By Leizer Kahn
Erev Shabbos. Crown Heights.
I walk along Kingston Avenue towards the Zal building of my yeshiva. The weather is frigid and I hurry along to reach the warmth of the Beis Medrash. Along the way, I encounter groups of teens who are in town for the annual C-Teen Shabbaton. Boys and girls from around the world have come to Crown Heights to celebrate their Yiddishkeit. They are brimming with excitement as their chaperones lead them in chants and songs. Their excitement is palpable and infectious.
I get to Yeshiva and ascend the stairs. I enter the Zal on the top floor and am greeted by the familiar bein hasedorim scene: A bochur collecting the seforim and putting them away, another few bochurim sitting quietly with their seforim, learning whatever they please. Several bochurim wander aimlessly through Zal, their eyes hollow and their posture hunched. There is a very real sense of malaise and boredom, a lack of the dynamism and excitement I just saw outside. I’ve seen this scene countless times and yet now the contrast is uncanny.
Outside, there are teens who have only just begun their journey towards Jewish observance and Chassidus and yet they express their passion proudly and unabashedly. Inside, there are hundreds of teens who are roughly the same age, and have been immersed in the mileu of Torah and Chassidus from birth, and yet they seem dry, asleep and apathetic.
The Mishna in Bava Kama (2:5) teaches us that when using the method of Kal Vachomer to derive a din, the derivative din cannot be more stringent than its parent din/source. In the original language-דיו לבא מן הדין להיות כנדון.
In this case, it means that the Chayus that Chassidim provide to others must be at least as powerful and potent to provide for themselves as well…
Some might attribute this disparity to the novelty factor. Bochurim have already been oversaturated with concepts in Chassidus to the point that it has rendered them numb. But I am skeptical of the claim that the prevalent spiritual weariness among Chabad youth is a result of boredom with the ideals of Yiddishkeit as explained in Chassidus. I think we ought to have more faith in the power of Chassidus to motivate and inspire us throughout our lives.
I think that the problem lies elsewhere. It seems more likely that we simply fail to proactively educate and explain to our own children the values that we so doggedly impress upon the children of others.
Imagine if every Lubavitcher bochur was constantly encouraged to continue to grow whilst being assured of his own inherent worthiness. The Baal Shem Tov told us that every Jew is beloved to the Aibesheter like an only child. I don’t recall any exceptions being listed. It applies to every Jew, even one who does not yet learn Shlosha Perakim Rambam…
I am not intimately familiar with the C-Teen program but it seems to me that their success is in their ability to highlight the positive and uplifting messages of Chassidus and transmit them to their members: The importance and power of the individual, the infinite power of one single Mitzvah, the sense of Gaon Yaakov as a constant inspiration. These messages would find a receptive audience in the hearts and minds of our bochurim and girls.
(Obviously these ideas are explained in Chassidus with a lot of depth and nuance, without which they will seem shallow to a more cynical or intellectual FFB young person. In general, we suffer a lot from the phenomenon of excessive sloganization. Nevertheless slogans have utility, to highlight the fundamental principles, which can then be expounded upon).
There are many organizations that encourage bochurim to learn more and do more, but although these programs are amazing, they seem to reinforce the idea that a bochur is worthy merely because of what he does, not because of who he is. I think it’s time to shift the focus to uplifting bochurim from where they’re at (see Likkutei Sichos Vol. 17 Pesach #1 regarding the concept of a מלתא דבדיחותא as a pedagogical imperative).
I believe that with a little more effort and initiative, we can create programs and institutions that reinforce in our youth their own sense of sacred worthiness, which in turn will push them to aspire to channel this sense into inspired action: learning, davening, mivtzoyim, and doing mitzvos with a passion.
In conclusion: this is not an indictment of any particular yeshiva, school or even “the system”. I’ve personally tremendously benefited from many educators in the said “system”. It is merely an observation that there is tremendous room and opportunity for growth, and it’s our collective responsibility to utilize it.
I only wish to begin the conversation. Please join me in carrying it forward.
כי דיו לבא מן הדין להיות כנדון…
So well written and so well said.
Thank you
why didn’t you walk over to the boys who looked sad and give them a smile and ask them if they need anything?
