One of the things we learn from this horrible tragedy is that there are things we just can’t understand. Like why, of all the people Leiby could have asked for directions, did he ask Aron? We’ll never know, but HKBU runs the world. We don’t know whether or not he was forced into the car or got in there on his own.
As a parent, although my children are now older, some of the lessons parents can draw from this are simplistic. NEVER get into a car with a stranger. If you’re lost, go into a store, or ask a policeman for directions. Always have a few quarters, just incase you need to call someone (not that I can think of anymore payphones on streets in the vicinity where this occured).
Hundreds of 9 year olds walk in Boro Park every day, without issue. Generally, it’s a very safe area. Common sense is not a fully developed skill in such a young child. Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies of this whole nightmare is the fact that we have to tell our children “you can’t trust someone just because he looks like a Yid”.