Yeshiva World News

YWN Mailbag: Canadian National Post Columnist Attacks Charedim

Dear YWN, Canada's National Post is generally considered pro-Israel and pro-Jewish -- with one glaring exception. It has a horrible bias against "Haredim" and the "Ultra-Orthodox". The absolutely worst offender is National Post columnist, Barbara Kay, a Jew who doesn't let an opportunity pass without spewing venom upon "Haredim". One of the worst examples of this hatred is her op-ed article in today's Post. Read for yourself. She has outdone herself. This hateful piece calls for ...

YWN Mailbag: Not Just Another Tzinus Letter

Dear YWN, During these days of reflection on our priorities and current state in galus, I feel the need to bring to light something that has been bothering me for quite some time. I am not here to preach as many others do about the connection of such and such an issue to our current state surrounded by countless tragedies and crises. That is not my position and surely never will be. As Rav Avigdor Miller once said, “use caution when driving on icy pavements,” in response to an individual ...

YWN Mailbag: Summer 2010 Appeal

Dear YWN, I would like to inform those that vacation in the Catskills of the "Summer 2010 appeal". This is not an appeal for a family, a specific person, or organization but rather a cause. That cause is Kiddush Hashem. Many people do not realize that for 10 months a year the Catskill Mountains is a quiet peaceful and clean environment. Traffic jams are unheard of and the roadways are clear of pedestrians. Long lines in stores are virtually non-existent. Then comes memorial day and ...

Out Of The Mailbag: No Kosher Food Given At County Jail

Dear YWN Editor, My son was arrested on Wednesday, June 2 in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently sits in the Dekalb County Jail. He has spent the fourth night in a row in a holding cell with 63 other inmates. He has slept on the floor because of severe overcrowding, and, despite my desperate phone calls to the jail morning, noon, and night; and despite my phone calls to Sheriff Tom Brown, neither I, nor the kind and competent Dr. Joseph Crespin from the Aleph Institute, have succeeded in ...

Blackberry Crisis

The following appears below as well, in the "Out Of The Mailbag" category: Dear YWN, Over the past few years Klall Yisroel has been faced with various "Crisis's". We had the Shaitel Crisis, The Strawberry Crisis, The Bug in the water Crisis, and the ever popular Shidduch Crisis. While not everyone would agree that the aforementioned crisis affected their "Kehilla",  I would like to introduce a new "crisis" that affects all of Klall Yisroel equally. This is the BLACKBERRY ...

Chillul Hashem At Great Adventures

Dear YWN, When I was in school, we never got off the bus for a trip without the speech - make a kiddush HaShem, not a chillul HaShem. Apparently many adults no longer remember this.  I in no way mean to include everyone in what I am about to say. However, there were enough offenders to make it a group rather than just a few individuals that I address. I was at Six Flags Great Adventure on Chol Hamoed and was embarrassed by the behavior of many (not all) of the obviously yeshivish ...

Beating A Traffic Summons With Hashgacha Pratis

Dear YWN, Last week, my wife had a scheduled court appearance for a traffic ticket, and I was scheduled to bring her there. The problem is I was stuck baking matzoh in Williamsburg - exactly the opposite end of Brooklyn. The clock was ticking, and the traffic was crawling on the BQE. I went with local streets, managed to pick up my wife, and we arrived at the court appearance a half hour late. As we walked in, we see the officer who issued the ticket testifying against a motorcycle ...

Get'cha Head in the Game

Passover is a holiday that looms above us.  The mere thought of cleaning our homes, and the madness it entails can be a huge task.  As a mother of five, I have found that food travels into spaces that one never imagined…bookshelves, closets, behind the couch.  “Seek and ye shall find” is a verse that is spoken with trepidation during these times of cleaning house. As Purim ended, the thoughts of Passover began.  Even our local supermarket joined the band-wagon with a two for one ...

Cleaning Lady Alert

[by Bentzion Elisha] Crown Heights, Brooklyn - Random items appeared to be missing from our apartment. Could it be our sweet hardworking cleaning lady who came highly recommended by neighbors who had her for the last 7 years? After discussing the matter with our parents , my wife and I concluded it just couldn't be her.... My father-in-law dismissed the idea saying everyone blames the cleaning lady first and it never is, its too obvious. My mother related to us what happened with her one time. ...