FFB dont cherish, guard, value every mitzvah as a connection to Hashem – that preciousness. They allow the sitra Achra to take over and then it turns into part of lazy boring life instead of we live with the Rebbe, we live with the times…. etc…. the BTs value every mitzvah every good deed as a way to connect and thus the excitement is as we see it. If FFBs take life for granted and so enthusiasm in mitzvos – its seen. When BT’S live with yiddishkeit- its seen. Its upto YOU, you see the world as HASHEM and the… Read more »
1. The zal is also that excited on the first day of the school year in elul.. Bochorim arriving from different places, a new setting, reuniting with old friends and seeing new people starting a new subject brand new. 2. New and makif inspiration is important and great.. For real. Whether for not yet frum or a ffb makif initially to inspire before the long term goal is a great boost.. But to maintain that initial fire in a pnimius way takes hard work without going half way. 3. True avodas Hashem is tough work.. BH there are many in… Read more »
“True avodas Hashem is tough work.. ” yes but not depressing work there needs to be more of a Kuch a happines in being a yid a simcha in just living
I tend to disagree, and strongly. 1. The excitement on the first day of yeshiva is very different to the excitement the teens have. It’s not the excitement for Torah, mitzvos, and yiddishkeit. Its just a nervous, maybe lack of self contentment, esteem, or something else, type of excitement. Not many bochurim are truly happy, as a person (human),to be there. Best case scenario, they’re happy to see friends, but what does that have to do with yeshiva or yiddishkeit? 2. Your second point is true but I’m not sure what relevance it has here. I assume because of that… Read more »
“הוא הוא האדם עצמו”
The Rebbe writes (likute sichos chelek 11) that this is only externaly, (when doing the ‘medicane for timtum halev’ of perek chof tes, which is big sofeik if that perek is for our generation see for example margelo bpuma 5746) but bpunumyus the jew is obviously his nefesh elokis.
this could be the beginning to a much needed discussion.
one of the problems that our schools are dry and do not cater to the needs of this generation. they are not exciting our teens. chassidus, the way taught by the older generation, is not appealing and the kids are looking away.. this article should be read by mechanchim and hanhala of the locals schools
Maybe it depends on the school? I’ve seen some very happy bochrim and young chassidim in my limited exposure. They seem passionate about chassidus, as much as the older generations. Maybe you are being too hard on yourself and unduly pessimistic.
Please share which schools
Agreed
… Because it is going to be a full time job on its own if the mechanchim and hanhala need to spend their time reading every article that the commentors seem to believe are imperative for them to do their job. The benefit will be that they will read (and discuss) every article. The downside will be that they may not have too much time left to spend on our kids Chinuch.. (and no, I don’t mean that literally. The point is as follows:) It’s important that as parents we don’t just (put the responsibility on others, and we that… Read more »
The job of commentators is to comment. It’s literally in their name!
That’s not the real issue. Chassidus is awesome either way. It’s the systems mental health
Try to compare the energy in Crown heights yud shvat to cteen
Another point when people see each other from different places, it exciting just human nature
And there’s no concert in time Square
Great points, some great takeouts and so very well written. Get this kids shidduch resume asap because he’s a catch
I’m ready can you be the shadchan?
stop being cringe and go back to school gal, you have a couple of years before you’re at that point.
let’s go back to the good old days before resumes existed
this is about a life partner, not a job interview
All these organizations have these fantastic trips for the kids to go on that are fully funded and almost completely free for them. Why don’t we have anything like that for our bochurim? Why aren’t there fully paid trips to Israel, NY, Germany, Europe etc. etc. etc. where our Sinai scholars, or snorkel and study? Do our bochurim having a cheshek for Torah and Hashem mean less than these students?
This would be amazing for FFB!!
I agree. So important especially for todays youth
yup, I spoke to a bt bochur and he told me thats how he feels to once you are out of the coming frum zone and now already in yeshivah no one cares to much anymore….
It costs like at least 800-900 just for the weekend
Um, why aren’t there any free trips to Israel u ask, there literally is- birthright. It’s 100% free and any Lubavitcher bochur age 18-24 can go. They even have frum programs, and yes there are non Lubavitchers on those programs too, but aderaba, lubavitch bochurim should go and do hafatza on them! Make ‘em chassidish too. For too long bochurim didn’t go on birthright because “es past nisht “ or something, but times have changed! Live in the present! (And hey, a free Israel trip is a free Israel trip)
While birthright is a very nice thing it’s not organized by chabad or directly aimed towards chabad. Here we have plenty of chabad trips, yet none of them are for actual lubavitchers.
