The disaster that claimed the lives of two infants at a private daycare in Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood on Monday is first and foremost an unfathomable human tragedy. But if we limit our response to tears, grief, and outward-directed anger alone, we risk missing the difficult and uncomfortable responsibility now facing all of us — and especially the Chareidi community itself: to stop, think, and ask hard questions.
The cause of death has not yet been determined. It may have been extreme heat from an air conditioner operating at abnormal intensity. It may have been poisoning — from food, drink, or heating equipment. It may have been suffocation — sealed windows, lack of oxygen, conditions that do not allow for basic breathing. All of these possibilities are under investigation, and all are awful. But the common denominator is already clear: dangerous conditions for helpless infants.
According to testimony, this daycare did not operate this way for a day or two. It functioned for years without supervision, standards, or any real oversight. And alongside it stood a silence that lasted far too long: parents, neighbors, and an entire surrounding environment that knew, saw, and chose not to ask too many questions.
Yes, there is justified criticism of the state. Yes, the cancellation of daycare subsidies pushed families into cheaper, unregulated frameworks. That criticism is legitimate, and perhaps even correct. But even within a harsh reality, primary responsibility for children’s lives does not disappear. It does not automatically transfer to a legal adviser, nor does it end with a government decision.
Not every inexpensive option is a safe option. Not everyone who “watches children” is a caregiver. And not every apartment converted into a daycare is a suitable environment for infants. Cheap, in the end, can cost dearly.
This disaster must be a stopping point. It must mark a moment where we as a community – in Israel, the U.S., and everywhere else – have the courage to say: we do not send our children to any playgroup. We ask questions. We demand to see. We check conditions. We are not embarrassed to pull our children out of a babysitter — even if it is uncomfortable, even if it costs more.
Our children’s lives are not an experiment, and they are not hostages to economic distress, politics, or willful blindness. And the price, as we have now learned, can be irreversible.
The YWN Editorial Team
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6 Responses
I have been saying this for years. It’s the parents responsibly to ensure that the place they send their children is safe, sanitary and conducive to emotional and physical well being. I can’t begin to tell you how many so called “day cares” push little children into cramped quarters, children sleeping on cold floors because the parents just don’t take the time to check out the place. “Oh, she’s a nice person. I’m sure her place is fine.” Then these kids come home sick and speech and motor delayed because they simple have no room to develop properly as a child. Parents should be held accountable as well for making the choice to send them there.
Very well said and thank you for bringing awareness to such an important issue! It is a big responsibility to babysit other people’s children and should only be done lf it is licensed with all the safety measures in place. Some safety measures include enough staff to child ratio, have enough emergency exists, all dangerous items are locked up, should be trained in first aid training etc. There are far too many unlicensed unsafe daycares around just to make some Parnassah. Parnassah cannot be made while risking the safety of the children.
“The cause of death has not yet been determined”. Correct. Perhaps we should wait for a final analysis before pronouncing judgement on a community. A couple more days or weeks of waiting for the truth is better than rushing to cast aspersions (unless, of course, one is not writing an article on the internet, but commenting on it).
I am deeply disturbed by the tone of this post. It unfairly suggests negligence or willful disregard on the part of the morahs, without any factual basis. Likewise, the call for increased government oversight ignores the reality that any Chareidi mother takes responsibility for their children’s safety far more seriously than any government bodies, many of which are openly hostile to the Chareidi community.
@David-A, there are pictures of kids sleeping in bathrooms. what more evidence do you want
Well written with valid points but a larger issue is missed. Rules (i.e. inspections, licenses etc) are for “goyim” (or tzionim, chilonim etc.) Tragedies happen with rules etc, but the lack of hishtadlus coming from machshovas zoros i.e. elitism, we are always right and everyone is out to get us etc. is painful.
IMHO this attitude contributes to the laissez fairre mindset that allowed this “daycare” to work like this for years.
ת.נ.צ.ב.ה