He’s an educator, mental health counselor, psychotherapist, stress consultant, addictions specialist, and founder of several Jewish crisis hotlines and resource centers. What’s this Bobover chassid doing in England’s public schools with his long beard and frock, often the first Jew his students have ever seen?
Hundreds of school inspectors throughout England work for Ofsted the governmental Office for Standards in Education and each of them brings his own distinct cultural background to the job of inspecting public and private schools around the country. But line up all those inspectors and Rabbi Dr. Chanan Tomlin unquestionably stands out. With his chassidic garb and long beard Rabbi Tomlin sometimes gets odd stares from teachers and students who’ve never seen an Orthodox Jew; but his confidence dignity and natural warmth create a welcoming — if not curious — impression of the People of the Book.
“Of course there have been times when school principals were in shock when they saw me so I’ve made a point of calling before I visit a school and making sure that they know where I come from how I look and the rules governing my behavior ” Rabbi Tomlin relates meaning of course no food and no handshakes with women.
British law mandates that every school public or parochial meet certain standards. Rabbi Tomlin visits classes to assess teaching style and content level speaks with faculty reports on what needs improvement and examines the school building. But what is closest to his heart is the personal contact he has developed with students both Jewish and gentile.
As a former headmaster of London’s Yesodei HaTorah school a mental health counselor psychotherapist stress consultant addictions specialist and founder of several crisis hotlines and resource centers the Manchester resident father of ten and Bobover chassid is a sought-after advocate for kids in distress.
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