Reply To: Going off the Derech

EH-you are right. My ‘knee jerk’ reaction was purely emotional, and I know it will not help my child. However, it is from these emotions that I get the push to advocate srongly for my child. Unfortunately, I don’t think most hanhala are going to be receptive to concerns about ‘pushing my son over the brink”, as much as they are going to be concerned with the reputation of their yeshiva. Perhaps only a kiruv yeshiva would have this sensitivity. Anyway, we are still looking and still davening, and b’ezrat Hashem, he will go to the yeshiva that Hashem has chosen for him.

zahavasdad/a mamin-I thought about moving many times, but I’m not sure it would be any different in another religious community.

I am worried that me speaking about his could be seen as lashon hara about Israel, chas v’Shalom. But I think the communities here in Israel tend to be more homogenous, either pretty religious, or pretty secular. And unfortunately, both groups seem to have much fear and little understanding about the other. The secular are fearful of their kids becoming religious, and the religious are fearful of their kids becoming secular. It is for this reason there seems to be so many walls and little acceptance. As much as it hurts me that (some) people here are distant, I can understand it…