Reply To: Going off the Derech

ganse-knacker-thanks for the suggestions and your offer to help. You are right about the communities being very polarized, maybe that’s part of the problem. Right now, my son wouldn’t consider traveling anywhere. But we have considered moving to a different neighborhood. A lot of other things are also at stake, so we are evaluating the pros and cons right now, and haven’t yet come to a decision.

Ultimateskier-I have that shiur by Rabbi Rubinstein, and have listened to it a few times. I’m so happy for you that you found someone who could teach you the beauty of Torah! Maybe as parents, somehow, the message doesn’t always come across to our children even though we feel it inside. I would be interested to know who the speaker was and the name of his book. You are right that the spark has to be ignited, and that it has to come on its own. I’m just so afraid that my son has pushed away all the possible shlichim who might have had this positive influence, and traded them in for bad “friendships”. You hit the nail on the head when you said ‘he has to open up to Judaism, and from there it will get better’. Well, if Rosh Hashanah didn’t inspire him, what will? I will keep praying nonetheless. Thanks for your insight,