.

SK: From a nonobservant point of view, the Torah has so many restrictions. How can this be interpreted as a positive thing?
SC: It gives a person a good feeling to be able to control and maintain their behavior. Thinking is exciting. The Torah stimulates answers to difficult questions. Parents know their children are special, but when a stranger recognizes “I am special,” it makes them feel good.

SK: Is there a fear that a student who attended a program for at-risk teens would be stigmatized?
SC: Our program is geared towards mainstreaming the students. This includes our yeshiva in Israel and post-high school yeshiva and Kollel programs.

The dinner will take place on Sept. 7 at Lawrence Country Club at 7 p.m. For more information, contact 516-295-5700 or visit www.priority-1.org.