From the COLlive Inbox:
Tishrei 9 – October 7
Erev Yom Kipper
Before I begin, I want to apologize to anyone who feels this is insensitive or written “too soon” – this is too important and serious to wait and must be addressed while it is still somewhat fresh in our minds and hearts.
The horrific news we heard this past summer about sweet little Leiby Kletzky OBM is an absolute tragedy. A fellow Mommy and Tatty had to bury their 8 year old son – I think it’s very unfortunate that it takes something like this to wake up a community and the world.
Everyone was deeply shocked by the story that unfolded. But, as time goes by, people tend to move on and go back to their usual daily lives almost as if nothing had happened. WHY? What will it take for us to finally open our eyes and see what goes on right beneath our noses everyday?
• I see little girls and boys taking their even younger siblings for a walk down the street for some ice cream and then absentmindedly walking across the street without holding hands or being aware – as their 5 year old brother narrowly misses being struck by a car r”l as he playfully runs across the street after them.
• I see little tiny kinderlach walking home from school or a friend’s house – wearing backpacks as big as they are – with not an adult in sight. Why is this still happening?
• I see Tatties bring their yingelach to shul on Shabbos mornings and let them run around and play outside for hours unattended – am I the only one that sees a problem with this?
We are holding right before Yom Kipper and HaShem wants to seal each and every one of us for a year of good health. We don’t know His master plan, but we do know that everything, no matter how tragic, happens for a reason.
There’s a story of a man that is shipwrecked on an island. As the days turn to weeks and he’s running out of food and supplies, he sees a small raft in the distance. As the raft approaches, the man is enticed to board – but instead stays on the island, stands in prayer and waits for a “sign” from G-d to save him. This episode repeats itself several times as larger, well-equipped vessels visit the island. But still, the man, who by now has completely run out of food and yet is firm in his place – still awaits his “sign” from above.
A short time later, the man leaves this world and stands for judgment in front of his Creator. He argues with the Master of the world, pleading that he prayed for a “sign” – why wasn’t he saved? The Holy One responds that He sent the man many “signs”, in the form of ships that had passed through the island. This was meant to be his wake up call – but unfortunately like many of us, he missed the boat.
I believe that the tremendous pain and heartbreak that the Kletzky family is going through should be taken as a “sign” for all of us!
We need to come together as a community and educate our children. We can’t take this lightly – we need to be firm and arm them with the tools they need to be safe. I encourage organizations such as Hatzolah and Jewish Family Service to put together town hall meetings to open a dialog between parents and community leaders to discuss what steps need to be taken moving forward.
It brings tears to my eyes when I think of what these parents must be going through… I can only imagine. I think about how lucky we all are that it wasn’t one of our kinder r”l – that one of us didn’t receive the news that no parent ever wants to hear – but we need to wake up and realize how easily it could have been r”l. Ad Mosai?!
G’mar Chatima Tova,
Sender Klein
Los Angeles, CA
What to Teach Your Child About Safety
(From safekids.org)
1. Don’t talk to people you don’t know or answer their questions. (Don’t use the word “stranger.” If an adult is nice, they can make friends with a child in a minute.)
2. Before you go anywhere with anyone, always get your mom or dad’s permission.
3. Never help an adult do something if mom or dad aren’t right there. Grown-ups do not need help finding puppies or kittens. Grown-ups do not need children to help them carry something to the car or into the house. Nor do they ask kids for directions.
4. Never go with an adult who says mom or dad have been hurt and are in the hospital; never go with an adult who says your mom or dad asked them to pick you up for any reason. Don’t go anywhere with a stranger; run away into a store or other public space if you have to. Parents and children should decide on a special code word like “parakeet.” If anyone picks you up, they must know that secret word.
5. Your body is your own personal business. If anyone asks you personal questions or touches you in any way that makes you feel uncomfortable, say “no,” leave them and tell your mom, dad, teacher or adult in charge.
6. If you need help and a police officer isn’t right there, the best bet is to ask another mother.
7. If you get lost (separated from mom or dad) in a store or another public spot, don’t go looking for them. Stay right where you are; mom or dad will find you.
8. When away from home without your parents, always stick close to your friends and stay in highly populated areas. On a field trip or excursion with other kids, always use the buddy system. Don’t lose sight of your buddy and don’t wander away from the group.
9. Never accept treats, gifts or money from anyone without your parents’ permission.
10. If someone follows you, stay as far away from them as you can; try to go inside a store or another busy place, and ask a clerk, or another parent for help.
