That [the accused killer] was someone who resembled one of ours — one of us who seemed to be someone familiar to this child — was especially horrendous for members of the Orthodox and hasidic community. That was probably the single most prominent emerging fear. And it is going to certainly alter the way in which we teach children about safety.
The New York Daily News assembeled a panel of readers to discuss child safety after the Leiby Kletzky murder.
The excerpt that follows is from Bronya Shaffer, a 62-year-old Chabad lecturer and teacher from Crown Heights, who is the mother of 10 children, aged 20 to 40, and 19 grandchildren between 4 weeks and 15 years old:
I have, of course, been discussing it a great deal within the Hasidic community and with my siblings who have young children and my own children who have young children. No matter how removed one is from the actual child, for a parent to hear about a missing or murdered child, it is a nightmare. That [the accused killer] was someone who resembled one of ours — one of us who seemed to be someone familiar to this child — was especially horrendous for members of the Orthodox and Hasidic community. That was probably the single most prominent emerging fear. And it is going to certainly alter the way in which we teach children about safety.…
After the initial response of: "Oh my God, who can you trust?" we need to settle down to teaching our children how to be trusting but also to be safe. When I was growing up and raising my older children, there was a much more trusting environment because there was much less awareness. The same way we were trusting of bikes without helmets and children in cars without seat belts. So it really wasn't because it's any worse now. I think Leiby's murder is a pivotal moment n history with raising children. I think it's when we really have to be very careful about what we impart for children. Certainly, we never should impart fear, panic and anxiety, but be very clear, just as we are about safety regulations over crossing the street and wearing seat belts and all of that.