Page 35 - Jewish News_February-2021

FOCUS ON YOUTH February 2021 35A

The Great Reset

One would think, given our much-im- my rambunctious student who can’t challenges were worth the suffering he
the air everyone breathed.” proved life, our children would be hap- sit still, let alone maintain social dis- endured to achieve them.
The New Testament’s especially pier, yet the opposite is true. tance? My concerns thankfully proved We’ve been through a lot, yet
deep-seated contempt for Jews should While, according to the Census unfounded. The children adapted. They while one wouldn’t ask for these tough
be seen in the context of a highly Bureau, the general poverty rate had behaved even better than before, and and tragic challenges, the lessons
charged internecine struggle in which fallen annually from the 1960s until we still heard the sounds of laughter gained are invaluable, especially when
explosively scurrilous rhetoric was 2019, the CDC reports an increase of and learning in our Hebrew school. It it comes to our children. There are
deployed to draw firm distinctions, fo- 3% of children being diagnosed with is undoubtedly a credit to the lessons powerful teachings being inculcated in
ment hostility and create points of no depression and anxiety from 2003 un- of resilience and strength that they are our children as we live through these
return. til 2012. Admittedly, this is just a cor- gaining now. historically challenging times. Lessons
Many Christians have sought to relation and there may be other causes The previous Chabad Rebbe was of resilience, of protecting others, of
diminish focus on New Testament texts for increased depression and anxiety, imprisoned in communist Russia for strength and of compassion – these will
that are indisputably antisemitic in Education Corner notably better diagnostic tools, in- his “grave” sin of spreading Judaism. serve our children well.
character. Thankfully, recent decades creased mental health awareness and He was tortured mercilessly and suf- This is an opportunity to have a
have seen an increasing interest among By Chanie Bukiet so on. However, that 7.1% of children fered greatly. Upon his release from Great Reset, a shift in attitude for our
Christians to explore their faith’s Jew- e thankfully live in a free are diagnosed with anxiety and 3.2% prison, he commented that while he children, to build character and resil-
ish roots, voice strong support on be- society with unprecedented with depression is astonishing given never would have asked for this ex- ience, and they will be better for it.
half of the State of Israel and extol Wabundance. Our children our generally good lives as compared perience, he wouldn’t trade it for Chanie Bukiet is the program director
Judeo-Christian values as a bulwark of grow up, for the most part, with doting to previous generations. anything in the world. The spiritual at Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood
Western society. parents, decent homes, plentiful food During the pandemic, many child- strengths gleaned from overcoming his Ranch.
As in the ancient world, there is no and an ample amount of clothes. For ren have fewer play dates and
shortage of disinformation, conspira- most of us, the pandemic is THE chal- family outings, need to wear
cy theories and slander circulating to- lenge of our lifetime. masks, and are witness to stress
day. Extremists on the left and right, I grew up hearing stories of my and anxiety at home while ex-
as well as a considerable number of grandparents scrounging for morsels of periencing it themselves. Some
those in the middle who are dismaying- food amidst food shortages in commu- children, G-d help them, may
ly misinformed, remain captivated by nist Russia, and my aunts and uncles have even lost loved ones. And
the propagation of classic antisemitic leaving their home in Vienna at an un- yet, amongst this chaos, pain
tropes. This explains why antisemi- bearably young age to escape the Na- and suffering, I’ve witnessed
tism is not only still quite prevalent but zis. While during much of our colorful something incredible, beautiful
also appears to be less objectionable and painful history, we Jews were pre- and miraculous. I’ve witnessed
than bigotry directed at other minority occupied with survival. We now have resilience. Quickly Locate all of your favorite Jewish

groups. the freedom to concern ourselves with In our Hebrew school, organizations, clubs and service providers online.
Despite many commendable un- more sophisticated needs such as emo- when we started with masks
dertakings to stem the rise of antisemi- tional and mental health, self-esteem outdoors and social distancing,
tism, it will, inevitably, continue to rear and self- actualization. I was definitely nervous. Would JFEDSRQ.org/Directory
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