11. If someone tries to take you by force, try with all your might to run away. Start screaming immediately: “He’s trying to take me! This is not my father/mother!” If you get away, run as fast as you can and keep screaming. It’s OK to hit, kick and bite.
12. If your parents get off the subway car and you can’t make it out the door with them, calmly get off at the next stop and go to the token booth. Tell the token clerk (if there is one) you are waiting for your parents there. Your parents will get on the next train and will come to the booth and get you. (If you get off the train too soon, do the same thing. Your parents will take the train back a stop and get you.) Look for a mother to wait with if no transit workers are around.
13. If you are going to be even one minute late, call home immediately.
14. Never open the house/apartment door to someone you don’t know. Never let anyone think you are home alone. If someone calls, never give out personal information, and never let them know if you are home alone.
15. Always follow the same route to school, the store and other places that you have discussed ahead of time with your parents. Don’t go anywhere else.
from now on i will do that i am 12 from when i was a kid i almost got kiddnapped
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; if it is broke, fix it. How about a good look into what is actually going on in shul. How about coming up with a plan to deal with unpleasantness or problems. I’m sure with the amount of intelligence among you, you can come up with suggestions and specific follow-through. I think #33 has some good thoughts about the situation. How about you start there. Who wants to take the first step to organize something? (I would, but I don’t live among you.)
There should be paid people to watch and daven with kids of all ages at 770 and other shuls. The kids shouldn’t be allowed to leave until picked up by their fathers. If the father wants to daven longer, he should arrange for someone responsible who he knows to take his children home.
very wise
Nobody asked you to read, let alone comment
Do u have to argue or share ur lifestory with us? Just make sure kids are safe, end of story(leiby was 9 btw)
how many people walking the streets of Brooklyn are prone to be Leiby’s attacker? We should be careful but let’s not scare or traumatize our kids.
i strongly feel that parents cant come to shul and let their kids run outside. DO NOT BRING THEM TO SHUL. let them have a friend over and run around in your backyard or house. and i also feel that mothers with kids do not belong in shul. because the mother is trying to daven while the kids are screeching. so the mother has no choice but to shoo them outside. (this is almost like neglecting children.) thank you for bringing it to everyones attention!!!!!!
Just this week my siblings and neghbors were playing outside, riding their bikes and scooters, when a black BMW drives up to them with 4 teenagers inside and they start cursing the kids and told one of them to come in their car. My siblings ran to get my parents and my neighbors ran to get their parents. When the teens saw all our parents come out and one of them holding a phone about to dial 911, they zoomed off. It was trametizing for the little ones.
A well written article with an author who is proud of what he is saying so he does not sign anonymous! Kol hakavod! If only all the other writer’s would follow your example!
cool story bro
I am saying that a kid of 11 years old can react to a racing car that goes out of control or unpredictably drives as the kid is trying to cross properly. This is a skill a person must have to be able to go in the street on his/her own, without holding the hand of an adult that can do this.
This piece(s) of info about safety for [young especially] children is very valuable. (i’m a child myself.)
absolutly beautiful article……….. EVERYONE needs to take warning of this…. I still have nightmares of this summer and what happened….. I see kids walking around CH who should not be walking alone, it terrifies me to no end….. even walking to the corner to get milk alone is no good…. who knows who can stop a car and tear the kid off the street,,,, don’t let it be your child…. I knoe the “Rule ” is that H’shem will watch over BUT>>> there are enough weirdos out there that are fast…. WHY test the waters? watch your children…. and the… Read more »
very good article. spot on!
My 13 year old boy saw two big guys hassling and picking on an old guy on a bench last week. They refused to stop throwing rocks and taunting him.My son took one of them down quickly,and the other fled.I was proud.His twin sister hits harder than he does,trust me I know.My son said “Abba,pretend you have a knife (I used a pencil) and come at me. He knocked it out in a flash! Wow! My 11 year old son also knows how to defend himself,but only uses it defensively.. To the contrary,they are confident and sweet kids.-db
its not only strangers that we cant trust rather to our sorrow it could be anyone
Nobody said there should be kids running around In the street, so that they should have to dodg a car!! But even if you cross at cross walks, chances are, no matter how carefull you are, there is always a possibility of a situation, a careless driver! A car pulling out of a parking lot! A out of view car etc. The posibbiltys are endless…. And that’s even if you cross at the cross walks CAREFULLY #11 is right (idk about the age but the fact) that until children are able to sense when there is danger, when to JUMP… Read more »
I dont think you can pick a number. Every child is different. There are very responsible, savvy, street smart 8 yr. old kids and 12 yr olds that can easily be duped into following a stranger. My own children each start walking alone at a different age- depending on when he or she is ready. As for being physically weaker because they are younger- train them to fight (martial arts, that is). If you live in crown heights you should be doing that anyway. A 13 yr. old is also vulnerable to the “animals” and criminals here. So is a… Read more »
Yes this is a problem. Last Hannukah I got in a yelling match with another bachurim who said to let these young children on board that randomly came up to the tank. We were going out till 2am and there parents were not available to ask. I refused, and yet got criticised by several others for being new to the neighborhood and that is the way things go around here and that it is normal. If you think this is normal to let your young kids under 12 go on a random mitzvah tank of bochurim without your knowing, please… Read more »
#8 was actually meant for you, not # 4, as I mistakenly indicated.
