Q:
Is there a problem with taking children to concerts where shomrei Torah u’mitzvos will be singing kosher songs?
A:
I will tell you my private opinion. I don’t think that children should become accustomed to unnecessary and superfluous things. Don’t train your children to become accustomed to going places that cost money. They don’t need it and you’re ruining them in the process. You can train them to take walks. They can take walks and get fresh air. They could play a little in the street with a ball and get some exercise, but don’t take them to concerts and things like that. I don’t believe in that at all.
I don’t believe in taking children to travel at all. Don’t get them accustomed to luxuries. A child should be taught how to live a frugal life and to desire only what is necessary. Today, people are feeding children all kinds of ideas – all kinds of wrong ideas. And people think it’s normal. Even to send your daughter to Seminary in, let’s say, Gateshead, I don’t believe in it anymore. It’s a very good place, Gateshead, but send your daughter to Boro Park or to Yeshiva of Brooklyn. There are very good places here.
And don’t let your daughter travel to Eretz Yisroel either. A man approached me the other day. His daughter wants to go to Eretz Yisroel. She’s a frum girl. He wants to know what I think about it. What does she have to go to Eretz Yisroel for?! It costs a lot of money to go to Eretz Yisroel. What does she have to go to Eretz Yisroel for?! An unmarried girl should waste money on going to Eretz Yisroel?! No, I don’t believe in these things.
Teach your children to save their money. They’ll need it someday. A bank account is better than travelling – a savings account in a bank. Teach them to save money for themselves. And you want to train them to spend money on unnecessary things?! No, I disapprove of that.
TAPE # E-217 (December 1999)
