Dear Matzav Inbox,

Dear Residents of Lakewood, NJ,
I hope this message finds you well. I would like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the dedication and tireless efforts of our local elected officials. Their work on behalf of our community is invaluable, and I am grateful for all they do to ensure Lakewood remains a safe and vibrant place to live.
The recent and ongoing fires in Los Angeles have been truly devastating. Families have lost their homes and all their belongings, schools have been destroyed, and precious Torah scrolls have been rescued under heartbreaking circumstances. These events are a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change and how important it is to be prepared.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
For many Orthodox Jewish families, “Yeshiva Week” has become synonymous with travel. Families have become accustomed to take a mid-winter trip to warm climates to thaw out from the New York winter.
Los Angeles is a popular destination, because of its unique combination of pleasant weather, world-class tourist attractions, and abundant access to synagogues and kosher dining. However, this year is different. We urge you to cancel your plans to visit Los Angeles during Yeshiva Week due to the city’s current challenges.

Dear Matzav Inbox, 

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I’ve had enough. Enough of the unholy obsession with money that has overtaken our communities, enough of the idol worship of the so-called “Gvirim” in our midst who are raised on a pedestal just because they happen to have deep pockets.
It’s about time we call this out for what it is: an absolute disgrace and a cancer that is eating away at the heart of our kehillos.

Dear Matzav Inbox, 
We must speak out about something that’s causing tremendous harm in our communities today: lashon hara, gossip, and even innocent-sounding innuendo.
The Chofetz Chaim makes it crystal clear in Sefer Chafetz Chaim (Introduction, 1) that lashon hara is an aveirah so severe that it’s on par with murder. The damage done by harmful speech isn’t just to the person being spoken about. It destroys relationships, causes hatred, and spreads division in Klal Yisroel.
The Gemara (Arachin 15b) compares lashon hara to murder, because just like a knife can take a life, words can destroy a person’s reputation and cause lifelong damage.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I’ve been thinking for a long time about something that has been bothering me deeply, and I feel it’s time to address it.
We live in communities that constantly tout the incredible success of Daf Yomi and encourage every man to have a set seder of learning, but I have to be honest: this narrative doesn’t reflect the truth for many people in our community. While I know that countless men do, indeed, commit themselves to daily limud haTorah, I am personally aware of the many – many! – men who, quite simply, do not learn a word every single day. Not even a drop.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I’m writing as a follow-up to the shmuess by Rabbi Klein on Matzav.com about Torah Ugedulah and the rampant opulence and overindulgence plaguing our community. But more than that, I want to focus on the cancer that’s eating away at shidduchim, the vile obsession with money that has completely overtaken everything else.

Dear Matzav Inbox, 
I am writing in sheer disbelief at the absurdity of what has become of our community’s values, exemplified by the craze for $10 Chanukah donuts, now offered in some 30 different varieties.
I cannot begin to express how utterly ludicrous this is. What has happened to us? What a busha. A society that once prided itself on avoiding unnecessary extravagance, we are being sold overpriced donuts as if they’re some kind of status symbol. And for $10, no less! This is a joke.
Actually, I wish it was. It’s not.
This is an embarrassment to our people. It’s a disgrace.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I have absolutely no problem with anyone holding a shitah that is anti-Tzioni. I understand fully the perspective of those who oppose the medinah. Every individual and kehillah is entitled to their views on this matter, and we should not forget that there are many legitimate reasons to question or oppose the modern state of Israel and its government. This is a topic that has many layers. We must be able to have these discussions, respectfully and thoughtfully.