Rabbi Osher Shapiro, the son of the Naroler (נראול) Rebbe Shlita, is a known figure in the Stamford Hill area of London. Rav Shapiro is a true educator, with over 17 years of experience in the field in the hope of bringing youths who left the derech back to the correct Torah path. He has established an organization called Kol Bonaich (‘קול בונייך’) towards meeting the challenges involved in working with these youths, an organization backed by Gedolei Yisrael Shlita.
In short, the rav feels that based on his vast experience, the all-inclusive bans on the internet have made it more appealing to many and he feels this has contributed to youths defying the ban and beginning the path to a different lifestyle. Rabbi Shapiro explains the matter of youths off the derech is not a new concept and not one unique to this generation, a problem that was in existence before the internet and WhatsApp.
In a recent interview with Kikar Shabbos News, Rabbi Shapiro explains that instead of investing resources in love and affection towards these youths, we are busying ourselves with bans and prohibitions, which are not going to save them.
Rabbi Shapiro admits there are some using unfiltered internet, and this is not acceptable, but the idea is not an all-inclusive ban but to rather educate the young as to how one properly uses the internet, which is an integral part of today’s world. The rav stresses that “since creation” there have always been dangers that have caused people to stumble and this is certainly not limited to this generation. The question remains is how we address these issues.
“This generation should be embraced and loved and that is what is missing. I mean anyone who uses the internet with supervision or filter can bring a great deal of good into the world and spread spirituality” Rabbi Shapiro told Kikar Shabbos. He cites a case that occurred a day earlier in which WhatsApp was used to unit a lost pair of tefilin and the owner, as the latter forgot them on a train.
“We mustn’t sweep the problem under the carpet” adds the rav, who credits the Belzer Rebbe Shlita with being the first to address these realities openly and offer solutions. He laments how money is spent in treating the problem instead of preventing it and instead of trying to save the lost youths, the money would be better spent in preventing them from leaving the derech and this is doable.
Rabbi Shapiro explains he can attest to the fact from personal experience that a great deal can be accomplished with warmth and love for that is what many of these youths are seeking but instead, they are ousted from school and their community.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
If these youts wouldnt be ousted from scools but instead given private mentors who were taught jow to deal with them chances are thT coming back would not be so challanging because they were never thrown out.
Nu, comments…?
Just curious how anyone who not only goes against our gedolim gets any credibility by “the yeshiva world” news?
It is disgusting how a person can stoop so low and use his ancestors chashivus to openly try to disprove the message the gedalia of our generation are giving to the people. My gut feeling that he is the same “at risk” as the youth he supposedly is working with. And if his success is by bashing the words of the gedalia of our generation I’m scared to think what the future will look like for such a person.I wouldn’t be surprised if one day we find out who the real “rabbi” behind the levush hat and beard really is.
the message the gedolim not gedalia. I apologize for the mistake
At last someone of stature who sees that bans are not the answer, education is.
rh53:
You do not know how wrong you are.
1. I personally know Reb Osher. He does not need my accolades, but he is a real tzaddik. I do not know who you are, but there are very few who accomplish what he has done. Our Chachomim tell us, המקיים נפש אחת כאילו קיים עוךם מלא. Have you ever done that? Well, he has, many times over.
2. With all respect for our Gedolim, many have been uninformed, underinformed, or misled about issues of the day. Do any of them know just how many children are yeshivaless because of expulsion policies and restrictions on admissions that are highly questionable? They would be keenly aware of the severity of putting the kids into the street, but are misinformed that these kids are “rodfim”, threats to the entire yeshiva, almost always untrue. If one poses a partial question to a Gadol, the answer is worthless, and it is not the Gadol’s fault.
3. People mistakenly believe that the internet damages children. That is plainly untrue, and I encourage you to inquire from anyone who is involved with working with youth at risk. The kids are rejected, and go to the internet. The web does not snare them until they are thrown out. No one disagrees with the risks of unfiltered internet. But it is NOT the cause for the kids at risk. Our youth are being cast out, and find their way there.
4. Let’s get philosophical. Hashem created the internet. Hashem created chazzer. Even chazzer will have its day of kashrus. Internet has its kosher uses, and there are challenges to filter away the bad parts. HKB”H wants us to use it, but properly. B”H there are effective means of filtering and monitoring it. I assume that you also have a filter, and subscribe to what I am saying. If you have no filter, that would be hypocritical of you. There is much good to do, millions of hours of Torah learned via the web. It comes with nisyonos, like all of life. Banning fails to accomplish anything, except to give people more things to violate. Our Gedolim are misinformed, and the bans have no value. This is not their fault, but the ones asking them for giving a flawed picture of the issue.
Reply to rh53,
What do you know about otd? Must be you’re one of those who help society shove all real issues under the rug. You’re blind to reality. Banning will NOT help, the curiosity just builds stronger and the needs crave more. YES!! Teach us how to use technology instead of banning.
Rh53- it’s Elul now, do we know who you really are behind that computer. Only you know how you use it. The words of the Gedolim aren’t being bashed. To an uneducated buchor, he should not have open Internet access, but to a teen that is off the derech R’ Shapiro sees what’s app as a good tool to reconnect with them. I see nothing wrong with his position that you should outright mock his Yichus.
Rh53: why do you think you are of higher stature then this rav to just write him off. You speak of respect to gedolim but it looks like your missing it. If you are so careful in what YOU do their are many rabbonim who don’t think you should be on Ywn right now. First get it straight yourself and then maybe you would feel embarrassed to give your comments on an odom Godol. What does “our gedolim” mean? There are many gedolim with many opinions. Who said your rav is the only say in this world. I’m sure there are many gedolim backing him if he is doing a lot for otd kids. I don’t think you can be makriv kids if you are not there yourself.
I live in Stamford Hill London and I know the shapuro family very well. Mr shapuro is a kind and warm man and has helped countless boys come back to yiddishkiet and others not to stray even further. When all doors are being slammed in their face, these children ate always asured a warm welcome in his home. Of course the situation is not ideal especially as many have the mindset of “not in my backyard” and “out of sight out of mind”. Of course it would be much better if this problem didn’t exist but it does and oshy shapuro is doing his best to help. And yes he does have the backing of rabbonim. And it’s true that every godol has his derech and advice and they are not all identical. So give him your support or at least font attack him