Youth at Risk — The Off the Derech Phenomenon Takes Center Stage at Rabbinical Alliance of America Shevat Conference

On January 26, 2020, the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim convened its monthly (Rosh Chodesh Shevat) conference at the Kamenitz Bais Medrash located in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn. Rabbi Aron Glick, Rav of the Kamenitz Bais Medrash and Director of Sharey Ezer, an organization dedicated to assisting youth at risk and their families, hosted this important rabbinical conference to discuss the communal attrition of Jewish youth. The abandonment of traditional Jewish practice, often called the “Off the Derech” (OTD) phenomenon, sadly occurs too often in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Rabbi Glick, together with his Chief of Operations, Rabbi Chaim Pollack, and Rabbi Shmuel Taub, laid out the many different scenarios in which Jews leave the fold. Rabbi Glick explained that OTD is not a problem that develops overnight in teenagers and young adolescents. Rather, many times it is rooted in a child’s younger years and can be successfully addressed with early intervention. Rabbi Glick explained how, for example, a learning-disabled child can go OTD due to frustrations in school and home. Our schools must work together with parents to focus on the best needs of their students. A holy partnership of this nature can help students find happiness in school, at home and in religion.

Rabbi Glick spoke of the dark side of the internet. Children and young adults today confront a world that was unknown to us when we grew up. Parents must take the time to talk to their children about their internet and social media use, and keep tabs on them. Through proper interaction and guidance we can avoid many cases of OTD.

One of the most painful sides of OTD is when it is caused by abuse. Fortunately, as a community we are more aware than ever and take this issue much more seriously than in the past. By doing so, we are able to save people from crippling emotional trauma.

To combat the OTD phenomenon and save our youth, we must invest the financial and emotional resources, the love, time and money, in addressing the challenges they face. There is no one set rule that guides how to handle a situation. Unfortunately, as a community we have not sufficiently invested or focused on OTD. There are still too many barriers and perceived social stigmas that prevent the community from properly addressing OTD. We must be mature enough as a community to place the needs of our youth over all other considerations. We must be sophisticated enough to hold a frank conversation and to reflect on the many complex issues involved so that we can come together as a community to resolve the situation. Every child is precious to his or her parents and to Hashem. Someone OTD must feel great pain in order to
leave the comfort of family and community. Likewise, the family of someone OTD struggles constantly to deal sensitively with the situation. Only by being honest with ourselves on the individual and communal levels can we successfully retain our youth within our sacred tradition.

Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium chairman of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, presented a resolution that was seconded by Rabbi Dovid Katz, Menahel of Rabbinical Alliance of America, and passed unanimously by the rabbis in attendance to support the holy work of Rabbi Glick and Sharey Ezer, and to urge the community to marshal together and coordinate the necessary resources to implement a successful strategy in saving our youth who are currently, or at risk of becoming, OTD.

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, closed the meeting by thanking Rabbi Glick for taking the time to delicately explain the OTD phenomenon and its impact on the individual, the family and the Jewish Community as a whole. It is our prayer that Hashem should grant us the wisdom, strength and fortitude to be able to nurture every child to his or her full potential and keep them within the traditional Jewish community. Rabbi Mirocznik thanked Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel of America; Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, director of the Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, Rabbinical Alliance of America; Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz, Rockwood Park Jewish Center; Rabbi Avraham Hecht, Vaad HaRabbonim of Queens and JCC of Canarsie; and Rabbi Moshe Schmerler, director of the Rabbinical Alliance of America for participating in the discussions.