Where oh where did we go wrong?

There are a lot of people who turn to religious figures for advice and guidance. How many pictures have we seen throughout the ages of world leaders meeting with the Pope, the Dalai Lama or other well-known religious personages for insight and wisdom? There are rabbis who are sought out by leaders including non-Jews. When I once went to see a very big rabbi in New York, I was told that Senator Alfonse D’Amato had arrived and that we would all have to wait until he finished his audience. There is a picture of RFK, Sr. meeting with the same rabbi at 2 in the morning in order to discuss matters of state.

In Israel, it is not unusual for hundreds of people to go to a rabbi on the days when he makes himself available for consultation. Most people in the world have issues with a spouse, health, finances, or children. While everyone probably has something that keeps him up at night, not everybody goes to a religious figure to get help. Some just live with the problem, while others seek help from professionals or publicly available sources of information, the internet being the king of the latter.

One thing that always impresses me is when the children of big rabbis turn out alright. There are those rabbis whose help, advice, guidance, and assistance are sought 24/7. Most have to have family or associates serve as a buffer between them and those seeking their help. A friend told me of a very big rabbi who lived in our neighborhood. He wanted to sit and learn Torah uninterrupted. He told his grandson to tell anyone who came that he was not at home. “But grandpa, you are at home!” “Yes, but I am not at home for them.” An agreement was reached whereby the grandson would comply as long as the rabbi stayed in his room and did not come out where those at the door could see him. Because the pressure to help others is so great, not all rabbis have........

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