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Letters to the Editor

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By FJN Readers

Letters tro the editor from our 10/27/06 issue.

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Reactions to "Higher Standards" (Avi’s Corner, October 20, 2006)

Dear Editor:

I recently read your article "Higher Standards." I fully agree with what you wrote and applaud you for having the ability to put your foot down and turn away good money and articles so your paper can adhere to Jewish law. I am happy to see in today’s day and age where everybody is trying to make another dollar and the media is fighting for the best news story, there is still a paper that has its head on straight.

However, I would like to make one point. I have noticed in the past that you ran ads, usually full page color on the back page, for JDate. This ad would a lot of times have a large picture of a woman clearly not dressed according to the strict Jewish standards of Tznius, modesty. While I am not one to write to a paper telling them what to or what not to put in, I think, after reading your column, you’ll understand.

Having an advertisement for a non-kosher establishment is prohibited because of the Biblical transgression of placing a stumbling block in front of a blind person (since some readers may mistakenly think that the restaurant running an ad in a Jewish publication implies kashrut). While even though it is ultimately the reader’s decision of what restaurants to eat at, or whether or not to be cremated, the Torah prohibits doing anything to help any Jew "stumble" and do the wrong thing. Having a picture of a woman dressed improperly, is not a decision made by the reader. Just merely looking at the paper or seeing it lying around the house or at shul, could potentially cause someone to sin.

Although I am well aware that a lot of your readers might not adhere to such a "strict" level of tznius, as you wrote "Jewish people from all walks of life expect their community leaders (such as … Jewish newspapers) to maintain a higher standard than they themselves may chose to observe." Therefore I believe that for the same reason that you won’t advertise lobster, you should not have advertisements that have pictures of women not dressed strictly according to Jewish law.



Avrohom Eliezer Friedman


North Miami Beach




Dear Editor:

Kol Hakovod!! In reading your article of Oct. 20th, on Higher Standards, I am very elated to finally see someone in the public eye take a moral and ethical stand.

For some reason or other, it seems that the Rabbinical clergy in our community and other communities will not and do not stand up for what is morally and ethically correct.

For example, the issue with the kosher butcher in Monsey, of which you must be well aware. I would like to know how the supervising Rabbis allowed this scam to continue for as long as it did.

On Monday, Oct. 23rd, the Sun Sentinel ran an article on the front page concerning this matter. All of a sudden the OU is going to take this issue under their control. The bottom line is that prices will sky rocket for the kosher consumer.

I hope that you continue taking a stand, as it is good to know that someone takes an interest.



Irving Charnowitz


Delray Beach




Dear Editor:

I just wanted you to know that I thought "Higher Standards" was outstanding! A huge yeshar koach to you for the standards that you are working so hard to maintain. We live in a world where our children have to look much too hard to find adults who are willing to stand up for what they believe in. Thank you for being a role model our children desperately need and thank you for sharing a wonderful story about a community that is willing to support by a good friend and neighbor.

Keep up the wonderful work!



Michelle Rapchik-Levin


Orloff Central Agency for Jewish Education


Broward County




Posted by FJN Readers on 10/27 at 02:00 AM • Hits: 300



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