In a private, no-press meeting, Florida governor Rick Scott sat down with Chabad rabbis Monday morning to discuss practical measures in response to the February 14 shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.
Scott reached out to the Chabad rabbis who serve as community leaders in the Parkland and Coral Springs area. He invited them to share their thoughts and ideas toward “bringing moral values into the school,” Rabbi Yankie Denburg of Coral Springs, told lubavitch.com.
The rabbis put forth five specific initiatives with the objective of building moral character and helping teens “realize the power of their actions and gain an inner sense of purpose and fulfillment, beyond test scores.”
At the top of the list, the rabbis proposed allowing a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day, giving students a few minutes of space to reflect. Students would be free to use the time to pray silently, meditate, or clear their minds and set goals for the day ahead.
The rabbis also proposed organizing student-led groups to build student communities. “CLUB17,” named for the 17 students who were gunned down, would cultivate a sense of responsibility among students to promote thoughtful messages. A “Wall of Goodness” introduces a buddy system pairing older and younger students with the purpose of integrating those who feel left out of the school community.
Scott was receptive and took notes during the meeting.
“The meeting was not just a discussion but a call to action. The Governor promised to reach out to respective school boards and assign a point-person to follow-up,” said Denburg.
The rabbis, Yankie Denburg, Yossie Denburg, Avraham Friedman, Shuey Biston, Moshe Rabin and Hershy Bronstein, and their families, have been administering their communities where everyone knows someone who has been impacted. “It has been non-stop since last Wednesday,” the rabbi told lubavitch.com on his way to a shiva call.
“We cannot just wait to respond to the next crisis. We need to deal with the fundamental moral void and emotional darkness that currently exists and is causing so much violence and suffering.”
VIDEO: Rabbi Friendman speaks with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about his work counseling the grieving families of the mass school shooting in Parkland.
I thought that the rabbi was perfectly correct in not answering as per the question but giving the answer that he was there to support the families and not to make any political statements.
That is a really deep and great rabbi!
An incredible person. I have seen his amazing work for decades
What an amazing job of focusing on the Rebbe’s message. That is what defines a shliach!!! Well done R Friedman!!!
Everyone knows the Rebbe was never ever wrong. The Rebbe already gave the solution for the moral decay just before Moshiach comes. This is the time to help the nation “save itself” and is surely the time to PUBLICIZE LOUD AND CLEAR WHAT THE PHILOSOPHY SHOULD BE – AND THE PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS WHICH THE REBBE ALREADY GAVE – TO ADDRESS THIS
He thinks Rabbi Friedman did a great job. His comment is for col. The commenter is sharing the sentiment we all share that the title of this article is inappropriate and could have a positive twist to it instead of political.
Well done Rabbi Friedman, dus is a chassidisher yid un shliach. I’m sure the Rebbe is proud. Hatzlacha with the peulos
The rabbi spoke from the heart and made an excellent impression .
This was a terrible tragedy that needs great light the country seems open and willing to hear what to do;seems a great opportunity to teach the Sheva Mitzvos Bnai Noach!
Eloquent, so well spoken, such a shliach in all regards, and truly covered all the bases.
Shkoiach Rabbi Friedman.
thank you for making a Kidush Hashem Rabbi Friedman
amazing.. you should be matzliach in all that you do spreading Hashem’s toras emes and chaim to the nations
Yasher Koach for using this opportunity to express such a powerful message so articulately!
S. Saxon
dont be cynical.Rabbi Friedman is a great guy spreading the rebbes message. He spread the message with grace and greatness. He is unbelieveable. Give him the credit due.
Thank you Rabbi Friedman for publicizing the words of the Rebbe so eloquently. A true kiddush Hashem – you can see how even Wolf Blitzer was touched by your sentiments expressed!
Well done
A Shliach doing his job the way it should be deserves the appropriate title especially at this time when so many people are greveing for a lost one ,and so young ,may no one know of such a thing .
Every day there is an opportunity to do good. You guys have a special opportunity daily to report news in the most appropriate manner as guided by our precious Torah. Here, a more appropriate unifying, truthful and uplifting tittle would be greatly appreciated by all.
Thank you
Important article. Rabbi Froedman spoke well and is doing important work. I also can’t figure out why you made the article seem like it’s all about side stepping the Trump question. Insignificant I’m linght of everything. Well done Rabbi
How evil can you be?
He made a huge kiddish Hashem ,
People that do nothing no one criticizes them
Shame on you
Wow!
The message was so powerful yet so elegant,
The message was articulated so beautiful and clear,
The message was delivered so eidel and Chassidish,
All I can say is this was a true and clear example of the Rebbe speaking through his Shliach
שכינה מדברת מתוך גרונו
Period.
This is hardly the point. A shliach used an opportunity to spread the Rebbes message. Lets not lose focus. Please.
Rabbi Friedman is a very well loved Person. He is a true example of a chosid and Shaliach. His generous heart and good nature makes people gravitate to him. His warmth , care and devotion makes him loved by family and friends. May he continue having hatzlacha in his shlichus!
Great Chosid and Tomim. I remember him in Yeshiva. The real deal!
Nice friedman. You spoke nicely
Blitzer got blitzed!
An excellent example to the nations….
Moshiach MAMESH NOW!
Kudos to Rabbi Friedman for the way he handled it! A good example of how to deal with the media!
Horrific story.
We need g-d in our lives.
Your Lighting lights in the darkness.
Your definitely making the Rebbe proud.
Powerful!
besides getting a very important message out there he was able to render Wolf Blitzer speechless, a feat many would be envy of. Much success with your holy vital work!
Fake news as usual and presenting things in a twisted way. Ysher Koach to the rabbi to not get sucked in. In fact many on the left right away blamed President Trump for the shooting. Of course CNN doesnt mention that. Trump only pointed out the truth that the shooter had posted on facebook his plans and this was reported to FBI and they knew about him but did nothing. To blame Trump for the shooting is disgusting.
Of all the titles that could have been chosen was this really the one you went with? Not, Rabbi spreads The Rebbe’s message, or Rabbi spreads message of prayer of hope? It embarrasing to read. Who’s side are we on? This is worse than CNN itself for ask the question.
It is so important to spread the Rebbe’s message that morality lowers violence. This take on the tragedy isn’t heard enough in the news. This must be spread.
RABBI MAKES KIDDUSH HASHEM or CHABAD RABBI TALKS MOMENT OF SILENCE IN RESPONSE TO SHOOTING
always better positive than negative