Gain first-hand experience, then talk on what’s happening in Israel

Gershon Bachrach
King David cannot be blamed for Broomberg saying something or wearing anything and also cannot punish the boy, because as soon as a school punishes one for whatever he is doing, the school automatically sees itself as responsible for one’s wrongdoing and like it or not, every parent says a brocha on their son’s barmitzvah; as soon as he reaches the age of 13 he becomes responsible for his own doing and more so at the age of 18.
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Being at school does not mean that the school is responsible for him; the only thing the school is responsible for is the learner’s wellbeing.

Anyone can buy a keffiyah – even in Israel there are kids and adults who dress like Arabs on Purim and we don’t hate the Arabs and we don’t have apartheid in Israel. There are many Arabs in Israel – they even have members in the Knesset and also carry Israeli ID documents.

Most of us have a lot to say about the cost involved in going on a Shabbaton, so how can anyone point a finger at King David and still make demands as to how one must talk – or shouldn’t – about Israel?   

All those who have an opinion about Israel: Ask the kids and the parents of those kids who were on hadracha at the time the war started, about human rights; they paid a lot of money so their kids could get a thorough experience of Israel. They didn’t blame King David; they didn’t blame Israel; they were too busy following the news on TV and cried every day worrying if they were ever going to see their children again and when they did, they thanked King David for taking good care of their loved ones.

Those holding the same opinion as Broomberg, should go and live for at least one week in Sderot before they talk again about human rights and killing (Palestinian) kids and women or go and visit an Israeli cemetery were a baby is buried who has died as a result of a suicide bomber on a bus. 

So please, parents, let one of your children serve in the IDF before they express an opinion. Don’t blame King David for the views of a boy with no first-hand experience about living in Israel.

We have enough enemies; let us stick together and love each other; let’s build each other up and not worry. The enemies won’t be able to destroy a well-bonded community. 

Johannesburg