Mishmeres Hasholom – Ask the Rav

Q: I was in eighth grade last year in a school that was chareidi, but unfortunately had some girls who were familiar with films and songs from outside chareidi circles and spoke about them.

Out of a sense of responsibility and the desire to protect the class from negative influences, I reported this several times to the administration and, as a result, one of those girls was expelled from school.

I recently heard that this girl continued sliding and was on the street. I have qualms now about whether I acted correctly when I reported her and caused her to be expelled.

A: You did very well. Who knows how many girls you saved from being dragged along and pulled into bad ideas and improper views. You deserve the highest praise!

In situations such as these, classmates should not hesitate to act out of concern that they will cause the problematic girl’s further decline; on the contrary, they must report to the teacher and principal, so as to save their classmates from being corrupted, chalilah.

The teachers and principals will consider the matter carefully and consult with experts on how to deal with a girl like this and with her parents, how to find an alternative place that will suit her, and how to get her back on track.

But first, before anything, they have to make sure to remove this danger from the school, carrying out the passuk, “You shall destroy the evil from your midst.”

The questions and answers above were taken from the Mishmeres Hasholom pamphlet in Israel. For details and inquiries please e-mail us at office@hasholom.org or call 972-2 5379160.

The views expressed are of the individual author. Readers are encouraged to consult their own posek for guidance.