Page 24 - Brooklyn MRKT Book

Hope Yael’s Story

When I first came to BCA, my self-esteem was

grows in literally in the dumps. I’d been told all my life that I’d
never succeed, never graduate high school, that I was
too dumb. I had just been kicked out of a high school
where I was constantly teased and insulted, and where
Brooklyn. mothers warned their daughters not to befriend me,
because I was a “bad influence.” The cause of this? I had
been sexually abused by a relative for years. My parents
were emotionally unable to do anything about it, and
no one else believed me – so I was trapped inside my
prison of pain, depressed, suicidal, even convinced I was
worthless.
Bnot Chaya Academy Until I met Rabbi Wallerstein.
Founded in 2008 by a team of legendary
educators and mental health professionals, Right from the start, Rabbi Wallerstein took me
Bnot Chaya Academy (BCA) provides a warm, seriously when I recounted the abuse I’d been through,
supportive home for adolescents in pain. and he immediately helped me take legal action to
Combining unconditional love, therapeutic stop this individual. Thanks to his guidance and
support, and a stellar academic program, the encouragement, I was able to get a restraining order
Brooklyn-based high school—located alongside against my relative.
its newly-renovated dormitory—embraces girls
who have nowhere to turn, and helps them This was just the first of many examples of how I
blossom into confident, capable students who finally found the warmth and safety I’d craved all my life
will lead productive Jewish lives. at BCA.

Below, we hear from three graduates about It took a lot longer to rebuild my shattered sense
what their BCA experience meant to them. of self, but the staff at BCA never gave up on me. They
believed in me even when I didn’t – and they constantly
showed how much they care. I remember coming down
*All names have been changed. with a severe case of mono my first year there. My
teacher actually made the two-hour trip to my parents’
home to visit me!

Today, I am so much stronger than I’d ever believed
possible. The girl who everyone dismissed as too stupid
to do anything with her life now has not only a high
school diploma but even a B.A. I’m working at a job that
I love, and looking forward to my future, to someday
BCA Administration getting married and building a family.

Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein And I can tell you one person who will for sure
Menahel
get a bracha under my chuppah. It’s thanks to Rabbi
Rabbi Yisroel Grossberg Wallerstein that I am who I am today.
Principal
Mrs. Chani Segall
Executive Director
Dr. Tamar Perlman
Clinical Director
Mrs. Miriam Handelsman
Substance Abuse Prevention Counselor

MRKT BOOK 24 BROOKLYN MRKT 2017