A few of us have been renewing our writing recently about the factors that contribute to frum people going off the derech ("OTD"). See, e.g.:
* Rabbi Harry Maryles: Elisha ben Avuya
* Dixie Yid: Where to Focus When Adults Go Off the Derech
* Frumhouse: Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall
* Frumhouse: The Key is Maintenance
Please read Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz's article on this topic.
Some have already commented on it:
* Brooklyn Wolf: Wolfish Musings
* Rabbi Harry Maryles: The One Two Punch
* Update: Yosef Hakohen: The Proper Place for Criticisms of Jewish Communitities
He asserts the what-should-be-obvious point that if we do not teach our children to be proficient in reading, writing and speaking the language of the country we live in, we are crippling their ability to do their hishtadlus in parnasa, to work in a bekovadikeh way, an honorable way. Ein somchin al haneis, we do not rely on miracles. Where there are problems with parnasa, there are usually also problems with shalom bayis and self-esteem. And where these problems exist, even more problems arise that can cause the children in these families to be moved in the direction of going OTD.
It would be quite worthwhile to see his article. (LINK)
-Dixie Yid
(Picture courtesy of Picasaweb)
Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.
2 comments:
Thanks for linking to Rabbi Horowitz's article. It looks like an interesting and timely topic!
I don't know about that, traditional Chasidim, like Satmar or Bobov, teach their children the least English; and they seem to have the least problems with going off the derech of any community. They do manage to know enough English to interact with people anyway, though.
Post a Comment