“Yemenites walk around with a cloud of pungent odor that lets people know they’re coming from five feet away. This is also true in winter,” wrote the Yated Ne’eman newspaper this week. The reason cited by the paper for this “phenomenon” is the frequent use of the fenugreek spice in traditional Yemenite cuisine.
The article, was focused on the recent heat wave as it related to sweat, and the connection between perspiration and diet.
Social activist Haim Ezer and spice merchant Sagiv Mahfud – both of Yemenite heritage – were angered by the article and filed a lawsuit demanding the paper publish an apology and pay them $11,500 compensation.
Yated Ne’eman said in response to the charges that it would conduct an inquiry into the matter with the author of the article and that the paper would issue an apology for offending the Yemenite community.
(Source: Ynet News)
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31 Responses
What a refreshing response from the Yated – it will look into the matter and issue an apology for offending the community. It is possible that the author could have discussed the connection between diet and physiological indicia in ways that would not have been offensive; various foods have various effects, and perhaps a generic description would have been appropriate.
Alas, we are beginning to come to the realization that there is no such thing as a torahdike media outlet. We kid ourselves that a newspaper or website (like this one) can be totally al pi torah without any devorim ossurim at all. Would the Chofetz Chaim have approved of reporting the corruption of Jewish politicians who don’t all fall under the category of apikorsim? Does the reporting of the ill actions of any group of yidden – especially frum yidden even as whole (such as the concentration camp break in) is clearly not endorsed by das torah. We pride ourselves in having news and newspapers that can be brought into our homes, but perhaps we would be better off with the Wall Street Journal where we don’t convince ourselves that it is daas torah.
Try a subscrition to the Hamodia. You will be pleased how makpid they are in this area.
Did Pinny comment about this?
Joseph: The Israeli Yated has NOTHING to do with the American Yated. Not on a corporate level, financial, editorial, content or otherwise. They have gone their own separate ways more than a decade ago. The only thing that they share is a name and a logo. Pinny would therefore have no reason to comment.
Joseph, When is Pinny gonna change his name? Why would he want to have the same name as that smelly israeli paper?
What is Yated Israel’s current affiliation with Yated America? Wasn’t there a schism?
a chaver once told me that he was on a bus in Bnei Brak in the 9 days. It got a little hot and he wanted to take off his jacket.
the guy sitting next to him pipes up
‘ yingerman! in the nine teig vest die leiben mir NISHT oistien dein reckel!’
#8: you gotta translate the mommele lashon!
Oy, the issue of the free press is a very difficult question – on the one hand, it provides a terrifying opportunity for lashon hora – on the other hand, a free press in a democracry ensures accountability. Now, even b’zman Moshiach, where Eeretz Yisroel will return to a theocracy, there will still be administrative and bureaucratic functions – just because Moschiach is here doesn’t mean that we still do not need trash collectors or social services. And, with government services comes a need for public accountability. Without the press, how could the public be informed as to the performance of their elected officials? Yes, the k’lei kodesh will not be elected, but what about the performance of public employees.
Rewind to where we are: the free press is necessary. People make mistakes. What is printed is not always true. But overall, it is important, if not critical, to be aware of the world and its events. Otherwise, we become myopic people who cannot see beyond our daled amos. And with such a viewpoint, the entire world suffers.
Don’t we have more serious and sad events to take care of than who smells how? Apologize,and accept the apology. NO HARM WAS MEANT> Sin’as chinom is alive and well.Let’s not nourish it further.
gevaldige maaseh,
Obviously no Gadol would say that it is a mitzvah to read any torahdike media source. It is certainly better to sit in the bais hamedrash and learn. However for those (myself included) who will end up reading the news somewhere, I think it is certainly better to read and bring into your home a yated/hamodia/etc than a secular paper. The latter contains all sorts of pritzus etc that belong nowhere near our homes. The same is of course true for reading news on YW rather than a secular website.
Of course nobody is perfect and even the YW editor or the editors of one of the torahdike papers may accidentaly allow something to be published which should not have been, but at least they are ehrliche people who are trying their very best to filter out the bad stuff and bring you a great kosher product. A whole lot more kosher than any secular media product.
I think its time for YW to get a new poster boy for the Yemenites, this one been used enogh times
oy
This is not the first time that Yated has ridiculed some person or group that is not in its self styled image of frumkeit. It is to be expected. Brings to mind the time there was an article concerning then Chief Rabbi Lau, who was referred to by Yated simply as “Lau”. So much for the “holier than thou” attitude.
dont start giving props the hamodea b/c it is known that they change stories to meet their “agenda.”
They are going to do what? Could someone please explain to me what the whole hullaboo is about?
Incidentally, fenugreek is very healthy. It is a liver cleanser and it is linked with the low diabetes rate in the Yemenite community.
YESHIVAWORLD SHOULD BE SUED AS WELL!!!
stop putting up that picture ever single time your artivles have to do with temanim!!!
GB
Certainly there must be a picture somewhere of a Yeminite person who looks like they were expecting to have their picture taken. Given the nature of this article, I just think it would have been more appropriate to show a picture of a Yemenite who’s smiling, and didn’t just run a marathon or dance all night at a wedding or something.
jdg… the picture is very heilig. I think it’s a compliment to the Teimanim.
Editors of Jewish papers have a huge responsibility when reporting, discussing and just plain editorializing for the ganzten oleim to be marbee shalom and not just pontificating some sheita……
I am under the impression that after moshiach comes bb”a the practical government will be the responsibility of the king from Bais Dovid and not elected officials.
baki
So the Bais Dovid chevra will be publishing the “Davidika Press”.
#23: Even so, even in a melech-ruled bureaucracy there is room for inefficiency and waste. But, in a monarchy, there is little need for public opinion that informs the electorate since, by definition, there are no elections. Hence, maybe we won’t need a free press, after all.
Which means that I will need to find something else to do each morning for the ten seconds during which I pull back the front curtains, see that my newspaper has not yet been delivered, and grouse that I won’t be able to glance at the headlines on my way to shul.
joseph can i help you please????
26: Not unless you are the editor…
But thanks anyways!
so waht did you ask in the 5th comment???
>What is that pasuk again? ” VeYated ihye lecha al ozanecha….” How does it end??
>Comment by sammygol — August 6, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Yeshiva World News should be put Sammygol on the payroll.
History as it happens on the minute and particulary past events are always depicted by the eyes of the BEHOLDER. (accuracy is according to how the writer sees and believes).
28: The editor of the U.S.A. Yated is also named Pinny.
30: I find them to be more accurate and more thorough.
Pinny’s are Pinchos, their DNA is to be ‘kanais’, take it or leave it!! BTW “more accurate and more thorough” in what ways???
33: I find H to more thoroughly and accurately cover the stories relevant to the community. (Aside, they are daily.)