The Learning Curve - Mishpacha

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Rabbi Ari Schonfeld and Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield tackle the important parenting issues facing frum families today
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Episodes

In episode 13 of The Learning Curve, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield discuss if you should allow your daughter to attend a friend's bas mitzvah, and if a parent should discourage a son from following a derech that differs from theirs. And the big question: What is going on with my middle schooler's middos?

Season sponsored by Israel Bookshop Publications

Shop now at https://israelbookshoppublications.com

In episode 12 of The Learning Curve, Rabbi Garfield and Rabbi Schonfeld have a deep discussion with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky and explore what different neshamos in this generation really need. Plus: how to keep kids excited about Shabbos, and whether mesifta causes boys to lose their personalities.

Season sponsored by Israel Bookshop Publications.
Shop now at https://israelbookshoppublications.com

In episode 10 of The Learning Curve, Rabbi Garfield and Rabbi Schonfeld discuss kids stealing; what age is normal, and when should you seek outside help? How can you help a child who refuses to accept accountability?

And the big question: Should a "new age" teacher keep some old world decorum in her classroom?

 

Season sponsored by Israel Bookshop Publications

Shop now at https://israelbookshoppublications.com

In episode nine of The Learning Curve, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield discuss if you should bribe kids not watch the superbowl, how a parent should approach poor Purim behavior, and welcome Rabbi Yoel Kramer, a chinuch legend, to the podcast to explain what makes a great Rebbi.

Season sponsored by Israel Bookshop Publications

Shop now at https://israelbookshoppublications.com

Published 2026-02-04

Let's Talk Mailbag

52 min
Open

In episode 8 of season 3, Rabbi Garfiel and Rabbi Schonfeld answer reader emails and voicemails, including how rebbeim can assur texting for bachurim when they have texting themselves, whose responsibility is it decide if a child should be medicated for ADHD, and how should someone know if he should go into chinuch?

Season sponsored by Israel Bookshop Publications! Shop now at  https://israelbookshoppublications.com/collections/sale

Published 2026-01-07

Let's Talk Gifted Children

71 min
Open

In Episode six, Rabbi Garfiel and Rabbi Schonfeld unpack their own eighth grade student experiences, discuss if you should parent someone else's kids, and answer the big question: What should parents do if their child's school is not equipped to handle the services they need?

Our guest, Mrs. Devorah Pinkus, can be reached at dpinkusconsulting@gmail.com

Published 2025-12-25

Let's Talk to Today's Menahelim

53 min
Open

In episode five, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield record live from the Torah Umesora Convention! They discuss convention takeaways and winter vacation stress, and the big question: If a school wants to medicate a child and the parent doesn't want to, what should you do?

On this episode, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield host a roundtable discussion with veteran menahelim. What does your child’s menahel wish you knew? How should a school balance your son’s unique needs with what they can realistically offer? And how can a menahel make each child feel special in a school with hundreds or thousands of students?

This podcast takes an honest look at three pressing parenting concerns: the pressures of mid-winter break, the balance between Purim fundraising and meaningful Yom Tov experiences for children, and the challenges of introducing a first phone to a preteen.  Guest Rabbi Yossi Strickman, founder of Project TRUST, joins the discussion to provide expert advice on safe technology use, helping parents navigate the digital world with confidence.

In our season 1 finale episode, Rabbi Garfield and Rabbi Schonfeld discuss the most relevant topic in a high school girl's life: seminary. They discuss how the goals of seminary goers have changed, how the cost impacts the decision to go, and if " seminary brainwash" is a legitimate concern. 

Also: How should a divorced spouse deal with drastic chinuch differences with their ex-spouse?
And the BIG question: Where does the pressure to get into seminary stem from, and should it matter?

On this episode, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield discuss a hot topic in boys chinuch: The role and importance of general studies in cheder and elementary schools. They discuss the challenges yeshivos face in implementing (and staffing) a general studies curriculum that is valued by students and parents. 

Also: What is the best way to work with a stubborn or rigid child? 
And the Big Question: Our son is very bright and a metzuyan in yeshiva, so why isn't he learning more than the basic secular subjects?

On this episode, Rabbi Garfield and Rabbi Schonfeld discuss one of the most impactful decisions a parent can have in their son's lives... where to send them for mesivta. They discuss the best way to best your child up for success in mesivta and beyond, and how to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. 

Also: What to really do when your child's school has different shittos than you?

And the big question: What is the parent's role and the yeshiva's role when choosing a mesifta for a child?

On this episode of the pod, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield delve deeper into mental health with renowned educational-developmental clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Shmuel Mandelman PhD. They discuss the single most important thing a parent can do to ensure positive mental health outcomes in their children, and the importance of choosing the best possible practitioners when it comes to a mental health professional. 

ALSO: Why does Rabbi Garfield appreciate when his students lie? How should we talk to our kids about vaping?

And the big question: How do I know when my child's behavior is normal vs. when it's time to get my child help?

In this episode, Rabbi Garfield and Rabbi Schonfeld discuss the stigmas around mental health with Dr. Yossi Shafer PhD. 

Also: Does the "work it out yourselves" approach to sibling rivalry actually work? Is it so bad if my daughter plays games on my phone when she needs to be entertained and quiet in public? 

And the BIG QUESTION: 
Do kids these days need therapy more than ever?

Featuring Rabbi Armo Kuessous and Mrs. Debbie Selengut, on this podcast, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield ask the questions you need to know before you send your kids to camp. 

ALSO: If you don't like the rules why do you send your child to that school? Are teacher gifts an unfair bribe?

And the BIG QUESTIONS: How are camps prepared to handle the extremely sensitive issue of abuse?  And what would be a big enough issue to warrant a child being asked to leave camp?

In part two of this important topic, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield continue their discussion about gemara with honored guests Rav Aaron Lopiansky and Rabbi Yaakov Oppen.

How do you reconcile the Torah's view of the age of the world with the theories that the scientific community suggest? How should we be teaching children that eisav soneh Yaakov practically, when they might have regular interactions with the umos haolam

And the BIG QUESTION: How do we relay to boys who are struggling with gemara that they are as equally as important as the metzuyanim?

The Learning Curve is a  podcast hosted by Rabbi Ari Schonfeld and Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield tackling the important parenting issues facing frum families today

Published 2024-05-05

Let's Talk Gemara (Part 1)

42 min
Open

On our first ever episode, Rabbi Schonfeld and Rabbi Garfield discuss the burning questions parents have about raising their children. 
Is there any validity to the opinion that forcing middle school boys to go to shul on Shabbos is the way to go? When your child reports "facts" that don't line up with that the teacher says, who do you believe?

And the BIG QUESTION: Is it possible my son is not cut out for Gemara?

The Learning Curve is a  podcast hosted by Rabbi Ari Schonfeld and Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield tackling the important parenting issues facing frum families today.