The following was written by a local rabbi in response to the Backer tragedy. My comments on it will follow.
This Tisha B’Av our community mourned twice. One was our national mourning over the destruction of the Batei Mishkanos and all they represent to us. Mourning over the great hester panim and Shchinta b’gelusah and over our lack of closeness to the RB”SO. Although each person is an individual and mourns in his or her unique way the basic concepts are the same.
We mourned a second time for a young treasure that we had here in Baltimore that was taken away from us due to an accident. A treasure, because all of our children are treasures, or potential treasures. Rarely have so many people participated in a levaya here, and rarely have we seen such an outpouring of grief.
Many young people grieved for the loss of their dear friend who was plucked away from them. There were many friends who were there who were friends of the families who are mourning. I saw however many hundreds of people who were there who had no personal interaction with the niftar or his family. Why were they there? It is true, we acted as a community should when one of our own suffers such a terrible tragedy. However, I think that something different was happening. What we saw as an outpouring of grief due to what is happening in our community. Young boys and girls, disenchanted, who are unhappy with life, unhappy with their families, unhappy with their leaders, unhappy with their schools and unhappy with themselves. The levaya made a very deep impression on me,seeing so many of them.
What are we doing wrong? What can we do that will make a difference? Due to my position as a Rav of a Kehilla I fall into the category of “leaders”. I urge you to please come forward and let me know how you think I could do things differently. I welcome constructive criticism and look forward to it. I welcome your ideas about any other aspects of this problem.
A fire is burning in our community (as it is all over) and we must do something about it.
A Gutten Shabbos,
1 comment:
I don't know who you are and ask for your forgiveness if what I say is perceived as any disrespect.
Simchas HaChayim is lacking! Laughter and joy while fulfilling Mitzvohs is not the standard. Self involvement is almost nonexistent.
We do more and more mitzvohs. But we are harried and ragged and often angry in attempt to make another zman and another deadline and another YomTov.
So many of us have become excellent robots programmed to do the Mitzvohs and when we have a question the Robot asks the Help Desk (aka whoever is their "rabbi").
What fun is there in all this? Why should a child want to be like his harried pressured depressed parent?
And then the issue of Yeshiva schooling.
Take the kids out of what has to seem like endless classroom time. Replace it with child appropriate and development stage appropriate activity. Allow the child to laugh and play and be silly! They need to. Replace rote with excitement and allow for creativity. Replace the robot with a Jewish Neshama that has life and a joyful spirit. May the RBS'O wipe out Mavet Lanetzach. May we merit the Geula Shelayma and UmalAa HaAretz Deah Et Hashem! BB'A
For fear of retaliation against me and my family by those who dislike what I wrote (and why does that exist in our community?)I have to remain anonymous.
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