It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter, as I feel profound concern for the spiritual direction of our collective kehilla. Week after week, I see the so-called “kosher” magazines pushing the boundaries further and further, yet no one seems to bat an eye. Our sensitivity to kedusha and Yiddishe values is being eroded in ways never seen before.
These publications, which were once modest and uplifting, have become filled with content that blatantly undermines the values of tzniyus. The advertisements are disgusting, glorifying material excess and promoting a lifestyle of indulgence that stands in stark contrast to our Torah values. Sukkos editions, for instance, now stretch to 300 pages, with most of that space dedicated to outrageous and extravagant ads. Where are our values?
This week’s low point: a magazine openly discussing Botox, plastic surgery, and more. Is this what we want a young, impressionable Bas Yisroel reading? Do we want her to think that vanity and physical appearance are the ideals to aspire to? Such topics might have existed privately, but now there are no boundaries. Anything goes. And somehow, it’s all seen as muttar because it steers away from our pre-approved list of “taboo subjects.”
The silence from our leaders is equally deafening. While rabbonim are preoccupied with various other matters, this slow destruction of our community’s tzniyus and kedushah goes unchecked. Adding to the shame, nearly every major yeshivah advertises in these publications. Does their participation mean they endorse this descent into filth?
Three weeks ago, a Gadol b’Yisroel was niftar, and instead of honoring his memory on the cover, one magazine chose to focus on election coverage. Are we really prioritizing secular politics over our Torah leaders? Worse, the magazines regularly glorify Israeli politicians on their front cover featured story who are mechalelei Shabbos and openly eat treif. These are the role models our children see featured?
We are raising a generation that is slowly being desensitized to our core values, and no one is saying a word. It’s time to wake up and restore the dignity and kedusha that should define Klal Yisroel.
Sincerely,
Bothered in Brooklyn
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12 Responses
You make some very valid points. But when bochurim looking for shidduchim stop placing so much emphasis on “vanity and physical appearance” and instead look for mates with proper Torah values, then maybe our young ladies won’t think that vanity and physical appearance are the ideals they have to aspire to in order to get married!
The letter writer is spot on
Bubbietax,
Who is the one that started having pictures on resumes?
Oh yeah it was the shadchanim not the boy
I think one can write a similar letter regarding YWN!
100% agree. But frum life became a life of show and tell. You are a nobody if you drive a 5 year old car.
You don’t go away for Yeshiva week?!?! What are you, poor??
Your son only wears white shirts that are affordable? What a loser.
Your shul only has a kiddush in Shabbos mevorchim? And no meat boards?? What a scandal.
Your son is in THAT Yeshiva ? Nebach!! What’s wrong with him.
This is the sad reality. The rabbonim need to rise up and do something. Start small. Explain that the purpose on life isn’t about what people think about you.
These filthy magazines were always treif. From Day One. They keep getting worse and worse, but they were never kosher.
100% true and overdue. Sometimes I wonder what a secular person would think opening some of these Publications and seeing the extreme materialism and luxury flaunted through the pages, you would think it’s a different religion. It’s highly unlikely they are actually run by bnei torah just from looking at some of those ads because if they were there’s no way they would include them. In fact some of these publications include speakers that aren’t actually kosher and questionable writers that have already written things way out of line and counter torah values. (A rabbi who invited a missionary to speak in his shul more than once which is beyond assur and reprehensible, yet he’s happily printed every week. Go figure. )
Not saying I disagree but the writer seems to be logged in to YWN which does pretty much everything he writes against…
follow the money
Why do people expect Rabbonim to magically fix everything, which Rabbonim? The Rav if a local shul? The Rosh Yeshivah? Chassidish? Living? Sefardi? Who do you expect to the spiritual leader of our times?
Start by fixing your own household. And let each community work on their own issues. They are trying but as soon as anyone disagrees they just close their ears or switch shuls.
I want to hear from OP how he made a change for his own family besides for writing a nice post online.
Women look better with botox what’s the big deal?
@Mamish
No one asked you to read YWN. If you have an issue with them go on other news websites or reach out to them privately.
Rabbanim have their hands tied these days. Almost nobody is willing to listen to them unless it’s a topic they enjoy or agree with. The minute they say something against the grain people throw them to the garbage and say they don’t know anything or they are too old or some other chutzpah beyond belief. So why should they say anything. Just so you’ll hate them more?