I haven't been following the discussions closely, but I wonder – why is there a problem with the lack of common sense morality among frum people. Imho , part of the problem is the educational system which does not really focus on the moral development and moral thinking of the child. Kids are never asked – what do you think about the story, or reflect about moral dilemmas. When it comes to discipline or behavior kids are taught to ask – what will be done to me if I do this, What will I get if I do this , in other words – what's in it for me. Consequences are important – not what will happen to me , but how my actions impact on others and how I can engage in the moral act of restitution to help make amends and do teshuvah. Moral thinking and internalization of values is not important. As long as we can get a ' behavior ' and ignoring the child himself = his feelings and motives , who cares , does it not say m'toch she'lo lishmah ba lishmah.
This reminds me of kids who made a bonfire directly opposite a home , in my neighborhood here in Israel. I told them it was a problem as the smoke and ashes were going in the direction of the home and doing damage. The kids said there is no problem as she is a ' goya'.( She is not frum , but Jewish ). When I began to put out the fire , the older yeshivah bochurim accused me of taking away or preventing people from doing the mitzvah of tashbi'tu . I then covered the
bonfire with sand.
bonfire with sand.
It is one thing not to do something because God said so , but we need to be moral people who would not act so, even if God did not command us to do/do not do - we should act in a moral way. Because, as R' Nissim Ga'on says, we were given the power of logic and an understanding heart to act in a moral way.
