My Chanukah

Is it harder to grow up in the year 2010 than fifty, two hundred or four hundred years ago?

Sure the issues are different today, but when one looks back at our history each and every generation has had such significant challenges to youth that one would be hard pressed to say that this period of time or more difficult.

Here is a quote from Rav Ahron Feldman’s new book The Eye of the Storm (page 176);

“Although I grew up in a religious household and went to a Jewish day school, America in the late forties and early fifties was no place for a nice Jewish boy to grow into manhood. The pressures against remaining a loyal, observant Jew were enormous. The public attitude, the implied messages of teachers, media and books made Torah appear irrelevant.””

This is just one of many scenarios that have existed for Jewish youth over the thousands of years of our history. World events seem to always present the next generation with some ideological, physical or spiritual challenge. For the individual living at a particular point the challenge may seem insurmountable but when one takes a view over our history and clear pattern emerges; we are challenged, rachmana letzlan, lose people to the conflict, and the Jewish people overcome and move on to the next situation.

In my short career of almost a decade of chinuch, I have seen such a transformation take place regarding the infiltration of secular culture in the Yeshiva world. With explosion of internet and the proliferation of affordable hand- held media devices, we are overwhelmed by the on- slot of the secular culture to our children. A short few years ago the only way to see a movie was in a theater or on a large VHS connected TV. Internet was only found in a few homes and the speeds of computers were inhibitive. Today there is nothing that cannot be downloaded, transferred or shared onto a device that fits in the palm of my hand and can be easily purchased at the local supermarket or Walmart.

I do not have the required perspective to state unequivocally that the ipod is the greatest threat to chinuch, but it is safe to say it ranks high on the list. If there ever was a “Tovel V’Sheretz B’Yado” it would be a sixteen year old boy sitting in shiur in between his viewing of the latest movie he received for his “friend” with internet access. How much emotional and intellectual effort can such a boy muster to focus on overcoming the difficulties of learning Gemarah when the contrast to his previous activities is so stark?

Adults who are aware of these dangers attempt o protect our youth from these dangers. This job is increasingly difficult. Bachorim purchase two cell phones, one to “hand in” and one for personal use. On the rare occasion that an ipod is confiscated, a new is purchased with 24 hours. How can mechanchim protect our talmidim from themselves and this cultural immersion?

The past years have been particularly daunting in this effort. At times I feel we are losing more ground than gaining and there is no hope.

This year I have come to the realization that this is My Chanukah.

Chanukah reminds me that this battle is not new.

Chanukah reminds me that our people have already faced foreign and destructive cultures knocking at our door.

Chanukah reminds even when things seem difficult for our youth, the good will prevail.

Chanukah reminds me that the same Hashem who helped us find light in a sea of darkness will lead our children to the light they so desperately need.

Chanukah reminds me that mechanchim do not have to have all of the answers and techniques to find success.

Chanukah gives me confidence of victory in what often seems to be such a losing battle.

This is My Chanukah.