Sara Schenirer and the Wurzweiler School of Social Work held their joint orientation yesterday in Boro Park for the incoming social work cohort. The in person orientation gives new students a chance to meet and spend time with each other and get to know their professors.

The day began with an icebreaker activity led by Baila Halpern, Director of Social Work at Sara Schenirer followed by greetings from Rabbi Elazar Meisels, Dean of Sara Schenirer.

The new students collaborated in preparing a powerpoint video production to learn about each other and what drove them to enter the helping profession.

The afternoon featured an introduction to field work, led by Esther Lustig, the director of field and the members of her team, Kayla Freund, Gitty Kleinman, Deborah Marchuck, Mindi Rabinowitz, Libby Unger, and Devorah Weinstein. The field team’s preparation helped the group deeply understand their coming role as interns working as helpers on the front lines in their communities.

Baila Halpern and Esti Coates, Executive Director of MSW Religious Programs for Wurzweiller, delivered a comprehensive presentation preparing their students for their new lives as up and coming mental health professionals. A highlight of the day was an inspiring session with Professor Tzipora Shub on navigating the ins and outs of graduate school and learning how to survive and thrive through the program. The day wrapped up with a processing session led by Professor Alexander Rand.

More than just a day of information sharing, the new students left uplifted, inspired and eager to begin their new careers and start making a real impact on the lives of people in need.