Crayons & Beat Downs

Brawl erupts at Calif. kindergarten graduation (FROM MSNBC)



School placed on lockdown after fight involving 20 adults; 2 women held

Updated 11:53 p.m. PT, Thurs., June 24, 2010


VICTORVILLE, Calif. - Two women have been arrested following a parents' brawl that interrupted a Southern California kindergarten graduation ceremony, authorities said.

School officials placed Puesta del Sol Elementary in the desert town of Victorville on lockdown Wednesday morning after a fight broke out among a group of parents.

The San Bernardino County sheriff's department says witnesses told deputies several mothers were involved in an argument and it got physical in a field near the ceremony. Several men then jumped into the fray and the incident turned into a brawl.


A deputy later arrested two people on suspicion of being a disruptive presence at a school. Witnesses said they were the main instigators. In all, 20 adults were identified in the brawl. A school district official said there could be more arrests.

No injuries were reported.
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FROM PARSHAT BALAK:


ה מַה-טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל.  How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!


As our communities get "frummer" we have to keep in mind the two extremes. On the positive side, an an enemy praising us for our family life, our modesty and our consideration for others. On the other hand, a world in which parents brawl at a kindergarten graduation. I'm afraid were losing sight of the intrinsic morality that lies inside of each human being.

We need to be "goodly" and not "frumly". Lately I have been seeing too much "frumly" and too little "goodly".

From the Haftorah:


 הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם, מַה-טּוֹב; וּמָה-ה" דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ, כִּי אִם-עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד, וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת, עִם-אֱלֹ-יךָ. {ס} It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what the L-RD doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d.

"HUMBLY"   I repeat "HUMBLY". Meaning, with humility and not arrogance. Cognizant of the fact that the person next to you, no matter who or what he/she is was made at the same factory by the same Creator as you and me.

With that said, What is your favorite Crayola color?

Shabbat Shalom....Catch you again soon...Ben Hashmashot