Why not?
Why is no one bringing a plane full of lubavitch bochurim to Europe or Israel?
Why can’t there be a 10 day trip to all the places in Europe and Russia relevant to chabad chassidim?
100 Percent!
thanks for bringing this important topic up!!!!
and I never took any of the paid vacations. I’ve never even been to Israel, Germany, and I don’t think anyone could pay me to go to Germany! Never been on a jewish snorkel excursion, and if I could gift my unused birthright vacation to a jew I probably would except for the fact that I wouldn’t want them to mingle with the other people of the opposite gender who would also be on the vacation and do all the nonfrum things that birthright vacations do! I do not think you are missing out. Travel can really be a nuisance.
Why are there no trips for our teens? You don’t think a bochur would like a free trip to lubavitch?
Spot on!! You’ve planted the seed. May it come to fruition!!
How do we instill that same energy and enthusiasm in our children when they go through the day to day grind in Yeshiva?
This same issue is with a lot of Ba’al T’shuvahs. We were excited. We burned with enthusiasm. We got married. We had kids. We have grandkids.
No one cares that we still have issues. No one cares that our enthusiasm has been tempered with responsibilites, learning, halachah, and minhagim. No one cares that we look at some as mishugoyim because we come from a society that has specific norms that we feel shouldn’t be sacrificed.
No one is coming to our rescue.
This is true in addition to other challenges such as parnossa, dealing with non frum relatives and the challenges of bringing up children without mentors. However this article is focusing on chinuch and the lack of enthusiasm that is seen especially when contrasted to the awesome chayas we saw on line over the weekend. This is definitely a challenge but its a good discussion and I hope that every mechanich can take this to heart when he or she enters the classroom. Yes chinuch is a steady process and hard work but in these challenging times it is important that… Read more »
I’m always one for bottom line ..how would this work realistically
to prove to you that you are worthy regardless of any external factors
I think the leaders and educators in all of our Mosdos, and the parents of these teens need to make sure that they are exuding and experiencing true joy in their lives lived as yidden and chassidim. That would be the first step.
I was pretty on fire during our school shabbatons also – and think of overnight camp. Baruch hashem we have these incredible experiences also!
“we simply fail to proactively educate and explain to our own children the values that we so doggedly impress upon the children of others.”
This is such an important article. My frum brothers look outside the window and see all the c teeners heading into the train for a huge concert in Times Square. They wish they could join too.
With all due respect, myself a bochur, please stop feeling so holy and like you’re going to suddenly change the whole yeshiva system because YOU are uncomfortable walking into zal bla bla bla. Please take a moment and remember that we are in the hardest period of the year in yeshiva in general and it’s also a leap year. Trust me after pesach bochurim are gonna be happy to see each other again. Maybe create CBochurim with music and chants and a freaking TIMES SQUARE concert and a second one on Sunday and only then start talkin. Shkoyach.
THIS GUY TALKS EMES RIGHT HERE
There’s a lot of bochurim who have mental health issues which aren’t addressed and only aggravated (or were initially created by) the system. And then there’s bochurim who are missing clarity (whether knowingly or not) in a lot of basic things in yiddishkeit. Yeah, bochurim are missing a lot of human experience that these teens have just by living their life. It’s unfortunate, but the system doesn’t care about them in the human way (most of the time/ppl) And I don’t think he’s writing this thinking he’s gonna change the system. He’s bringing up incredibly good, true points and hopefully… Read more »
No bochurim have Internet access, it is forbidden by the yeshivos
It’s currently the hardest period of yeshiva and a leap year at that. So of course some or even a lot of bochurim are going to have hunched postures looking 100% bored.
As chassidishe parents & machanchim we must exude simcha & excitement in all we do & all we teach!
It needs to permeate all our chinuch whether its for our children or our Talmidim….
This is literal facts as a guy in yeshiva myself, a lot of it has to be changed by hanhola, that was things aren’t the same as they used to and there need to be more exciting things , also because bochurim aren’t as proactive.
As someone who’s from a BT family with the name Kalmen. I completely agree.
Shluchim make Yiddishkeit and learning Torah more appealing in general which is great, bochurim however are expected to be self-motivated and know what to do already on their own, which makes sense; but doesn’t work for some of us and it leads to mitzvas anashim milumadah and lack of chayus in Torah and mitzvos the way the Rebbe expects of us. Halevai we had the appreciation others have in our own chassidus and live an intentional version of yiddishkeit instead of passive.
