Following a request by maranan verabbonon gedolei hador shlita
to warn against the impact of the weekly newspapers distributed in
chareidi areas, we are addressing all Bais Yaakov students and their
parents.
The Bais Yaakov school system is monitoring, with pain and concern,
the cumulative damage wrought by all of the various weeklies. These
commercial publications seek to play a part in shaping the internal
world of our daughters, to distort the untainted Torah worldview and
to bring the "street" into the Jewish home.
Both their contents and tone foster indifference and even scorn for
the sacred, dampen fervor for Yiddishkeit and lower the high
aspirations that have characterized bnos Yisroel throughout the
generations. These weeklies provide a platform for remarks and
opinions of people whose lives stand in stark contrast to Torah and
mitzvas, including some who defile Yiddishkeit. These articles appear
alongside Torah articles, giving the impression that the newspaper is
representative of the proper Jewish worldview. Little by little, they
constantly channel views that characterized the "Enlightenment
movement" to the edges of our camp, views which de-prioritize Torah
study and encourage the pursuit of the temporal over the eternal.
We are addressing those who wish to hear; particularly since they now
seek to maximize their influence through free distribution, we must
make every effort to guard the gates of our homes from this
affliction.
Daughters of Israel! Do not forgo your right to screen out even
certain publications that claim to be chareidi. Please heed this call
to keep at a distance all weeklies and other media that our Torah
luminaries frown upon.
May we have the merit to soon see the promise of "and the world will
be filled with knowledge of Hashem" come to fruition.
Ze'ev Wolfe, Rav Wolfe Seminary, Bnei Brak
Yeshayohu Liberman, Merkaz Bais Yaakov, Jerusalem
Binyomin Scharansky, Bais Yaakov Teachers Institute, Jerusalem
The Administration, Gur Seminaries in Eretz Hakodesh, Bnei Brak
Yaakov Waltzer, Vishnitz Seminary, Bnei Brak
Yehuda Aryeh (Leon) Cohen, Ofakim Seminary, Ofakim
Yechiel Mendelson, Darkei Rachel Seminary, Jerusalem
Pinchos Zeidman, Boyan Seminary, Jerusalem
Shraga Feivel Sherr, Bais Chana - Tzanz, Netanya
Azariyoh Hildesheimer, Petach Tikva Seminary, Petach Tikva
Shmuel Halevi Meir, Bnei Brak, Kiryat Sefer
Menachem Ostry, Bais Yaakov for Girls, Haifa
Ben Tzion Hacohen Kook, Alei Be'er Seminary, Jerusalem
Avrohom Kahane, Bnei Brak
A.S. Eliyakim, Bnei Brak
Aharon Feurstein, Kiryat Sefer Seminary, Kiryat Sefer
Eliezer Rob, Maalot Seminary, Jerusalem
Moshe Einhorn, Beit Binah, Jerusalem
Mordechai Menachem Ben Shalom, Merkaz Bais Yaakov, Rechasim
Yechiel Yonah, Chanichei Hayeshivos Seminary, Bnei Brak
Daniel Weitzman, Ayelet Hashachar, Jerusalem
Yechiel Meir Tzuker, Bais Yaakov Hachadash, Ashdod
The Administration, Bnot Elisheva, Jerusalem
The Administration, Moreshes Bais Yaakov, Jerusalem
The Administration, Darkei Rachel, Beit Shemesh
The Administration, Bais Yaakov, Ashdod
The Administration, Zichron Bais Yaakov, Netanya
The Administration, Afikei Daat, Jerusalem
The Administration, Darkei Rachel, Tzfat
The Administration, Beit Yaffa, Hadera
