Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

March 28th, 2022

Esther would frequently arrive at meetings between five and ten minutes late. It was tolerated due to her high level of talent, affable personality, and great work ethic, but she was getting the feeling that it wouldn’t be for much longer. Moshe had a habit of making big plans for Sunday afternoons - family time, home repairs, hobbies, and more - on the same day. When less than half of this would be accomplished, he felt like a failure. Thi …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

January 13th, 2022

The following was originally published as an article in The Five Towns Jewish Times April 16, 2021, pg. 101: David was more than a little skeptical. Years as a below average recreational poker player didn’t help him hide it. Neither did the bluntness of his personality. “ADHD?!” he snapped irritably. “Are you kidding me?! That’s what my kid’s teacher says when she can’t control the class!” &ldq …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

October 7th, 2021

This article was published in the September 10, 2021 edition of The Five Towns Jewish Times (page 107) with the title "The First Day of School." Yitzy trudged slowly through snow. His footfalls in his large, bulky boots made an audible crunching sound. The echo reverberated through the quiet small-town street. The truth was, though, that there were only two inches of snow on the ground. It wasn’t really the snow that was slowing him down. W …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

June 9th, 2021

I was quite proud of myself, to be honest. Despite all of the training and experience, sometimes working with people can be quite challenging - especially teenage people. This time, finally, I had managed not to let him get under my skin at all. And he walked away satisfied. Allow me to explain: One of my capacities in the yeshiva in which I teach is that of shoel umaishiv - one who is available to answer questions that students have when studyin …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

February 8th, 2021

It was disconcerting, to be honest. Yechiel carefully turned over the pen he was holding, watching it intently, and occasionally putting it in his mouth. A little bit of strange, absent minded fidgeting never hurt anyone, especially coming from a kid only about fifteen years old, but this felt different. One of my jobs in the yeshiva in which I teach is to be available in the beis medrash (study hall) certain times of day. I answer questions of t …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

September 7th, 2020

The first half of this article was published as a Letter to the Editor in the October 10 2019 Edition of The Flatbush Jewish Journal A few months ago, I bumped into an old friend (ie: “one with whom one shares no common WhatsApp chats”). We then dutifully proceeded to inquire about one another’s lives, which at least from his end, was not completely disingenuous. I told him that in addition to teaching, which I have been doing f …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

August 17th, 2020

Shimmy gazed off into the distance. His dark brown eyes appeared lost in the woods that are visible from my office window. His dark, calloused hands fidgeted mindlessly on the lip of my desk. Was he still with me? I wasn’t sure, but waited patiently. He finally responded.  “Nothing,” he replied, “Basically nothing. They diagnosed it because I was acting out in school, and I think it has to do with why I was always the …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 27th, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for the Bergen County Chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD,) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The third installment became a bit longer than intended. I am therefore divided it into …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 26th, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for the Bergen County Chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The third installment has become a bit longer than intended. I am therefore dividing it i …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 21st, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for the Bergen County Chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The second is about: Laying the Groundwork - How to Be the Parent You Need to Be in Order …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

May 19th, 2020

The following is adapted from a talk that I recently gave for CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD, an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD) on the subject of Creating Structure to Help Your Teens and Preteens with ADHD Get Schoolwork Done at Home. I am dividing it into three installments. The first is about The Value of Structure. Here goes: As a classroom rebbi for teens - and often the jumpier ones - th …
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Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reich

April 7th, 2020

Eliezer doesn’t call me often, but when he does it is usually important, time sensitive and - for good measure - quite to the point. So when I saw an incoming call from Eliezer last week, I was quick to pick up. “Shmuel!” “What’s up, Eliezer?” “Would it make sense that a kid with ADHD can spend hours building model airplanes uninterrupted, but behave very disruptively at dinner with the family?” &ld …
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