I am so sick and tired of the double standard we apply to our politicians, where if an elected official with an ‘R’ at the end of their name makes an antisemitic comment they get a pass, while those with a ‘D’ following their name who make insensitive comments are immediately cast as the devil incarnate. Indeed, I was guilty of this. Being a conservative, I for many years saw Republicans in a more positive light than Democrats. And while being biased towards lawmakers who share your perspectives makes sense, there has to be a point where you can admit that even the politicians you admire are sick. I voted for Donald Trump – both in 2016 and in 2020. But I must admit the reality: the man is an anti-Semite.

Yesterday, I went shopping for donuts. Today, I’m wondering how I’m going to pay my credit card bill next month. You see, I wanted to get donuts for a small family Chanukah party. How much could it cost already for a dozen – twenty bucks? Not a problem, I’m happy to spend that money in exchange for a smile. But as I prepared to leave, it was made very clear to me that the standard jelly and custard donuts I’ve been accustomed to for my entire life were no longer “chic.” “These days,” I was told, “you have to get the nicer donuts or else you’re a nerd.” Odd, but alright, nicer donuts it’ll be, I decided. I went to a local store and asked for a dozen of their upper-end donuts.

For years, our community has been debating on the best way to solve the shidduch crisis. At the heart of the issue is the belief that because of massive population growth, boys getting married at an older age and girls getting married at a younger age is causing a massive disparity in the number of shidduchim available to girls, thus leading to the shidduch crisis. But today, I saw some data dug up by an incredible Jewish reporter by the name of Shlomo Schorr, who is one of the best, if not the best, frum journalist on the scene today. The data he unearthed really speaks for itself, but let’s go through it. In a tweet, Shlomo noted that one figure that really stuck out to him is the ratio of boys being born to girls being born in Lakewood since 1990.

I was shocked and appalled at the recently conducted interview with the “chosson” of a frum Jewish girl who was exposed as non-Jewish and an inveterate liar. To be quite honest, the interview was so slanted and so sick that I am disgusted that YWN even posted the audio of it. Throughout the interview, Haliwa cast himself as a victim of circumstances. He grew up in Lebanon to Muslim parents, wanted to convert to Judaism but was having a hard time, and really wanted to be a nice, Jewish boy who could marry a Jewish girl. So, he says, of course he had to lie – what other option did he have? Sadly, some people are falling for his victimhood shtick.

Dear Editor, I write this appalled, ashamed, and frankly infuriated at what has become commonplace in frum communities in recent months. Ever since Covid-19 vaccines first became widely available in April, there has been vigorous debate, particularly among frum people, whether one should subject themselves to the shot. I fully understand the hesitation by many over the shot. Many are worried that the lack of long-term studies of the vaccine’s effects on the body could be hiding severe detrimental side effects. Others who have already recovered from a Covid-19 infection don’t want to get a vaccine for a virus that they have already been infected with and presumably have developed antibodies against.

By now voters in Flatbush are aware that there is a city council race for the 48th District between Steven Saperstein and Inna Vernikov. Saperstein, the winner of the Democratic primary, is a well-known individual, who ran previously as a moderate republican, has campaigned gracefully and respectfully, never attacking his opponent with negative mailers or ads. He’s been endorsed by respected communal organizations like the FJCC and Sephardic Federation and earned the support of the Police and Fire unions because his views and positions are really conservative. It’s important to note that Saperstein only ran as a Democrat so he could sit with the majority in the City Council and better deliver for his constituents.

Andrew Cuomo was once an ally of the Orthodox Jewish community or so we thought. Yes community leaders had access and a perceived relationship with top Cuomo administration officials until everyone realized the relationship was all just one of political convenience and political control. “Tzedokah” the Governor once famously pontificated to a crowd in Flatbush, means Justice and “it is justice and not a hand out to help communities like the Orthodox who do so much for the State.” Yet, despite the emotional heart tugging, he failed to deliver EITC then & never brought the issue of tuition relief back up again. Leaving struggling Yeshiva parents and leaders to fight for the scraps of the NYS Budget like they always had. The big ugly as they call in Albany. Ugly indeed.

With all the talk of Ben & Jerry’s turning their back on the larger Jewish community, and the memes flying everywhere, it seems appropriate to mention something that simply makes sense, but does not get enough coverage. There is a massive importance of supporting Frum Jewish businesses wherever possible. Before we get into the ins and outs, and why it is so important, I do want to clarify: when a Jewish business is more expensive, or offering an inferior product, this becomes a choice you would make. The situation discussed here is when it is comparable products for comparable prices. For Giving Back To The Community When each person in the community spends their money at the local Jewish store, these are people who have the same best interests of the community in mind.

Today is a weird day, I can’t really focus but I am just feeling like I need to make this point. Never underestimate the power of the individual, and by this I mean, if you are horrified but perversely fascinated with something you disapprove of, just know that every time you click, link, share, watch, and even talk about it, you are lending credence and bolstering the entire endeavor. In our technology driven times, don’t think its just one article, its just one news outlet, I follow it to see what they’re saying about us, it’s important to be informed, my one view isn’t doing anything. It is, because it’s the very yardstick that will determine success.

Haven’t we had ENOUGH? The Flatbush community has an opportunity to send a new councilmember to City Hall today. The 48th Council District is poised to select a replacement for Chaim Deutsch and political pundits and analysts are watching to see if Flatbush is a neighborhood desiring serious representation or a community willing to be duped by a candidate who resides in neighboring Boro Park. Yes, it’s a very complicated race with multiple candidates. Despite rheotic by some instigators to the contrary, I’m told by our Rov that trusted community Askonim faithfully followed Daas Torah and did not endorse any candidate for this seat. What the FJCC did do is ask voters to carefully “do their own research” and choose a serious candidate from among the pool of candidates.