Negative experiences

There has been a lot written this week about the New York Times piece by a person who went to a prestigious Modern Orthodox school and has now intermarried. I haven’t read the original article, but apparently he is angry that his school and others have criticized him, and goes on to complain about numerous other items he has a problem with, all in the public forum of the New York Times.

I do not want to add anything to the discussion of his letter. However, I’d like to share a portion of the following anonymous comment posted on Aish.com. I almost feel like this needs no further comment and yet I have much to say on this topic so will add my own thoughts tomorrow.

I've Been There

I write this as a mitzvah observant Jew who was married
previously -twice- to non Jewish husbands....

There are a lot of people out there who do not find a place for
themselves in the Jewish world and do not feel a sense of

belonging. Whether it is an unhappy social experience in day

school or Hebrew school, or a feeling of rejection by other

Jews in one's life, or whether it is a failure to meet a Jewish

person of the opposite sex with whom one can really share his

heart, soul, and life, there are many people out here who

would like to be connected to the Jewish world

but have had more unhappy than happy experiences

in it….I personally felt like a reject in the Jewish world for

many years, something that gave me great emotional pain….

Since the time of my own teshuva, I have continued to struggle

with relationships with fellow Jews in the shuls, Jewish schools

and even with visits to Israel….

If I could make one suggestion, it is that when our children in

Jewish schools or camps act meanly to any of the other

children, we pay attention and stamp out the cruelty

immediately. No child should have to leave a Jewish school

because he or she can't make friends there. We have such a

better chance of raising committed Jews if our children grow up

with happy memories of associating with the other Jewish kids

at school and camp.