Such a beautiful and necessary article, and well researched. I have one thing to point out, however. In your statement, “It is especially vital that we communicate to our children (and that necessitates that we believe it ourselves) not to lose faith in humanity, in Judaism or in themselves;”. It is as if you were walking along at a brisk pace, going in the right direction, and stumbled over your own feet, here. After all the warnings against personal hubris, you throw up the modern mantra of “self, self self”- don’t lose FAITH in HUMANITY, in YOURSELF, in JUDAISM. What… Read more »
Response from Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz: R. Tzadok writes in Tzidkat HaTzadik Keshem shechayav adam l’haamin b’Hakadosh Baruch Hu kach hu mechuyav l’haamin b’atzmo .A person must believe in their inner goodness or else they will never achieve their potential in the world .At the same time ,one must also know that without Hashem ,they can do nothing .Self esteem is a necessary element in avodat Hashem but it must be coupled with humility and self awareness of our vulnerability and weakness . Perhaps this dichotomy is best summed up by the famous aphorism of R. Simcha Bunim of Psischa :A person must… Read more »
Judy
2 years ago
This is a truly all-encompassing and excellently-written article and I’m sure I speak for all your readers when I offer my profound thanks for having taken the time and what I’m sure has been considerable effort. The only point I would have to add is your comment in the section entitled, “Don’t exxagerate.” You write, “As far as I [sic] know, there have been no scandals involving these procedures” I’m afraid that even in the sanctity of the mikva, my friend (a geyores of excepionally high standards) told me that in her mikva in Washington DC some years ago, a… Read more »
Such a beautiful and necessary article, and well researched. I have one thing to point out, however. In your statement, “It is especially vital that we communicate to our children (and that necessitates that we believe it ourselves) not to lose faith in humanity, in Judaism or in themselves;”. It is as if you were walking along at a brisk pace, going in the right direction, and stumbled over your own feet, here. After all the warnings against personal hubris, you throw up the modern mantra of “self, self self”- don’t lose FAITH in HUMANITY, in YOURSELF, in JUDAISM. What… Read more »
Response from Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz: R. Tzadok writes in Tzidkat HaTzadik Keshem shechayav adam l’haamin b’Hakadosh Baruch Hu kach hu mechuyav l’haamin b’atzmo .A person must believe in their inner goodness or else they will never achieve their potential in the world .At the same time ,one must also know that without Hashem ,they can do nothing .Self esteem is a necessary element in avodat Hashem but it must be coupled with humility and self awareness of our vulnerability and weakness . Perhaps this dichotomy is best summed up by the famous aphorism of R. Simcha Bunim of Psischa :A person must… Read more »
This is a truly all-encompassing and excellently-written article and I’m sure I speak for all your readers when I offer my profound thanks for having taken the time and what I’m sure has been considerable effort. The only point I would have to add is your comment in the section entitled, “Don’t exxagerate.” You write, “As far as I [sic] know, there have been no scandals involving these procedures” I’m afraid that even in the sanctity of the mikva, my friend (a geyores of excepionally high standards) told me that in her mikva in Washington DC some years ago, a… Read more »