Reflecting On Purim Madness

Dear YWN, So now that we sobered up its time to reflect on what happened this Purim. As I decide on which method is best to dispose of all the food on my table, I can’t help notice all the “Purim themes” that I need to toss into the garbage. The boxes, cases, ribbons, poems, vases, cookbooks all to be trashed, not even paying any attention into the effort that went into preparing these “holy” pieces of art. It’s become so normal, and we are so immune to this insanity, that ...

Ads On The Kosel?! WHERE ARE THE HAFGANOS NOW?

Dear YWN, I have never before written a letter to any news publication, but after just reading an article by Haaretz, my blood started boiling like a pressure cooker at the exploding point. Many times YWN covers stories of Charedim protesting all over Eretz Yisroel for all types of reasons (Shmiras Shabbos, Kevarim, "Pride Parades" etc). I am not the violent type, and don't think that the hafganah approach to things is the correct way to go --until now. The following article I have ...

No School On Shushan Purim

Dear YWN, Sitting here at 12pm on a Monday, the first day of a new work week, I’m a bit frustrated. Like most, my family and I are two income family and we struggle to do the best we can to raise our family, and pay our bills (including full tuition). In doing so, we often put ourselves last to make sure our children and schools get what they deserve. Today I have the time to write this letter because there is no school and therefore I am unable to work. We can dress it up (no pun ...

Story Behind The Picture

REPRINTED FROM THE YWN ARCHIVES:   Ever wonder about the story behind a picture? Well, this is this picture's story. Standing near a car with a group of friends on Purim afternoon, in the Ave. N and East 20's vicinity (Flatbush), my brother suddenly felt something hit his face. While trying to knock off the unknown object, he began to feel a burning sensation on his right cheek below his right eye. Not knowing what had hit him (quite literally), he followed his friends urgings to wash ...

Out Of The Mailbag – Booze & Drugs At a Brooklyn Chasunah

Dear YWN, I am not the "letter-writing" type of person, but after what I witnessed last evening felt that this must be brought out in public. On Sunday evening I was a guest at the chasuna of a frum young couple B"H. The wedding was held in a Brooklyn wedding hall. The Simcha was beautiful, dancing was lebidig, and the simcha was felt in the air. The first dance was over, and I found a seat at the "Bochrims Table". What I then saw, shocked me to the core, and prompted me to pen ...

Out Of The Mailbag - An 'Etrog' Employee Writes YWN

Dear YWN, This was a terrible thing that happened - I respect the rabbis and their wisdom, but there should have been some warning...On Thursday, I and 30 some co-workers at "Etrog" lost our jobs. Overnight, we have no means of income, and will join the ranks of the "poor chareidim". I am sure employees of other sites are facing the same reality. We had a vision of providing a kosher site for anyone who happened to be online anyway - that is all over now. I wonder what will happen to ...

Out Of The Mailbag - Lakewood Should Be Endorsing Chris Christie

To the chashuvah kehillah of Lakewood, We are now in the last remaining days before the election. This election is a most important one for New Jersey and the frum community at large. The Lakewood Vaad has endorsed incumbent Governor John Corzine for re-election on the basis of hakoras hatov. However, we will only be hurting ourselves. The hakoras hatov for the Governor is misplaced. The Governor has announced that he will raise our outrageous property taxes (already the highest in the ...

Out Of The Mailbag - Hikind is a Sharpton Wannabee

Last week, Mr Yossi Gestetner wrote an article on YWN about the lack of a "Jewish" Al Sharpton. Mr. Gestetner is right. I wish we had an Al Sharpton in our Jewish community - instead we have Sharpton wannabee's like Dov Hikind. Why is he a wannabee? Because while Sharpton delivers for his community, Hikind never misses an opportunity to embarrass ours. What do I mean? I think it's perfectly fine - in fact it's a good thing, for community leaders to raise legitimate issues in our community - ...