Reply To: Rav Wolbe

(Verbatim from Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe z”l)

“I used to live in a small village situated between Nes Tziona and Ramle it’s called

Be’er Yaakov. When we moved to this village there was no religious Kindergarten,

or religious school. My children didn’t have who to play with – and they were beaten

because they were religious.

I rushed to the Chazon ish and asked ‘What should I do? I can’t stay in Be’er Yaakov

for my children’s sake, I must be Mechanech them!’

The Chazon Ish replied, ‘To run away is not the solution, you should stay in Be’er

Yaakov.’

‘So what should I do with my children?’

The Chazon Ish replied, ‘At the next local election, join the community council

and make sure that there should be also a representative of the observant people.’

‘And what should I do with my children, with the neighbors hitting them?’

‘Have your children teach them to say Berachos,’ the Chazon Ish replied.

The Chazon Ish didn’t let me leave Be’er Yaakov.

I’m sure that the Chazon Ish cared about the Chinuch of the children, but he still

felt that leaving would mean running away. You come to a place; you must fill in

the needs of the Chinuch in the place.

Obviously, later Be’er Yaakov greatly developed, and it didn’t have just one religous

Gan (kindergarten), but three religious Gan’s, and two religious schools.”

(Verbatim from a Q & A forum with Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe z”l)