The Baal Teshuva And The Expensive Jewish Day School Lifestyle

[YosefHayyim]

This is stupid

[DeathtoPapaSmurf1]

Baruch Hashem I left this world... The Secular Jewish community, sadly, is much better with no mitzvot done "l'Shamayim"

[123kittykittylicklic]

"she pumps out the babies like a rabbit" ???!!!!! UM, I understand this video is tackling stereotypes within the feb and bt world but it isn't clearing them up so how is it helping? we're meant to be a light amongst the nations, we can't do that by putting OURSELVES down....

[aspiringfather]

@123kittykittylicklic You appear to be suggesting that my assumption that viewers would bring a decent-sized sense of humor to the table is unreasonable. God forbid that Jews should be so stricken of their capacity for laughing at communal excesses. And never forget that the man (or, here, the community) with two eyes who cannot see his own failings clearly is the most blind of all.

[Michalbasavraham]

I also agree. I used to have a blog but I took it down because speaking this sort of truth all I ever heard was "who are you to...."

I agree, growing up, even with divorced parents, dinner was mom, gram and my sister and I. Though sometimes one of us had a friend or ate dinner at a friend's house. People don't have their kids friend's over in the Frum world unless the whole family comes for a Shabbos meal. I thought that was so odd considering how they claim that Shabbos is for guests and stuff

[Michalbasavraham]

@Michalbasavraham What they really mean is "it's for suckering in BTs"

Ever notice they want BTs to work but FFBs the guy should LEARN. Also, I'm struck by how during the week parents just make a salad or pizza for their kids. I've seen them just give their kids a yogurt and banana FOR DINNER. Then on Shabbos people eat until they get sick. (except the women who hide in the kitchen since they need to be anorexic until married)

[aspiringfather]

@Michalbasavraham I agree with you that there is a good deal of hypocrisy, but I also think that for some Jews who become BT, they may have grown up in homes where there was no family dinner to begin with. If that's their standard of comparison then having one whole day a week where there are family dinners would, for good reason, seem luxurious by comparison. For me, though, having come from a home where one day of family per week would have been paltry, I can't deprive my kids of what I had.

[meilechmandel]

@aspiringfather Thank you for this video, it is good, refreshing straight talk.

I fully agree with you that you shouldn't try to change our culture, there's no point in trying, I feel like this culture has developed over time and it will take time to "undevelop".

Change happens from the bottom up, or as you said one family at a time.

[aspiringfather]

@meilechmandel Yes. Arrogantly trying to change an entire culture would do no good for either the culture or the individual trying to effect change. I'll get to the olam after I finish tikkuning myself and my family. :-)

[zepstein]

Powerful stuff man. I'm also troubled by these trends in our community and it's nice that you tell it straightup. Tell me, how do you suppose we go about changing our own culture? How do we overcome the cold response, "Who are you to tell me how to live my life?"

[aspiringfather]

@zepstein: Thank you for the comments. I am not in the kiruv business--I do not push my own derekh eretz on others. Other than commentary like this video, I'm not in the business of changing others' culture. I'm not going to live in a community where this is the way. I will live (and raise my family) in a normal American town, and we'll just have to make do with the lack of "Jewish community" amenities. Change will only come one family at a time. I can only work on my own.