harmony – derives from the successful
management of conflict. Shalom bayit –
harmony in the home – then, is true
convergence rather than merely the absence of divergence.
But, as Covey is quick to point out,
this convergence only works when all of
the instruments are pulling together.
There’s room for solos, but only within
the context of the composition. The
trouble starts when our children’s ‘teachers’ are in opposition to our values. Our
little disciples, then, begin resembling
the legendary Pushmi-Pullyu (push me,
pull you) of Dr Doolittle fame.
THE BLOB
This brings us to the greatest teacher of
them all: the media, in all its manifold
forms. When I utter the ‘m’ word, I am
immediately reminded of ‘The Blob’,
the star of the 50s sci-fi horror classic
of the same name. The plot of the movie is straightforward. A meteor crashes
outside a sleepy small town somewhere
TRUE HARMONY CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WHEN DISPARATE
ELEMENTS ARE HARNESSED TOGETHER PRODUCTIVELY.
in America. As it is cracked open, the
Blob emerges and begins consuming everything and everyone aground, and
grows bigger with each new morsel.
Now we have ‘The Blog’ – we just have
to change one letter!
With greater and greater rapidity, the
values of our children are being shaped
by persuaders, consciously and subconsciously. Sexual axioms and mores that
have enjoyed almost universal acceptance for centuries and even millennia
have been discarded after just a couple
of decades of militant Hollywood as-
sault. Similarly, the constant exposure to
biased news media has created the painful spectre of our own Jewish youth joining in the delegitimisation of Israel.
The Blob has hatched. Our outdated
20th century weapons will merely skid
off its slimy tentacles. As 21st century
parents, we must develop strategies to
help our children manage their engagement with it. The first step in that process is to increase our awareness of how
the media is succeeding in usurping our
rightful role as the primary mentors of
our children, our disciples. JL
Rabbi Ze’ev Kraines, M Ed, is Rav of Ohr Somayach Sandton. He is
active in adult, teen, and children’s education, having served locally as
mashgiach of Ohr Somayach’s Yeshiva, director of Ma’ayan Bina Sem
and of Pirchei SA, and principal of Shaarei Torah School and Ohr
Somayach Sandton Nursery. He and his wife Nechama lead parenting
workshops in Johannesburg.
BOOK NOW FOR JEWISH LIFE’S
ROSH HASHANAH/YOM KIPPUR
AND SUKKOT EDITION
IT IS A PLEASURE TO READ A PUBLICATION THAT
CONSISTENTLY PRESENTS GENUINE CONTENT (AND PRESENTS
IT BEAUTIFULLY) IN AN AGE OF SHODDY PRESENTATION
DEVOID OF ALL REAL MEANING.
JEWISH LIFE IS THE BEST JEWISH MAGAZINE IN THE WORLD –
AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT!
H
REACADERS
E
R
R
MOREANY OTHEM
HAN H MEDIU
T
JEWIS SOUTH
IN ICA
AFR
RABBI AKIVA TATZ, BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND INTERNATIONAL LECTURER, LONDON
THE BIGGEST AND
MOST POPULAR AR.
ISSUE OF THE YE
Print and digital editions
www.jewishlife.co.za
FOR RATES AND DEADLINES CONTACT MARTYN SAMUELS
ON 082 44 99 567 OR AT [email protected]