In any other circumstance my post would be inappropriate as it would be be’geder lashon hara…However, once the speech has been made and later reprinted, it requires answer from benei torah.
This speech consisted of populist feel-good rhetoric meant for self aggrandizement and public self pleasuring for personal gain for the further purpose to increase populist standing without regard to the damage such words would cause…a jewish Trump. While some of the sentiment is correct, it is just that, sentiment, devoid of careful reasoning and positive approach or inspiration to a community regarding the issues addressed.
It is easy to tear down a community and be amongst those who sit in the back of the shul and complain, the “they should” crowd…they should…they should..they should…there should be…there should be…there should be…It is easy to join the “they should” crowd. This was not the sort of rhetoric appropriate for public consumption and will only stoke the coals of populist murmuring and discontent among our congregation; it will cause only further division.
Do you think that every principal and rosh ha’yeshivah has not anguished and cried over every child who can not find a place? This approach was most inappropriate and serves only to deride and tear down. There is little positive here. This was a waste of influence from a most well-meaning wonderful man who has so much ze’uchuth in his pocket who strayed into foreign territory squandering his potential influence and ability for engendering good will and even more importantly, good results…He could have used his position and influence to inspire and offer positive solution without the negative and words of destruction. He most likely regrets terribly his words.
Those who write and say that “it is about time…” are mislead by populist sentiment without regard for reality and the good works of others who work behind the scenes for the good of all. The speech which was entirely one-sided left out consideration for the parents who have placed in their child’s mind that he “must” get into such-and-such a school “or else”; if hd doesn’t get in, he will be a failure. Parents are sharing everything which is inappropriate to share with their children these days and discuss in front of their children that which should not be, just to mention one or two small examples. Today, everything is discussed with and in front of our children without regard for what is appropriate and what is not. Every sentiment and “feeling” the parent has is discussed with and in front of the children today without sense of propriety or realization of the potential damage. No wonder the child is heart-broken after having been set up by his own parents. We do not guard our tongues in front of our children…
This is far too involved to fixed with a few posts from be’nei torah on a web-site. May HaShem heal us from this terrible avlah and may we learn from our mistakes and become better people and avdei-HaShem; may we better learn to remember what is appropriate public speech and what is not.