I was disturbed and offended by the large two-page ad featured in a prominent location for Keren Olam HaTorah in last week’s edition. The ad promoted a fundraising campaign to replace the $107 million in funding cuts imposed by the Israeli government in April on “yeshivos” that do not enlist their students in the IDF. As a community newspaper, your mission should be to present news of interest to the greater Modern Orthodox community. Since October 7, you have done a commendable job, with articles of inspiration, chizuk, chesed opportunities and much more. Without wading into the Charedi draft controversy, I can safely say that a vast majority of your readers would support the conscription of Charedim into the IDF. Fundraising for such a cause to replace the funds that the government is withholding would essentially allow those institutions to continue to flout the will of the Israeli government and the sentiment of most Israeli citizens.
There are many bothersome comments in the ad, including “with nowhere to turn, yeshivos and kollelim are lowering their air condition (sic) usage, leaving bochurim and yungerleit to toil in the sweltering heat.” Forgive me, but how about those young soldiers who are sweltering in flak jackets and helmets, facing mortal danger in the heat of Gaza? What about those reservists who have been away from their families and jobs for months at a time? An ad like this is offensive and desecrates the memories of all the brave chayalim who have died to defend the state.
I think it behooves the leadership of this newspaper to exercise discretion when it decides what ads to run or what organizations it chooses to accept advertising dollars from.
