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'{{Infobox person |name=Naftuli Moster |birth_date=1986 |known_for=Social Activism |occupation=Executive Director of [[YAFFED]] |nationality=[[United States|American]] |spouse=Miriam Lipsius }} '''Naftuli Moster''' (born 1986) is an American social activist. He is the founder and executive director of [[Young Advocates for Fair Education]] (YAFFED), an advocacy organization claiming to be working to ensure students at [[Hasidic]] [[yeshiva]]s in [[New York City]] receive a complete general education as defined by law. However the actual actions taken by his organization are really aligned to interfere as much as possible in the curriculum both religious and secular of all religious and private schools, evn thoise with secular education of quality far exceeding that of th epublic schools Moster was named in 2015 as one of the "[[Forward 50]]" in recognition of the impact in Jewish social activism and leadership.<ref>[http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/naftuli-moster/ Forward 50: Loud, Proud, And at The Heart of America: Naftuli Moster] The Forward, 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/nyregion/a-yeshiva-graduate-fights-for-secular-studies-in-hasidic-education.html A Yeshiva Graduate Fights for Secular Studies in Hasidic Education] New York Times (Nov 21, 2014)</ref> ==Biography== Moster grew up in [[Borough Park, Brooklyn]], one of 17 children in a [[Yiddish]]-speaking [[Hasidic]] family. He attended a [[Belz (Hasidic dynasty)|Belz]] [[yeshiva]] where secular studies were limited.<ref>[http://nymag.com/nymag/features/east-ramapo-hasidim-2013-4/index3.html Them and Them] New York Magazine, 2013.</ref> In the meantime he went [[off the derech]]. After his yeshiva studies, Moster attended [[Touro College]] and then [[City University of New York|CUNY]]'s [[College of Staten Island]]. He earned a [[Master of Social Work]] degree at the Silberman School of Social Work at [[Hunter College]] in 2015.<ref>[http://sssw.hunter.cuny.edu/ssw/silberman-student-works-reform-hasidic-education/ SILBERMAN STUDENT WORKS TO REFORM HASIDIC EDUCATION] Hunter College School of Social Work, December 3, 2014</ref> His education in his yeshiva focused mostly on religious studies, causing him several challenges applying for and studying at college.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Jennifer|title=Yiddish Isn’t Enough:A Yeshiva Graduate Fights for Secular Studies in Hasidic Education|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/nyregion/a-yeshiva-graduate-fights-for-secular-studies-in-hasidic-education.html|accessdate=12 March 2018|date=November 21, 2014}}</ref> While studying for his degree in social work, Moster founded [[YAFFED]]. He served as President of the organization from 2012-2016, and is currently Executive Director. Concerned that many other students in the ultra-Orthodox community might struggle as he did in trying to apply to college and learn skills that would enable him to make a living,<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/01/29/january-29-2016-ultra-orthodox-yeshiva-controversy/28831/ Ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva Controversy] PBS, January 29, 2016</ref> Moster founded the non-profit organization with the aim of ensuring that ultra-Orthodox students in private school receive the secular education mandated by the State of New York. Public education organizations and staff are often unaware of their responsibilities to students at private and religious schools. Moster discussed the problem of secular education with New York superintendents who have large Hasidic communities in their district. Through YAFFED, Moster is also hoping to raise the awareness of ultra-Orthodox educational needs in the Jewish community. The mission is to ensure all students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to earn a livelihood and to allow personal growth.<ref>"YAFFED: About Us"http://yaffed.org</ref><ref name=nytimes></ref> In an interview with ''[[The Jewish Daily Forward]]'', Moster noted that his approach to community organizing is not the traditional one. His style is "to get to those people who do believe in education, and enable them to speak up and ask their leaders to make some changes so their children can have a better future."<ref>[http://forward.com/articles/178624/getting-in-face-of-ultra-orthodox-on-need-for-real/ Brenner, Yermi "Getting In Face of Ultra-Orthodox on Need for Real World Education: Preaching Value of Skills in World Where Talmud Is King" (June 19, 2013) ''The Jewish Daily Forward''.]</ref> When publications in the insular community refused to publish information, Moster is willing to take a more direct approach, pursuing letter writing campaigns and direct billboards.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/New-York-to-investigate-haredi-schools-for-lack-of-secular-studies-410505 New York to investigate Haredi schools for lack of secular studies] [[The Jerusalem Post]], July 29, 2015</ref> Moster is also engaged as a [[public speaker]] on radio and at public events such as [[Limmud]].<ref>[https://limmudny2016.sched.org/speaker/naftuli_moster.1ulcwxxr Speaker Naftuli Moster] Limmud, Feb 14, 2016</ref> ===Family=== Moster married Miriam Lipsius on August 1, 2013.<ref>[http://forward.com/opinion/218183/my-hasidic-family-got-into-a-passover-fistfight/ My Hasidic Family Got Into a Passover Fistfight - Over Cake] The Forward, April 8, 2015</ref> She is a writer who received her MFA from [[Hunter College]], where she has taught creative writing.<ref>[http://zeek.forward.com/articles/118228/ Eyes on Jewish Education, Beyond East Ramapo - Why We Need More than Oversight as Schools Under Hasidic Control Fail NY Children] ZEEK, May 25, 2014</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Moster, Naftuli}} [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American Jewish community activists]] [[Category:Hasidim]] [[Category:People from Borough Park, Brooklyn]] [[Category:Yiddish-speaking people]] [[Category:Activists from New York (state)]]'