I watched the C-teen concert in Times Square. The message was pretty generic. Am Yisroel Chai. They weren’t learning deep concepts in Chassidus. Not knocking c-teen but we can’t compare one fun weekend to the day in day out grind. How do these teenagers live their lives when they get home after C-teen?
Don’t get me wrong, I think some bachurim need other channels for stimulation and there shouldn’t be only one track. But I have no illusions that the grass is greener.
Are the majority of adults there older, meaning senior citizens? I am asking, because if so, perhaps an intervention is called for. Sometimes long-held habits and approaches are hard to break, but sometimes the necessity exists. Leadership should take action in those cases, if we expect Yeshivas to succeed.
Well well done on both questioning things and *also* looking for the solutions iyH for them. This seems really very deep and I hope menahilim, mashpiim, and all hanhalah think about this and take it to heart.
Some of the very bochurim you may have seen with “their eyes hollow and their posture hunched“ on Wednesday, may have went the very next day to lead a shabbaton for Shluchim’s kids (known as “Shabbos Tzuzamen”). They might be “brimming with excitement” even more than the CTeens you witnessed walking down Kingston Ave. It’s just that you witnessed one group having an experience that isn’t their norm (and yes it’s very exciting to come join a shabbaton with 3,000 other Jewish teens) and the other group you witnessed in their norm, their regular day to day lives. Now go… Read more »
The excitement you’ll see bochurim have on a shabbos tzuzamen or camp is not from yiddishkeit. It’s from being a counselor (whatever that provides on a psychological level)
when we go on a trip we are also excited
I was thinking same thing and had the idea to bring some of these cteens to come into the school’s and speak about their lives and their experiences coming closer to Judaism. This may help our kids to have a glimpse into a perspective of someone raised in for example a public school and what that really means. I think this would be a win/ win if monitored properly and teens from both sides could benefit.
Here’s a little slice of what the gehinom was like. No one ever told me that God was real. No one ever taught me the Torah. No one ever told me that this reality isn’t the only world or reality. I had to search for it and find it all myself. I cannot fathom why anyone would be raised with God and the Torah and forsake it for this disgusting, repulsive world. I think it’s crazy that someone wouldn’t Want God to be real. How someone could want this reality and world to be the only world. How someone could… Read more »
Maybe start something in your own city for Jewish kids in public schools. Everyone is a shliach in that sense
These kids are being treated to a wonderful time and a celebration of Jewishness just by the fact that they are Jewish. We can treat our youth the same way. Treat them well and give them a good time. Just because they are Jewish. Don’t make them learn a masechta Baal Peh in order to go on a trip. Show them their inherent value, not based on any external factor.
Comparing apples and oranges bc they are fruit is simply unfair. CTeeners are on a trip as a group away from home for a weekend coming from doing the Hokey Pokey in time square – that’s exciting! Bochurim whether local or even boarders are not on a weekend getaway but rather on a year(s) journey in …. Let’s say it together …. “School” You know I was thinking why are people on their way to the Bahamas for 3 days so so happy. It’s surprising they are on such a high. While everyone else on their way downtown uptown or… Read more »
I am amazed at your ability to write so eloquently and that you write your full name, makes this article inspiring and can be taken to the heart. I feel and relate to everything you have written, which is why I am fortunate to realize that my young children are more important than someone else’s children, (frum or not frum). Which is why, I put more emphasis on them and try to embue them with this excitement and pride for being Jewish. Thank you to you for writing such an important and eye opening article, hope it is seen by… Read more »
Nice, warm comment. You could see someone actually making a conscious effort to make life and yiddishkeit real for their kids. Not just their way
These kids aren’t having a great time because they’re excited about chassidis. They are having the trip of a lifetime flying to New York with their friends and enjoying a weekend together with 3000 other teens their age who wouldn’t be fired up. The Chabad system is boring go to school and learn 12 hours a day in front of a book from the time your a teen and never would have a trip this fun let alone subsidized. Your better off going to the chabad house then going to the chabad school if your a teen who wants to… Read more »
It’s also full of Jewish pride and a fire for yiddishkeit
And one more thing. The boy girl energy that CTeen NCSY or even your local CGI produces can’t be compared to ummm yes Yeshiva life. Having teens running around going from concert to concert with guys and gals – is energizing fun and thrilling. Whereas the halls of a library are slightly less exciting – don’t need an article to point that out.
you can’t compare a daily life to a weekend away.
