When it comes to observing ritual law, we have been well educated and tend to carefully observe them – often beyond the letter of the law. What a sad commentary on our educational system that it does not teach us how to interact with society at large. At least not with the same intensity that ritual laws are taught. Which I think is the source – at least in part – of this problem.
I’m glad that Lakewood is finally tackling it… and during the month of Elul no less. That is a good time to do it as this is the month when the gates of heaven open up for us and Teshuva (repentance) is more readily received by God.
There has been some speculation about a video presentation documenting prison life. It featured ‘interviews with members of our community that have experienced the challenges of prison life’. Rafi asked whether this was an appropriate venue for this, and wondered what this video was all about.
I don’t know. I wasn’t there. But if there is a fire, you don’t ask if now is the time to put it out. If this was a ‘Scared Straight’ video, I’m all for it. ‘Scared Straight’ was a 1978 documentary about a group of juvenile delinquents that spent 3 hours with convicts – all with life sentences at Rahway State Prison, a maximum security facility in New Jersey. (It was renamed East Jersey State Prison in 1988.) For those 3 hours those kids were harangued by serious criminals about the life they lived in prison… where they may end up if they continued to pursue a life of crime. Those kids were literally scared into rejecting their formerly crooked ways… and becoming straight.
Of course being scared straight should not be the primary motive for having integrity in your interactions with society. That is basic Halacha. Not to mention our mandate to be an Or LaGoyim – a light unto the nations. We are supposed to be exemplars of ethical behavior, not transgressors of it. But, as noted – this an area of Jewish education that is under served. Which is why there are Minyanim and Daf Yomi Shiurim in prison. And Kosher food. And Orthodox prisoner advocacy groups.
Unfortunately, there are too many of us that think if we can get away with it, it’s OK to cheat the system and commit financial crimes. That is a failing of the educational system. Educators have not properly transmitted these very real ethical Jewish values.
If ethical behavior has not been learned in the schools, then it has to be learned somewhere else. In the meantime scaring people straight should help stem the tide. It is sad that they are not scared straight at the idea of sinning against God. Or by the possible desecration of His name. But if they are not going to be ‘scared by God’ let them be scared by man. Hopefully at some point they will incorporate ethical behavior into their lives for the right reasons. MiToch SheLO L’Shma, Bah L’Shma. Hopefully this will begin to reduce the Frum prison population until not a single Jew will be there for a financial crime.