I see every shabbos and yom tov this father com in with tons of kids ( the younges is as small as 1.5) and there all over the place no one watches over them, and every week I almost save a life ( one time taking a Lolly pop out of the 3 year olds mouth when the stick fell off….and the stories goes on…) and the worst part, the mother has a play group for kids……I don’t get it !!!
#11You cross at crosswalks slowly after looking and listening,so cars can see you. Never run.
what about the kids INSIDE shul, running around & disturbing everyone from davening, while their fathers do not get up to control them?
studies show that age 11 is the general developmental age at which the majority of kids can be trusted to have the appropriate motor skills to dodge a racing car in the street in time.
Therefore, before that age, no kid should be walking alone!
SImple as that..
we do trust in HaShem, but we have also been given a responsibility to guide and watch over our children.
Our kids are not “ours”! They are on loan from the Aibeshter. If this is your attitude about child-raising, it is a privilege and not a right, your relationship with them is much more meaningful and you are less likely to do any of the behaviours mentioned above. I know because a change in attitude changed our family life for the better. (This works vise versa as well! My children know that Hashem has picked us to be their parents and it effects their behaviour for the positive! Baruch Hashem) May klal yisroel have a gementchte yor in all inyanim.
Move to Israel!My ex doesn’t believe in seat belts for people in cars . Any discipline for children is “abuse!” If children want something,I say,let them earn part of it.I’ve tried to start a child awareness safety program for Israeli schools like we had in America,and they tell me to pay for it myself.The Beit Knesset here is a ZOO!The kids can do whatever they want,because there is no one (except me)to speak out about their little cuties.Forget about talking about the gangsta children of shluchim ruining the chagim with pants around their knees, booze,cigarettes and their chutzpadik not tznius… Read more »
For my senses, you are not being realistic. Although Hashem is the ultimate decision maker, I do not think that absolves us from our responsibility to provide protection and boundaries for our children. The fact is, there are things going on in our society that were not so prevalent in earlier years. One of those “things” is more frequent predatory behavior in public. The reality is that some innocent people do not take heed of this phenomenon. As a result, things go back to “normal” as in before poor Leiby, OBM. I do not think that is realistic. YOU might… Read more »
I am sitting here feeling a bit left out because I refuse to send my little children to shule and so stay home with all of them all Shabbos and most yom tovs and Yom Kippur.The reason is because of SAFETY. I don’t trust them on their own and want my husband and older boys to daven uninterrupted. Thank you for this post.
Adults get mugged and killed every day too, unfortunately. Should we lock ourselves in our homes? (Where many dangerous accidents occur?) Of course we should keep an eye on our children, and kids running wild at shul is a problem for many reasons. A child who is not old enough to be careful when crossing the street (EVERY time) is not old enough to be crossing alone, or with a not-significantly older sibling. But that does not mean no child is old enough to walk to school without an adult, especially if they walk with a friend. Exactly how old… Read more »
START A KOL YAAKOV YEHUDA!!!
Very sad b/c of leiby we haveto b aware of such things. May we meritto c leiby right now with moshiach!
Thank you 4 addressing this problem. Well written.
It’s a ness that our kids are safe! What I see makes my sheitel turn grey. It’s a PARENT’S responsibility to watch his/her kids. If you don’t want to for whatever reason, keep your kids home with you or your spouse. Too bad if Mommy wants to sleep in Shabbos morning: if Tatty has to daven & can’t watch 2-year-old Chaimke at the same time, Chaimke stays home. Trust me, there’ll be plenty of Shabbosim Mommy can sleep in when the kids are grown.