We’ve heard the term over and over again – they won’t change until they hit rock bottom.
But where did it all start? What caused this terrible descent?
The Torah says in this week's parsha when it describes the downward spiral of the Bas Kohen – the daughter of the Kohen who begins to go astray – she gets a severe punishment. But if she only gets the punishment when she goes astray, why does the Torah mention, when she “begins” to go astray?
The answer tells us to look at how it all began – nothing starts out of thin air.
A major drop in behavior needs immediate love, immediate attention. We must unconditionally draw them back with our care, concern and trust.
If we do not, then the momentum of the fall might become too much to bear.
The Torah is telling us – keep a steady eye and repair any breaches.
We live in a world of bacteria and microbes that can infect us if we’re not protected. But as long as we don’t have a cut in our skin that the bacteria can enter and infect – we can wash away our problems, we are immune.
This girl who went astray may have had many wounds – some self-inflicted, some otherwise – but if we’re there for her from the very beginning before the big descent begins, we can help.
R’ Shabsi Yudelovitz ztz”l of Yerushalayim once engaged in a discussion with a policeman.
“Had I known that this would be the result of our downplaying religion in our modern state, I may have never supported it!” the policeman complained.
We have hard drugs, drinking, and the gamut of social ills in many of our teens here. Who would have thought that it would have descended to such a low level – even in grade school children, we see these problems growing now!”
R’ Shabsi looked at him with compassion and answered.
“Years ago I was in the Shalom Tower in Tel Aviv and on the 32nd floor I saw a man about to jump – placing himself on the other side of the security barrier.”
“You’re jumping? Have you gone mad?” I screamed.
“No, sir.” the man replied. “Don’t worry. I don’t intend to fall more than two floors; I will stop before I go down any further. I won’t reach the ground. No damage will be done!”
The lesson is self-evident – once the fall starts, it’s way too hard to stop all the downward momentum.
Intervention with love from the beginning is the only way.
Good Shabbos!
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
