Practical Tips

By the Grace of G-d
8th of Adar II, 5733

Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mrs. ...
Wallingford, Berks.
England
Blessing and Greeting:

...A further point, which I believe I also wrote to your husband, is that the most effective way of influencing young people of our day and age is by getting them personally involved in activities. This can be done in two ways. The best way is to involve the group by rotation, whereby each student, boy or girl, takes a turn to lead the group and to address the group on the desired topic and in the desired spirit. The other, somewhat less direct, but having the advantage of more frequent use, is the method of question-and-answer periods and general discussions involving the whole group. Here precautionary measures must be taken, to preclude the discussion from getting out of hand, by careful advance programming as to what questions should be discussed and by making certain that the answers, at any rate, should be in the desired direction. I have in mind, particularly, the need to avoid getting involved with abstract and abstruse philosophical ideas. Apart from the fact that such discussions are generally unproductive and indeed, cause only more confusion, the contemporary young generation is not so much interested in abstractions. Consequently it is preferable to avoid such questions even if only in order to refute them and at any rate, to keep them at a minimum, but immediately steer the discussion in the right direction.

One more point which to my surprise, is apparently at variance with your letter. Experience almost invariably points to the fact that present day youths are not afraid of a challenge. If the challenge is not accepted, it only proves that the matter has not been presented convincingly enough to the young person to want to try it at the cost of privation and effort; otherwise, the young person would gladly accept the challenge even if it involves sacrifices.