Chairman’s Message

Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen states in his article "Why are so many kids today 'Off the Derech" that in virtually 100% of the cases the children "come from homes where either the parents are divorced or the "marriage is not flourishing - at least not by the Torah's standards." He lists other factors but believes the family dynamics are the major cause for kids going off the derech. I believe this is unfair to many parents, including my wife and I, who believe we have happy marriages and raised our children in a ruach where "shalom bayis" predominated and have an off the derech child nonetheless. This reminds me of the time not so long ago where most behavioral and psychological problems- including, schizophrenia, for example - was blamed on the parents (principally the mother) where in fact research has shown other factors were principally causative. I'm certainly not suggesting that the home environment is not a strong factor in a child's religious development but to blame everyone's marriage who has a child who isn't frum is a step (way) too far.

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Chairman’s Message