Community Magazine September 2011

I am sorry to say this, but I was not proud. Yes, the girl deserves credit for leaving, but what were the parents thinking when they let her attend the get-together? Could they have expected a girl at that tender age to have that kind of courage? And even so, did they not realize that she would be affected by what she saw – even if she picked herself up and left? Of course, this is not to say that only children require protection from harmful influences. Contemporary society came up with the idea of a rating system, whereby a group of people almost decide which films are appropriate for which ages. According to the Torah, a film which contains language or indecency that would make it inappropriate for viewing by a ten-year-old, would also be forbidden for a 40-year-old. The stakes are higher for children, but that’s not to say that adults are should have different standards. An Alternative to Caves So what’s the solution? Realistically, even if we make a concerted effort to limit our exposure to negative spiritual influences, it may not be feasible to eliminate it completely. There is yet to be a hermetically sealed bubble where we can raise our families without becoming at least marginally exposed to the harmful influences of contemporary secular society. So what is a Gd fearing Jew to do? The Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, 1135-1204) wrote that in his time, when society was relatively corrupt in his eyes, decent people would do well to live in remote caves so they can escape the harmful influences of society. We can only imagine what he would say in our day and age. But of course, Rambam himself did not live in a cave, and I am certainly not advocating leaving Brooklyn for the caves of the Appalachian Mountains. Still, this comment should alert us to the gravity of the dilemma that we face and bring us to seriously ponder the question: What can we do to shield ourselves from dangerous influences? The answer is as simple as it is elegant – Torah study. The best way to combat negative influences is with positive influences. It is told that the great Talmudic sage Rabbi Yehoshua attributed his success in Torah to his experiences as an infant, when his mother would bring him to the yeshiva in his cradle to “absorb” the words of Torah. He obviously did not understand the material, but he was nevertheless influenced by the holy words that he heard. This is our solution. Besides being vigilant to minimize our exposure to negative influences, we must be just as vigilant to maximize our exposure to positive influences. If we ensure to live under the influence of Torah, rather than under the influence of society’s declining values, we will safely reach our destination – lives of purity and sanctity, and homes that are worthy of hosting the divine presence and receiving the endless bounty of blessings that Gd’s presence brings. Visit LearnTorah.com to hear thousands of insightful lectures by Rabbi Eli J. Mansour and other prominent speakers. Sandra Mansour 718.382.8419 800.SLEEP.56 & Free Gift For Newlyweds With Purchase! MATTRESSES FOR LESS Wishing Happy Holidays to the entire community! New Line Has Arrived! Dedicated inmemory of Mr. FrankBeda    20 Community magazine