Hot take: It seems to me that a lot of people…especially frum teenagers/bochurim and girls are systematically frum. In other words they are frum not because they are using their own brains and coming to own their Yiddishkeit. Rather its because they just so happen to be in a frum environment. I think if people were more consciously frum ( being aware the whys and reasons of the things a frum person does) you would have a lot more excitement. Which is why I think kids born on shlichus are better off in the sense that they understand very well… Read more »
This is very valid and deep. If only people were conscious
Whats the plan of action?? It looks like this just lays out the problem.
Imagine we taught Chasidus in Yeshiva the same way they teach it in Chabad houses? It would be meaningful, relevant, and inspiring, even to the very average Bochurim. The fact that there are some Bochurim who don’t feel that way is baffling. It’s like a child who doesn’t like ice cream. How can you mess up ice cream? What did you do to it? Did you pour pickle juice on it? Chasidus is so enjoyable and meaningful – unless you are very talented at presenting it meaninglessly. #Victims of the system.
As someone who grew up in the chabad yeshiva system, this was exactly my issue and why I ended up finding a positive and energetic experience elsewhere while still retaining my jewish identity and observance of mitzvos. To be clear, I do not think that this is something that is an issue with ALL yeshiva bochurim. However, there is a solid 30-40 percent of bochurim in yeshiva that the system does not account for. As one of these people, the knas system, seder sichos, Moshiach shiur, and other “chassidish extra curriculars” did not fill the void that we were searching… Read more »
I’m sorry but this article is rubbish. The bochurim these days are amazing, they are energized in ways the older generation could only envy. I am not a bochur, but my son is. He’s into learning, mivtzoim etc. The author writes how he came into zal on. FRIDAY, BETWEEM SEDARIM, and there were some guys learning and others not. A. Friday is the hardest day, especially after a farbrengen B. He chose to focus on the guys not learning between Seder, as opposed to the fact that there are bochurim learning between Seder on a Friday. You see what you… Read more »
I’m sure he’s speaking about more than just one Friday. And it’s not rubbish, it’s his experience! Your comment is rubbish
The only rubbish I see is calling someone’s hard work rubbish. And then you say you’re not even a bochur. A s a bochur, I fully agree with him. If you’re son is doing well, good for him and I hope it’s real and lasting, and he’s truly a happy person. Not just part of the do the actions system
bilvavi.net/
The premise of this article is completely off base. There is a mitzvah for every Jewish Man to learn Torah all day every day and if for a technical reason like earning a living you can’t learn all day you are too learn for a set time in the morning and evening. Therefore we go to yeshiva is to get the tools and to be able to fulfill this mitzvah for the rest of our lives. Yes there is a need for outlets things like cteens and hafotzah can be ones but if the yeshiva is functioning correctly the greatest… Read more »
You’re purpose isn’t to be a robot
What’s written here isn’t suggesting that the bochrim shouldn’t be in yeshiva, rather that while they’re in yeshiva they should at least have the fire that the c teens have
You are watching their highlight reel and comparing it with your behind the scenes. If people behaved the way the teens (and shluchim) behave at a shabbaton- all life long -they would be diagnosed. You watched a high and assume it’s an always. No high should be an always, just as no low should be an always… If you are missing some spice in your yeshiva and learning – shake things up! Open new books, seek out new teachers and friends! But don’t assume what you see for 48 hours is actual life.
It’s not just running around it’s a feeling of life and excitement that they have that is channeled towards Torah and mitzvos, let’s get bochrim excited about life
just saying that birthright is NOT doing only boys trips anymore… they say on their site only mixed…help me if you know differently
Mayanot birthright and OU have a boys only trip.
People that are not in yeshiva are more “taken care of” in everything they do, in the hopes that one day they will go to yeshiva
LIKE when people spend more time amd excitement with younger kids to teach them and see everything the do in contraste with older kid.
I’ll not be getting into what happens with this youth people once they are convinced to stay in a yeshiva etc, a whole new topic for that
Well said. The point you make is very clear. The question now is “How?” When something becomes routine, the objective for renewal becomes more challenging.
