LONGMEADOW –  Congregation B’nai Torah in Longmeadow is host to the latest way to exercise your mind, to come together with others and socialize: a Chess Academy.

The Chess Academy has begun at B’nai Torah on a weekly basis where any individual from the area of any age is welcome to take chess lessons.  Gregory Yashgur was the driving force behind the start of the Chess Academy.  He noted that the academy is meant to be a friendly, non-competitive environment for individuals to learn and grow.

“We believe that the experience should be pleasant, positive and enjoyable. It’s a communal thing because people come in, and they engage and they socialize,” Yashgur said.

Qualified United States Chess Academy (USCA) instructor, Taylor Rusch, teaches the Chess Academy students.  Rusch played chess competitively in the past. Additionally, he is the coach on chess.com.

Currently, the Chess Academy has seven students.  Yashgur stated that one weekly chess class can effectively serve 16 people, and they would consider adding more sessions each week if there was a demand.

Rusch offers private lessons as well, Yashgur noted, and is adaptable to students’ needs and learning styles.  Additionally, he uses a certified curriculum to teach his students.

The town of Longmeadow is currently working on becoming a “dementia friendly” community, focusing on bringing education and awareness to residents, town employees and emergency personnel regarding memory loss and treating individuals affected with dignity and compassion.  Though they have yet to complete their own formal research on the topic, Yashgur and Marketing Director Yael Hoffman believe there could be a correlation between chess and enhancing memory.

“There is scientific-based evidence that playing chess can be therapeutic, stimulate concentration, memory, agility and thinking,” Yashgur noted.

At the present time, the Chess Academy is serving students that range from age nine to 84, however Yashgur said students could start learning to play chess at a much younger age.

“There are some kids in our community that would like to come that have specific needs, and we can work with parents.  Inclusion is very important to us,” Hoffman noted.

For more information on the Longmeadow Chess Academy contact Yashgur at lchessacademy@gmail.com, through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/longmeadowchess/ or by phone at 847-0183.  All classes take place at B’nai Torah at 2 Eunice Dr. in Longmeadow.