CRGO, as much as the world is so large and things are different in different places WE are all human beings, and with the same roots, unfortunately WE are still the same. WE are no different than our counterparts in E”Y. We suffered through the same things and still do. It took lots of time and lots of hard work on the part of parents and concerned community members to make changes here and and to establish a more productive approach and a better insight into what is going on. But in order to achieve it WE had to literally pull teeth and drag our own gedolim at least those that moved a few inches in our direction out of the sand and sink holes, and are still working on them every single day. WE have a long way to go to accomplish what still needs to be accomplished. And you in E”Y have yet to begin and start taking the baby steps that WE here have already laid out for you.k
Yes things are different right now if you compare the two communities, but that doesn’t mean that WE did NOT go through what you are going through and that many of our communities are still not just as stubborn and equal to yours. Did you not hear that nothing bad or improper happens in Lakewood or Williamsburg for that matter??? But in reality that is so far from the truth that it is a busha! People are people all over the world, in any community and in any religion. People are going to make the same mistakes and have the same bad apples wherever you go. It is the choice of those in that community especially those in charge to wise up and do something about it.
Change happens very slowly, but it only happens if people are willing to force change. If people are complacent and say “this is how things are here and it is not going to change” then it is individuals who have to choose to either live with the problems or move. On the other hand, there will always be those heros who will stand up for what is right and teach others that we are here to serve Hashem and NOT to serve the ideas and concepts of ONE or many individuals who run our communities. OUR jobs is tikun olam, and that does NOT mean the goyish world. We can’t fix the goyim if we don’t first fix ourselves. We can’t expect to hold the goyim up to a higher standards if WE are hypocrites and sinners. We have to first correct what is wrong in our own daled amos before we can go and point our fingers at the outside world for what they are doing wrong and against G-d’s will and wishes.
Is it G-d’s will that Rabbonim and mekomos Torah and teaching treat children as if they were objects without neshomas or feelings of any kind? Did Hashem not give them seichel to think with and hearts to feel with, not only brains to learn with? Is Yiddishkeit just a system of rules to follow such as “do as I say and not as I do”, or is Yiddishkeit a concept of love and respect. Aren’t we supposed to Love Hashem and ALL his creations? Isn’t a yid supposed to be b’simcha and love learning Torah and Love doing mitzvos and love being an example for others to follow?
How is it that Hashem made Batya’s arm long enough to reach across the water and save baby Moshe, but our Rabbeim only have a long enough arm when it comes to reaching out to offer a potch?
Am I the one that was taught incorrectly by MY parents and Mechanchim???