There’s truth to your point and I very much understand it, and also, it’s not a fair comparison – as many comments point out.
I totally agree with your point that you brought out by contrasting the 2 moments. The goal of Yeshiva should be to produce Bochurim who are on fire about Yiddishkeit both inside and outside
I’m a girl out of high school and I was just talking about this litterally yesterday. Why did I need to wait to come to seminary to see the beuatiful parts of chassidishkeit and yiddishkiet? High schools in general I feel don’t make yiddishkiet something enticing or exciting or beuatiful. It’s the same programs with the same food evry time with the same video. Chassidus is tought as a class making it a burden that you need to be tested on. Not something that is what your life is based on. I know its school and school is school, but… Read more »
Beautifully written
Though I would add that a tomim is defined at times as someone with erenskeit (- seriousness) its important to distinguish between the feeling of a “newcomer” teen that is full of adrenaline especially as the c teem program is constantly engaging the teens with incentives and having good time.., and the bochur in yeshiva as he is found in a scholar setting within the walls of yeshiva, similar maybe to the difference in attention the Rebbe would give these two types of ppl
Thank you for this article
This is so funny, I’m imagining the writer meant it as a joke. And yet many took it, hook, line and sinker. Besides the obvious “grass is always greener on the other side,” have you seen these teens during class session in their hometown? Have you seen the bochurim described now as sad, hollow, etc on simchas torah, or an entire summer in a camp for that matter? The CH weekend for CTeen is a NY party weekend for them. Comparing them to local students mid semester in their school, is, well, a joke, which I think is post was.… Read more »
I think the point is that Yiddishkeit for Cteens is something that’s positive and brings joy to their life. Whole not necessarily so by (some) bochurim.
Either way, you don’t have to call someone’s hard work a joke because you don’t fully agree with it. (Although at the end it seemed you did get the point 🤔)
TBH i feel u, sometimes looking at their life, kinda makes u feel like we’re doing something wrong out here. Idk what it is, but Lubavitch has to move on and start changing and adapting, not just living in the 1970s.
We must all stay extremely positive, especially at this time when the Jewish Nation is going through a particularly trying time both in Eretz Yisroel and throughout our Dispersion.
Let every Lubavitcher remember that we are blessed to possess the blueprint of action set out for us by our Rebbeim from the time of the Baal Shem Tov until the Rebbe may his merit protect us.
We will surely see G-d send His Moshiach to redeem the world.
טיירע בריידער און שוועסטער לאמיר זיך האלטען צוזאמען
The CTeens excitement is tinged with Adventure and Newness. Chitzonius a lil bit. But our guys? Our guys are a real inspiration. Very intelligent (Torah study tends to increase IQ). They’re the power-houses of Chabad, diligent, responsible, active learners. They are keeping a Seder that’s very demanding. As Pininum, their chayus is quieter than the cteens, but it is quite strong and deeply rooted(The highlight of my week is learning with my grandson on Thursday night.) Hasmada is quiet, but still passionate.
I’m sorry that your what we call in Tanya a מרה שחורה but I had a great time in yeshiva i hope that you can get off your phone and make some friends while you enjoy the last year in yeshiva (also send regards to r’ avrohom gerlitzki – he’s a fun happy guy) also don’t forget but as Chabad chassidim we don’t believe in just dancing, but חב”ד מאנט פנימיות so yeh our happiness is through עבודה not just running around and faking happiness (which actually can (over time) turn a bochur off to think the whole thing is… Read more »
Wow this is spot on if you wanna have a fun time in yeshiva you can absolutely have a great time (it always looks greener on the other side)!
If understood correctly the point of your article you are trying to say that we should take the positive points that we use for our “outreach” and use it for our own. דיו לבא מן הדין sounds more like you are limiting our “outreach”.
(Though I do agree with your point that there is lacking chayus in our system)
I would like to redirect the conversation to things that are a bigger priority, larger problems, and more urgent.
to continue the new discussions, feel free to comment below.
the mussar movement and litvish probably wouldn’t even see that much wrong with them not being super joyful all the time. It’s easier to remain balanced by not trying to be super far to the right all the time instead of remaining at center. I’d rather be at the center most of the time, than be mostly far right and then have it swing far left, back and forth. If we’re going to talk about madregas, why don’t we also move up the madrega ladder in all areas of middos and other things?