‘Genuinely warm and welcoming’: How kids are motivated to learn at Chabad Hebrew School in Arlington Heights
Every Sunday morning, something special is happening in Arlington Heights. While many kids might groan about the idea of more school, the students at Chabad Hebrew School are running in with excitement. What’s the difference? According to parents and teachers alike, it’s a mix of creativity, warmth, and meaningful Jewish learning designed with real kids in mind.
Mindi Turf enrolled her 6-year-old son Elliott at Chabad Hebrew School when he started kindergarten. A resident of Arlington Heights and someone who grew up in the Reform movement, Turf wasn’t sure what to expect. But the experience was everything she hoped for and more.
“It’s been very positive,” she says. “He looks forward to going every week. There are fun activities, he’s made friends, and he even sees some of them around the neighborhood, which is really nice.” The program’s small class sizes allow for individual attention from Yaakov Kotlarsky and his wife Chaiky Kotlarsky, who lead the school together.
“It feels like a little community,” Turf adds. “They get so much one-on-one attention. It’s very warm and personal.”
One of the unique things about the program is how each week’s lesson is paired with a STEM-based activity or craft. These projects make Jewish holidays, traditions, and values feel real and relevant.
“Whether they’re building models of the Temple, learning about kosher laws through science experiments, or designing a mezuzah with circuitry, the kids aren’t just listening,” says Rabbi Yaakov. “They’re building, creating, and truly engaging with what they’re learning.”
Turf recalls a Passover-themed event that left a lasting impression on her family.
“They did a matzah-making workshop around Passover, and I got to bring both Elliott and my younger son, who’s 3 (years old). It made the story of Passover feel real for them. It wasn’t just something we talked about it came to life.”
Karate-inspired Hebrew
The school also uses the Aleph Champ program to teach Hebrew reading. Inspired by karate belts, kids progress through color-coded levels, from White to Black, earning recognition and encouragement at every stage.
“It’s incredibly motivating,” says Chaiky Kotlarsky. “They’re proud to move up, and they don’t even realize how much they’re learning along the way. It builds confidence in a joyful, structured way.”
As a parent coming from a Reform background, Turf says she never once felt out of place.
“I’ve felt very accepted. There’s no pressure, no judgment. Everyone is genuinely warm and welcoming.” When asked what she’d say to other families who might be hesitant, her advice is simple: “Come to an event. Just experience it for yourself. You’ll feel how open and welcoming it really is.”
With no other Jewish educational options in Arlington Heights, the presence of this Hebrew School means a lot to families like the Turfs.
“If Chabad wasn’t here, we’d have to travel to another community,” Mindi Turf says. “But having this right here, in our own neighborhood, has been such a gift.”