Tuesday, January 8, 2013

A true Askan knows when to give it up

 A meeting with young askanim was held recently giving them guidance and hadracha on how to take on askanus and to advocate on behalf of the klal. Among the speakers was a prominent Rosh Yeshiva who spoke of his own personal experience. Having had a certain issue with one of his children he reached out to many organizations and well known activists and עסקנים that supposedly dealt with the issue at hand. In the end of the day said the RY the ones who came through and helped were not the organizations or public figures, but rather the quiet unassuming people who get things done with out fanfare or photo ops and a true willingness to help another yid. If you are in a position were you can no longer advocate, or your own kavod and negios stand in the way that should tell you to give it up.
 How true today B"H we have many Askanim and leaders that advocate on behalf of the klal, yet with it, there are many who start off with the right intentions, but power and kavod get in the way or through their connections they realize how they personally gain thus, they are no longer in a position to advocate truthfully or effectively.

Askanus entails a lot of different dynamics- cultivating relationships with politicians, or taking charge of issues that affect a local community  as well as for the general klal. Not always will you get recognition, on the contrary there are times where you will dirty your hands and stick your neck out in order to help. Years ago askanim were appointed by rabbonim or communities to advocate on behalf of the tzibbur. Today that exists more in the Chasidishe circles. There are many self appointed askanim today who advocate and act as spokespersons. Many of them are well intentioned and doing whats right to help. We hope that they dont loose focus of what it is about and hope they can continue to serve amd always put the klal ahead of themselves.
.............וכל מי שעוסקים בצרכי צבור באמונה
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4 comments:

  1. Ariella AbrahamsJanuary 8, 2013 at 5:18 AM

    Its so true. I heard a similar situation recently with a man begging and pleading for help from askanim. Many well meaning askanim were not able to give the help that he needed. I'm sure he was davening the whole time, but in desperation, when he could not get results from the organizations and askanim he poured his heart out in truth to Hashem. That is when he saw his yeshua. We must do chesed for each other but never forget where our strength to do chesed comes from
    Kol Tov

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:04 AM

    Good post. Since the reward is so great, the challenges in properly fulfilling ones communal responsibility is so great. Money, fame and power can really get in the way.

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2013 at 2:31 PM

    http://torasaba.blogspot.com/2013/01/yes-no-yes-no-trivia.html

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    As an example in the community where I live there was a person who was appointed as liaison with the local Police Department. Over the years he used his connections for personal favors and then when a crisis came up between the community and the PD this askan was not in a position to fight for the community as he abused his power to advocate. Yet people believed that he was still there for them but he couldn't do anything and had no influence on the issue at hand.

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