Editor’s Note: Yeshiva World News (YWN) takes no official position in the ongoing debate regarding participation in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections. As always, YWN follows the guidance of its Rabbanim in determining what content to publish and which advertisements to accept. We urge our readers to do the same—seek the counsel of your Rav or Manhig and follow their direction regarding this, and any other hashkafic matter. __________________________________ The debate that has emerged regarding participation in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections has brought out passionate voices on both sides insisting that their position is the only legitimate one. Some have gone so far as to brand the opposing view as outright treif—even akin to a blatant chillul Shabbos.

To the author of the opinion piece defending Yeshiva University: Your letter argues that everyone connects to Hashem in their own way and that criticizing YU’s acceptance of alternative lifestyles is divisive and unnecessary. But this argument misses a fundamental point: Judaism has non-negotiable foundations. When those foundations are altered, what remains is not an “approach” to Judaism—it’s a different religion entirely, still masquerading as Orthodox Judaism. You wouldn’t tolerate a student walking into YU proclaiming that “J” Yemach Shemom is the real savior of the Jews, that we must heed his teachings, and that this is simply another legitimate way of serving Hashem. Why? Because that belief directly contradicts your core principles.

Your article about Yeshiva University is not only inaccurate—it fails to convey the full story, especially the deeper context. On top of that, it borders on motzi shem ra and lashon hara. Who do you and your readers think you are, playing God—pretending to know why things happen and focusing on finding fault in others? We are living in a time when the world is revealing its true colors toward the Jewish people. Haman, Hitler, and Hamas did not discriminate among Jews—they hated us all equally. The painful irony is that while the world unites in its hatred, we divide ourselves in the name of “defending God.” But God is big enough to handle His own judgment. He doesn’t need our help condemning others. What God truly cares about—and perhaps does not forgive—is how we treat one another.

A Letter to the Lakewood Community: Yesterday, I visited Judaica Plaza, and as I was leaving, I noticed a minivan with two young children inside. The doors and windows were closed, the ignition was off, and the oldest child appeared to be no older than four years old. There was no adult present with them. Initially, I felt uncertain about what to do. On one hand, I was reminded of the tragedy from last week, where a child tragically lost their life after being left in a car. On the other hand, the children seemed mobile and capable of opening the door themselves. I didn’t see the parent or guardian and wasn’t sure which store they had entered.

**Trigger warning – This article discusses the desire to commit suicide and how to intervene. It is written in the form of a 1st person account of one who is suicidal. The goal is to allow the reader into the mind of someone who is suicidal, what should and shouldn’t be done. If you yourself are suicidal, or if you know someone who is, please seek immediate help** In the USA and Canada, call 988 to reach the suicide hotline Dear Friends, I write to you today with a heart full of sorrow, yet also with hope—a hope that this letter can open a window of understanding into the silent, often invisible, struggles that lead someone to consider ending their own life. I know this is not easy to read. I know it’s a difficult topic, and one that may leave you feeling uncertain, even scared.

What should have been a joyous night at the Shaindy Plotzker concert at Kings Theatre turned into an infuriating and outrageous experience for many attendees. The theater’s handling of personal belongings wasn’t just negligent—it was outright disrespectful, dismissive, and potentially criminal. My daughter, like many others, was forced to leave her crossbody bag at the entrance, where it was piled up with countless others. There was no secured storage, no claim tickets—just a chaotic, unguarded heap of personal property. When she returned to retrieve it, she was met with an unbelievable response: Her bag had been “cleaned up” by the staff and THROWN IN THE GARBAGE. Yes, you read that correctly.

In light of the recent article posted about suicides in the frum community, I want to address HOW you can actually help. You might be surprised to learn that helping someone who is actively suicidal is not as hard as you think. Better yet, learn the signs to help them before they reach that point. What makes me qualified to speak about this? Besides for my own lived experience as someone who struggles with suicidal ideation and has attempted suicide, I also volunteer as a crisis counselor for the crisis text line, am ASIST certified, and am the founder and director of an organization called A Drop of Light (preventfrumsuicide.org) aimed at bringing awareness around and lowering suicides in the frum community. Let’s start with warning signs.

There has been a lot of talk about how hard it is for so many of us and our families to afford the therapy we so badly need. I’d like to share two ideas with you – one that could help right away to make therapy more affordable, and one that’s more of a long-term dream. Many of us find therapists through a referral source – maybe a referral agency, a rav, or an askan. This is wonderful because it helps make sure the therapist is right for what we need help with. But here’s something important to know – many referral sources won’t automatically tell you about therapists who take insurance.

It’s 3am, Motzei shabbos, after Purim. I’m sitting and trying to process the last 48 hours. So much to say. So much to write. I feel compelled to write on behalf of myself but more so on behalf of the many people I’ve spoken to and supported before and on Purim. Purim is beautiful. It’s a day so full of joy and excitement. The unbelievably joyous atmosphere permeates through the walls of every Jewish home, every shul, ever passing car along with the most creative and fun costumes! Purim is a day when we let go and let loose of our pains, stresses and worries. To most that is. We can drink away our pain but not all can. We can block it all away, but not all can. We can pretend to be happy and full of life, but not all can.

I am writing as a bochur who is sincerely working on maintaining kedushah in an increasingly challenging world. The struggle for shmiras habris is real, and for many of us, having proper internet filtering is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity. However, the current high costs of premium computer (not smartphones which are subsidized) filters such as Techloq and GenTech make this struggle hard. For a bochur, especially one who may be in yeshiva or just starting out in life, finances are often very limited. When the only high-quality filtering options come at a steep price, it creates a painful dilemma: either take the risk of using unfiltered or poorly filtered internet, or strain to afford the protection needed for spiritual well-being.