Growing up as a child, the thrill and ambiance of Yom Tov was beyond words. But as you grow up and get older, and the exuberance of a Yom Tov unfortunately falls away, that earlier thrill must be transformed into reverence for it. Unfortunately, it is obvious that many people are stuck in a stage of arrested development when it comes to this.
To be a little more specific, take a look at the offerings for Chol Hamoed. Once upon a time, Chol Hamoed were days of family get-togethers, learning, and relaxing – rejuvenating for the post-Yom Tov period. Today, it seems that Chol Hamoed has become more than that – it has turned into a commercial bonanza, with enterprising individuals attempting to hijack true Simchas Yom Tov and replace it with Chukos HaGoyim.
To be even more specific, allow me to provide an example. This upcoming Chol Hamoed will feature entertainment for our youngsters that is little different than them simply going to a movie theater – which, I hope, is a line that you would not cross. These aren’t simple videos being shown to our youth, but full-on Hollywood-esque productions that have nothing to do with Yiddishkeit, have no taam of Yiddishkeit bichlal, and is no more than a way to get the adrenaline of our kids pumping – and in the process, making them completely forget about the awesome day that it is – Pesach!
To be clear, there are Kosher venues for entertainment. There are even kosher videos that will be shown to kids. But right alongside them are ones that have no business being shown to impressionable Yiddishe kinderlach. I am obviously referring to one specific video, but dai l’chakima b’remiza – do your own research.
This brings us to my main point: Chol Hamoed is not a vacation day. Especially on Pesach – fresh off the Sedorim in which we recognize and acknowledge the Yad Hashem in every part of our lives – we should be doing better than nonchalantly allowing our children to forget the lessons of Hashgacha Pratis that we literally just worked to ingrain in them. And the way they forget about Hashgocha Pratis is by being fed the garbage of Chukos Hagoyim. We must not allow it to continue any longer.
Name withheld upon request.
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10 Responses
We get it. Anyone that does less than you is a Goy & anyone that does more is a Meshuga Kanoy.
Why freeze time at your generation?
Chol Hamoed for my family is walking 3 miles down a muddy dirt road with holes in our shoes to get a sugar cube from the town Gvir Likavod Yom Tov. Ah, the good old days when Yidden really understood what Chol Hamoed was all about.
BH I have no clue what you are talking about
Well written letter.
Why don’t we have an organization committed to producing wholesome inspiring entertainment for the frum community? I believe such a concept exists in the Chassidic Yiddish speaking community.
I have been hearing phrases to the effect of that anyways there is no חול-המועד this year פסח. I really cannot comprehend nor fathom what they are talking about:- My calendar has חול-המועד commencing Wednesday 8.30PM thru Sunday 7.31PM.
I’m in my mid 40s and for my entire life chol hamoed activities have looked pretty much the same. Amusement parks (nellie bly, adventureland, six flags – depending on travel and budget), concerts at night, maybe the aquarium or the zoo.
I don’t see the horror, sorry. Children can be children.
I don’t see where he implied that anyone who does more than him is a kanoi but I do see where he implied very strongly that you are a goy or close to it and I would concur
I like Haimy’s comment, maybe they can bring it over to the English speaking olam. Focus on things that remind us what it was like in the Beis HaMikdash.
Kuvult, which shtetel your are from? My local Gvir has been struck with dysentery and is not giving out this year.
I don’t know what video OP’s talking about, although I do appreciate the idea that we treat CH”M more as a vacation than an extension of Yom Tov, but let me respond to that.
In the past 40 years or so the yeshivos have basically decided that bochurim should almost never have a break. Even those few times that they get breaks (off-Shabbos/bein hazmanim) Don’t count because they’re warned that any kind of medical or other appointments, or other administrative things that must be done, should be scheduled for those days and not during the regular term. This is especially true if you have multiple kids in multiple schools with multiple schedules, when exactly are you supposed to do any activities as a family?
So CH”M has become that time, more out of sheer necessity than anything else. Everyone is actually home for a change, and because everyone’s schedules are synced, it’s the best time for any kind of organized event. So if you want to get upset that we’re not treating CH”M with the respect it deserves, I ask you, can. We then actually give kids and teens other times to take actual breaks and spend time with their families?
The person who wrote this is right. Unfortunately, nobody will listen. People are so numbed by the excessive consumerism/materialism of our current “frum” culture that they cannot hear the truth. They will always deflect with sarcastic comments about “old people” (mesilas yeshorim mentions this). There is no point in even talking about this issue because the Rabbonim don’t do anything about it and nobody is listening anyway.