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April 16, 2004
Changing The System
Everyone is busy talking about changing the system. It’s practically the latest fad in the World of Chasidishe Blogs. All these changes to the system can be classified in one of two categories; the ones that will benefit everyone and the ones that will benefit some of us.
While I am part of the ‘some of us’ that will benefit from the changes in the second category, I understand that it is still wrong to make those changes. If only 90% of the student body can do very well without those changes, it’s wrong to change. It would be wrong to tell mechanchim to stop ingraining in children certain values that may not be strict Halacha. While you may argue that it may help influence 10% of students to look down on Yiddishkeit and may even eventually be a deciding factor in making some of those kids go off, it is still wrong not to try to ingrain the same values in the other 90%.
Let’s remember that there always were and always will be Yidden falling by the wayside. Yes we should do all in our power to keep the number to a minimum, but to sacrifice others to TRY and keep the number at zero is wrong.
Once a kid or teen is already identified as part, or potentially part of the 10%, that is when we must do all within our power to save that soul. In the last few years things have very much improved in that area. If a teen nowadays decides that the current system is not for him/her, there are people in most communities these days, in respected positions, that one can call and unload their heart to. Most of them will listen and do their utmost to help each teen in their individual situation.
Say a girl decides that the chasidishe way is not really her way. That while she wants to remain a torah-true frimme Yid, this is not the way for her. She can call on the Rebbetzin in her community, (I do not guarantee that all the communities listed at the very top of this page have one.) who will listen to her. If the girl is honest, with herself and with the Rebbetzin, that Rebbetzin will do what is necessary to help her. Should it be convincing the parents that she wants a working boy, or that she should go to sem, or anything else that should be done.
A girl who just goes out and does what she pleases with the excuse that this life is not for her, than that is all it is, an excuse. If she seriously wanted to be good, if she was inherently good, she would do all in her power to make her situation more livable but there are still certain lines she wouldn’t cross. Once a guy or girl crosses those lines, s/he may just be one of the few that fall by the wayside in every generation. And who knows, s/he may be one of the few in every generation to return after s/he hits rock bottom.
There is still much that could be done in this respect. These people should be more accessible and a teen should not have to feel bad about talking to one. Any communities that do not have people like that should get people who are smart, intuitive and good listeners to fill the gap.
The second category of changes are changes that will benefit everyone. Putting stronger emphasis on Yiraas Shomayim and Emunah, learning more of the reason of all the do’s and don’ts, would all go a long way in making all of us better Jews. But these changes will not happen any time soon. I may come across as less pro-teen-at-risk in this post but my belief in the Rabbunim of our generation did not increase much. I am also still very much pro-teen, but I think that the general system should not be affected more that necessary. If it works for eight out of a family of nine, it does not need to change because of the one. Yet, the one should still get all the help and support s/he needs.
I would like to give credit where credit is due but anonymity is now an important commodity.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Mordy Neuman
DATE: 04/16/2004 11:36:49 AM
Hhhmmm…. You brought out an interesting point. I actually find myself agreeing to what you said.
If you read The Case for Chinuch Today on my site, you’ll see that this issue is addressed and that the call for change is more geared towards a “benefit all” modification in the system. what we need is Veharev Nu, people must realize that Judaism is beautiful. The torah is not just holy and sacred, but also a guide for living a happy, fulfilling, gratifying and beautiful life. Our Mechanchim need to put a greater emphasis on that, as opposed to wanting us to be brain-dead robots following everything blindly and forcefully.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hasidicrebbele
DATE: 04/18/2004 09:49:31 PM
xclnt "if"ing.
can u please identify what changes u r talking about?
also u quote- "If (i did notice your "if" )only 90% of the student body can do very well without those changes," - i know for a fact that only 30% benefit, at an average level, and the rest r just staring at the walls and waiting to explode.
we need to do both, and with Hashem's help we will.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hillel handler
DATE: 04/19/2004 01:32:23 PM
Very important points, very well presented.
It seems to me that the actual statistics are 15% students on top, 15% on the bottom, and 70% "benunim" who could go either way, depending on the circumstances, like the Rebbe's qualifications, their exposure to a bad environment and bad Chaverim, their parents values, etc.
Changes in chinuch must be approached with great caution--there may be unintended consequences when you change a system that has been in use a long time.
However, there are times when changes may be called for. The Chovos Hatalmidim called for changes in his sefer, because he recognized that there had occurred a serious change in the temperament of the youth in his day ( before world war II).
Rebbe Yisroel of Chortkov told his Talmid Rebbe Meir Shapiro, to extablish a General Cheder, with vocational Studies, for boys who were not cut-out for the more rigorous educational track of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. Rebbe Meir also established Daf Hayomi for such Baalei Batim, so that they would be in touch with Gemara all their lives.
Rabbeinu Hakodosh--"Rebbe"-- made a huge change when he took the oral law and wrote it down in the Mishna, and then "closed the books" on the Mishna.
The bottom line is, as in all p'sak Halocho, you need to proceed cautiously, under the guidance of qualified Talmedei Chachomim who are aware of the consequences, intended and unintended.
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Posted by notepad at April 16, 2004 08:52 AM