Positive influence versus peer pressure

Peer pressure and even jealously can occasionally be a good influence, said Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner, menaheles of Machon Basya Rochel Seminary in Far Rockaway.

A friend making aliyah can awaken feelings of longing to do the same. But negative influences have much more weight. Consider the clean cloth that becomes dirty when it comes in contact with a dirty cloth, or a well person who catches the sickness of another when exposed.

A tiny flaw — poor self-esteem — can allow negative influence to take hold, she said. When a person feels the need to be like everyone else rather than being themself, the best choice they can make is picking good friends.

“Think back to all of the friends your parents did not want you to be friends with.They were right!” Rebbetzin Feiner said.

Like the lesson learned from Avraham and Lot, if you recognize that you are around someone who is not good for you, you must separate: “If you go to the left, I will go to the right.”