Leading rabbis in the U.S. and Israel are attempting to start a worldwide Torah initiative to strengthen Jewish families.
“As we remember the story of the Maccabees, we are reminded of not only the external physical threats facing our people but even more important, the impact of Greek culture on Jewish families,” said Rabbi Chananya Weissman, the man behind the initiative.
“While Jews are paying close attention to threats to Israel from Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah and rising anti-Semitism, we need to pay equal or more attention to the impact of western values on our families,” he said.
Rabbi Yitzhak Breitowitz, outreach leader at Ohr Samayach in Jerusalem, noted, “The family…is the absolute bedrock of Judaism. It is the true dwelling place of the Shechina and without strong families, Judaism and all the good that it represents would simply disappear.”
A dozen rabbis so far have signed on to a Memorandum of Commitment, which reads as follows:
Whereas:
- Many aspects of the western world are working against Torah values and Jewish families need all the help they can get to stay strong,
- Jewish divorce rates are on the rise,
- Jewish parents are looking for proper parent role modeling to provide a healthy home environment,
- Verbal and physical abuse inside and outside the home persists and continues to create trauma for its victims,
- Young Jewish families are searching for ways to raise their children where western values promoting open marriage and confusion of roles are clashing with Torah values,
- Single Jews are increasingly delaying marriage and childbearing to a point that having and raising children is increasingly difficult,
- Birth rates in certain sectors have fallen well below replacement rates,
- Increasingly, Jewish individuals are socially identifying in different ways and entering into relationships which are outside of Torah law.
Therefore:
The following Rabbanim and Jewish educators across the world are committing to dedicate the Omer period following Pesach to teaching and educating Jews about Torah-based family principles, thereby strengthening the Jewish nation.
Signatories so far include:
Rabbi Avraham Goldstein, Diaspora Yeshiva, Old City of Jerusalem
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, New Jersey
Dr. Meir Seidler, Senior lecturer, School of Basic Jewish Studies, Bar-Ilan University
Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig, Netzach Menashe, Beit Shemesh
Rabbi Zev Leff, Moshav Matisyahu
Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz, Ohr Samayach
Rabbi Yosef Singer, Young Israel and President of the Washington DC Rabbinical Council
Rabbi Kenny Cohen, Machon Meir
Rabbi Chagay Raviv, Bet Midrash Torani Leumi, Beit Shemesh
Rabbi Aaron Poston, Director Yiboneh Outreach
Rabbi Mendel Bluming, Chabad of Potomac
Rabbi Chananya Weissman, Author of Tovim Ha-Shenayim: A Study of the Role and Nature of Man and Woman
Rabbis, educators, and professionals who are interested in joining the effort can e-mail [email protected].