Yeshiva World News

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

Dear YWN readers,  After the tragedy in Merkaz HaRav in Yerushalaim, and the attempted storming of the Mekor Chaim yeshiva in Gush Etzion we need to wake up. I believe that it is irresponsible of yeshivos even in the US not to have armed security. Do you think they can't hit us here in America? Do you think they don't know where we are? Must we wait chalilla for something to happen here to jolt us out of our false warm and fuzzy feeling of security? What are we waiting for?! Some may ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Kashrus Koncerns)

Dear Yeshiva World readers, I am saddened to write this letter as unfortunately I need an outlet to express my anger and disappointment with a kashrus service based in North America. I do not wish to point fingers at any particular organization or Rabbis but I believe that the trend is prevalent in most major Kashrus organizations. The Kashrus business as we know is a billion dollar business in North America. While there are distinct advantages and problems inherent in the ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Cell Phone Addiction)

Dear YWN, I ask you to please post this letter, because I think the situation I'm writing abaout is far from pathetic, and something really has to be done about it. Take a walk down the street, go into any shul, school, supermarket, wedding hall etc. and count how many people are focusing on the action they are 'supposed' to be doing; and then count how many people are focusing on their CELL PHONES. How low did we fall that we have a chutzpah to bring a cell phone into a shul? I've ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Purim-Tzedakah Request)

Purim is a time of simcha and giving. Many mosdos, and excellent organizations send numerous groups to collect money for these worthy causes on Purim. While the simcha these boys generate is very often a highlight of Purim, I caution the organizations they collect for to offer them this small piece of advice. This past year has seen a sharp decrease in the incomes of many heimisha families. Hardest hit are those in the mortgage industry with other real estate related industries taking a ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Jewish-Press Crisis)

Dear Yeshiva world editor, I ask you to please post this letter, as I think it is extremely important and raises a major issue that is affecting the Jewish Community at large. As my wife was flipping through the pages of the Jewish Press one Friday night, she was shocked at a certain advertisement and called me over to have a look. What I saw might not cause such a reaction to many people, which is a problem in itself, but for this advertisement to appear in a “Frum” weekly newspaper ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Divorce Crisis)

Dear Readers, I wanted to bring something up that I am sure many other girls are suffering from. I decided to write when I heard today of yet another 2 divorces. First of all, all of you out there that are living through it, I feel for you and hope Hashem gives you the strength to rise above your challenges whatever that may be. As for my concern. Shidduchim is hard enough as it is with all the different challenges (as I prefer to refer to it instead of crisis). However, I have become a ...

Yated Responds To Sundays 'Mailbag' on YWN

Yesterday, a reader wrote YWN complaining about this past weeks Yated editorial - see HERE. The Yated has responded. Please read the following two articles, and submit your comments if you feel that the Yated preaches unity or divisiveness. Article #1: Move To My Settlement, by Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz: The period of Jewish, Zionist, settlement of Gaza has ended. There are no longer any Jews living in the Gaza strip. A basic tenet of religious and revisionist Zionism has been demolished. ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Issues With Yated Editorial)

Dear YWN, I found the "editorial" in the Yated this week, although painful and heart wrenching, self serving in the extreme and not a little disingenuous. My aim is not to create a political statement because after much thought and analysis with probing questions directed and various knowledgeable people, I've reached the conclusion that there is a very fine line between politics and religion, where various chareidi and religious Zionist communities are concerned. This fine line meanders, ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Mishloach Manos Crisis?)

It's a week before Purim, and instead of preparing for another full day of work or gathering my energy to take care of my (multiple) children with special needs, I am baking little challahs and freezing them. Not for Shabbos - I always get my challos from the bakery.  No, my efforts are just in order to be able to put together a presentable mishloach manos, albeit one that is still quite modest compared to the standards of the community around me.  Wouldn't a cantaloupe and a box of ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Food For Thought - Purim/Pesach)

To YWN Editor: I would like to pose to the chosheva oilam the following thought that has been bothering me for a number of years. We are all bombarded on Purim with limo after limo of bochurim coming to collect for various tzedokoh organizations. I pose the following question: Why are mosdos-yeshivas, kiruv organizations etc. jumping on the Purim bandwagon?? Isn't Purim specifically designated as a day for Matonos Loevyonim? Why are mosdos taking advantage of a halochoh of Kol Haposhet ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Stigmas in Shiduchim)

Dear YWN Editor, I have read with great interest the emotional letters and pleas of your readers on various subjects relating to shiduchim.  Interestingly, Hamodia Magazine has recently been focusing on the subject of “Stigmas in Shiduchim” and has been providing its readers with a series of emotional stories intended to break down some of the common stigmas in this parsha. For this reason I was quite taken a back by a line in a recent story they published and would like to hear the ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Infertility Crisis)

Dear YWN, If we think that the shidduch crisis comes to an end when a couple gets married, we are wrong. A whole new "crisis" is about to begin. Should we call it the infertility crisis? B"H I'm married! That's the first thought after the wedding. Then one month goes by, another month, 3 or 4 months, then a year, and so on.......and I'm not pregnant. Your friends start to glance at your stomach, checking to see if there's something doing, you become self conscious at simchos, your ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (ANOTHER Shidduch Letter)

To YWN and all its readers, For those actually taking the time to read this, you should probably know in advance that I am actually very shy and hardly ever voice my opinion about anything. But, there is something that is bothering me and that is the way the shidduch system is designed for girls who are part of the "yeshivish velt". Your probably thinking, "oh no another shidduch letter"? Well, yes. As you are very well aware of, it is not easy for girls to get set up. And I feel like my ...

Drug Warning From a Mother

Dear Yeshiva World, I am writing to warn the parents out there of a dangerous but legal drug that is sold without restrictions in mini-marts and gas stations for about $20. It is called "Salvia." Last night my son, a 17 year-old yeshiva boy who has never been in trouble, who eschews alcohol and illegal drugs, purchased some Salvia at the gas station mini-mart near our home without my knowledge or consent. Believing it wouldn’t hurt him because it is legal and sold openly, he ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Mosdos Employee Salaries)

Dear Yeshiva World, I would like to throw out the following question to your readership - with all Derech Eretz, and not to Chas Veshalom attack any Mosdos.  How much is a reasonable salary for someone who runs a mossad of chinuch or tzeddakah? If a mossad fund raises for tzedakkah or chinnuch and pays their regular rebbeim $50,000, what is a reasonable salary for the founder/owner of the mossad? Is he entitled to $150,000. Remember this is a "klall" mossad not a private ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Vacations from Learning)

Dear YW, I am writing about something I noticed over the course of this winter. I had learned in very good Yeshivos, and after I got married I wanted to learn for as long as I could.  However, due to the financial situation, after consulting with my Rosh Yeshiva, he advised me that I had no choice but to go to work.  Having entered this world which had been unknown to me previously, I quickly began to realize things that I hadn't before, namely: being responsible, and how hard it is to ...

Out Of The Mailbag - To YW Editor (Big Event Fund, Or Rabbeyim Fund?)

Dear Yeshiva World News,  We have all heard about the money loss regarding the Big Event concert and about the rabbonim who will raise the money to cover the losses. But I think that we must take a step back and realize that before raising money for singers, who can make it back in a few weeks (not that i have anything against singers), we should put some serious thought into setting up funds to help Rabbeim (or for that matter any struggling family) who do not know where their food for ...