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A comment that I heard from Dr. Gabi Cohen of Bar Ilan can shed light on
some of the issues raised by Robbie Sassoon. Dr. Cohen suggested that the
way that we as mechanchim ought to portray the Avot should parallel the
way that the students would relate to their own parents. Young children
generally idolize their parents and believe that they can do no wrong.
Their image of the Avot should parallel that image of their parents, and
need not be more "nuanced". Older students, particularly adolescents, are
well aware of the shortcomings of their own parents. At this point in
their lives it would be more acceptable and more meaningful to portray the
Patriarchs as being more human.
Elli Fischer
Alon Shvut</HTML>
