Yeshiva World News

Gazing At The First Candle......

There was a time when the Jews lived in a society advanced beyond all others. This society allowed much freedom, way beyond the repressive monarchies of old. There was democracy. Aesthetics were important so people built beautiful, palatial homes, with landscaped laws and breathtaking sculptures. Styles flattered the figure and obesity was on the wane as society promoted trim, fit, muscular builds honed in state-of-the-art gymnasiums. Now, living in those times you had a choice. Be a "Torahdik" ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Crying For The Older Bochrim)

Dear Yeshivaworld, I am writing as do many others, for the sole purpose of "venting". We read on a weekly basis in the Yated about the sad plight of older single girls who supposedly cry themselves to sleep at night because nobody wants them. I feel it's about time the older single guys such as myself get our chance. Why don't they realize that they haven't just graduated seminary? As 20 year-olds they had a right to be picky. They were probably too picky and turned down their best ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Don't Talk, Just Daven)

Dear YW Editor, Although I have been tempted to write many times in the past, this is the first time that I was so moved as to actually do so. Especially in light of the main topic and discussion just a week ago at the Agudah convention, being Mekarev our brothers through our actions, an incident that happened to me last week illustrated this point better than any speaker. I was meeting with a not frum business person who labelled himself as Conservative. He apparently has had almost ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Tuition Woes)

Is Tuition the Problem? The many "crises" of our day are in large part due to the exponential growth of our Klal, kein yirbu. Many of the calculations and methods that previously worked for the masses have become archaic. There was a time when mosdos (educational institutions) operated on a budget of $500,000 per year. Today, as many administrators will emphatically point out, the average yeshiva will forecast a budget five to ten times that amount. Additionally, other major costs of ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (A New Shidduch Question?)

Dear YW Editor, Recently, a woman called me to inquire about a close friend of mine as a prospective shidduch for her son. Expecting the typical questions, I was shocked to hear her ask me the following, "What animal does the girl remind you of?" Thinking this was a joke, I paused for her to start with the usual questions, but no, she was serious - she wanted an answer. The next question was even more absurd, "Can you please list me all of her chisronos? Various thoughts were racing ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Jewish Press [Blog] Slanders Chassidim)

Dear YW Editor. I am utterly disgusted by the way the Jewish Press allowed one of their contributors - Elliot Resnick - to publish an article on the Jewish Press Blog which clearly slanders Chassidim! In a world where anti-Semitic attacks are becoming more frequent, the last thing we need is an anti-Semitic article written by a Frum Jew. If this article was written by a non-Jew, there would be calls to boycott the newspaper! WHY ARE WE SILENT?! (I have attached the article below:) "Why ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Security At Our Shuls)

(Homeland Security Major Writes YW:) Dear Editor, we have all heard the recent warnings from the Department of Homeland Security and other intelligence and law enforcement sources of impending terror attacks on our homeland. While concerning, many of you have thought, "Well, it probably will not affect us here in City X. Too small, too non descript. No interest here."  Because of this mentality, obvious steps that can be taken to reduce the possibility of an incident in our shuls, schools and ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (From Chasunah To Foreclosure)

Dear Editor, My neighbor, Simcha, married off his daughter about six months ago. I went to the Chasuna which was in one of the wedding halls in the neighborhood. The ballroom was set up for the hundreds of guests. Simcha's daughters looked beautiful in their stunning gowns, the food was excellent and the music was very leibidig. Another beautiful Jewish Wedding. I sat down as they served the chicken, and as I was about to taste the food, I looked at my friend Bentzi to my right. He also ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Bungalow Colony Crooks)

Dear Editor, as an avid reader (and subscriber) to your wonderful website, I was hoping you would share my plight with the rest of the oilem in hopes that no one has to go through what I went through this summer. Baruch hashem it was not life threatening, nothing illness related, or something of that nature. I grew up my whole life spending summers with my family in bungalow colonies. As the years went by my parents (and my in-laws) moved up the food chain and bought summer homes in the ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Gas-Station Crooks)

Dear Editor, It has come to my attention, that many times during the summer months people pull into a gas station in New Jersey on Route 17 or 4, and ask the attendant to fill up. Because people are busy or tired or sometimes go into the store to buy something, they fail to realize that they have been scammed. When the customer comes out of the store, the gas attendant tells you 25-30-35-40 dollars and you pay - and only when you drive for a while you notice that you are still on empty! What ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Frustrated Shadchan)

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter after an extremely frustrating phone call. I would like to bring up a couple points in the hope that you will show it to your readers and perhaps it will change some peoples mindset. A) I am a young Kollel Yungerman learning in Lakewood. Though in NO way do I view myself as a professional, I do dabble in shidduchim from time to time. It started off as setting up close friends and relatives, and as time went on I began to work on friends of friends and ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (How To Lose Your Black Hat In Real Estate)

Dear Editor, I don't know where to begin. I am putting my pen to paper in the hope of helping people who might be in a similar situation, or considering putting themselves into one. August 2000. I went to the Catskills. I meet a very nice yungerman in my colony, that, from what I was told by a mutual friend, is doing "very well" in real estate. We schmooze a little, he takes my number. Several weeks later, I get a call from this yungerman, who is a big “Baal Tzedakah”. “A deal just ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Getting Ready For Chodesh Elul)

I attended a hearing at the US Capitol this morning. The room was filled with approximately 50 people, including US Representatives, business people, and congressional staffers. At the time to begin, one person at the front gave a light klop on a table and everyone immediately left their coffee and took their seats. When Congressmen spoke, people were quiet; when business-people spoke, people were quiet. With the exception of one Congressional person, no one's cell phone rang; everyone knew, ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Why Be Frum?)

It is the night of Tishah B'av, and I am sitting in my dorm room in one of Columbia University's residential halls. Looking out the window, I see lights, and a myriad of buildings that all characterize our century. But one thing I can't see in my mind's eye, and that I can't feel is the destruction of the two Temples. Perhaps the barrier is temporal because it happened so long ago.  Perhaps it’s special because I don’t live in Israel.  Perhaps it’s spiritual because I am a newcomer to ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Picking The Right Yeshiva)

Dear YW Editor: I have a question to pose to the YW community, to elicit comment and discussion, and perhaps debate, but only respectful debate, keeping in mind that we are bein ha'metzarim and should take extra pains to be careful. As parents begin to seek schools for young children (first grade and onward), would parents prefer generally a school where the learning skills are better, or a school where the children receive a more hearty dose of lessons in midos and bein adam l'chavero, but ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Hatzolah Facing Trouble in Catskills?)

Dear Yeshivaworld, I was hoping you would post my letter since I feel that lives are on the line. I was informed about an incident which occurred earlier this week in the town of Fallsburg (Sullivan County / Catskill Mountains) - which I find to be quite troubling, and of utmost importance to the summer residents in the area who might need the services of Hatzolah.   Perhaps there are other versions of this incident, but the following is the way it was told to me: The incident began when ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Please Read Entire Article)

Dear YW Editor: Yesterday, a woman from Williamsburg took a hitch from what seemed to be a Chasidisha looking man with his Tzitzis out, a hat on his head and spoke a fluent Yiddish, who said he was going to Boro Park. He took the streets instead of the highway in order to avoid traffic. She noticed how he was going in circles on the same few blocks. He told her that he was lost and needed to take out his GPS. The next thing she saw was a knife dangling in front of her face. Bechasdi Hashem she ...