It’s that time of year again when parents already stretched thin by tuition and groceries face a new financial hurdle: summer camps. If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, take a look at recent ads in Jewish magazines and newspapers. We haven’t even hit winter, yet parents are being bombarded with camp ads pushing all sorts of “incentives” to draw kids in. But it’s not the timing that’s the problem—it’s what these camps are selling. Gone are the days of fun and relaxation. Today’s camps are promising a luxury experience, designed to pamper kids with every indulgence imaginable. Let’s start with the cost. Camps are charging astronomical fees that most parents simply cannot afford. I recently saw one charging $5,000 for just two weeks—and that’s per child!

I read the letter from E.J. published on Sunday advocating for financial literacy for every yeshiva bochur. While I agree that financial literacy is important, I believe his call for education doesn’t address a deeper issue that cuts to the very core of our community’s challenges. Let’s face it—our society requires substantial financial resources just to sustain itself. And that financial reality shapes not only our institutions but also our values and social dynamics. We see rabbanim and community leaders frequently honoring not those who have built a stable livelihood, but those who are extravagantly wealthy. There’s no subtlety here: the focus is on the “crazy rich,” on donors with wealth that astounds.

Don’t count me among those celebrating Jared Kushner’s return to Trump’s inner circle. Has anyone heard from Jared – or Ivanka, for that matter – throughout Trump’s campaign or during the countless challenges he faced over the past few years? I certainly haven’t. Back in 2022, it was widely reported that Jared and Ivanka wanted to steer clear of politics to focus on their young family. In February of this year, Jared himself stated that he wouldn’t join a second Trump administration if his father-in-law were reelected: “I’ve been very clear that my desire at this phase of my life is to focus on my firm…I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity as a family to be out of the spotlight.

This past week, two frum podcasts featured young Orthodox men openly discussing the fraud they committed and the severe consequences they now face. Their stories may have shocked some, but for others, they were reminders of a bigger issue: a community-wide failure to teach our young people the fundamental values of honesty, integrity, and financial responsibility. If you think these two men are isolated cases, then you’re missing the larger, uncomfortable truth. Stories like theirs are cropping up too often, and we must ask ourselves why and how we, as a community, are allowing this to happen. First, let’s address the basics: have we forgotten to instill in our children a bedrock commitment to honesty?

Over the past number of years, MAGA ideology has seeped into our oilam hatorah and impacted our hashkafas hachaim. Much of the frum media has become a mouthpiece for this ideology. The standard reading material available to the chareidi consumer presents a one-sided approach to the day’s issues. Instead of articles addressing issues with chochmah and nuance, it becomes brash and divisive. Sadly, this trickles down and affects middos and how people deal with others of legitimate divergent opinions. Loyalty to Donald Trump and his ideology has become a litmus test of acceptable hashkafa for many. Those who dissent are called leftists, self-hating Jews, enemies of klal yisrael, not true bnei Torah, kapos, and worse.

I was taken aback by the recent letter expressing outrage over your publication of a piece supporting Kamala Harris. While I understand the passion behind the sentiments expressed, I believe it’s essential to recognize the fundamental principle of free speech that underpins our democratic society. As Vivek Ramaswamy eloquently stated at the RNC, “If you’re at home and you disagree with everything I just said, our message to you is this: we will still defend to the death your right to say it, because that is who we are as Americans.” This encapsulates the essence of our freedom—allowing diverse opinions to coexist, even those we might vehemently oppose.

It’s truly bewildering and disappointing that YWN would publish a letter suggesting that Jewish voters consider supporting Kamala Harris. Such a position contradicts everything we stand for as frum Jews. Supporting Harris is not only misguided but dangerously so. It’s a betrayal of our values, our community, and our collective safety. Donald Trump has demonstrated, for decades before he even considered entering politics, that he is an Ohev Yisroel, a genuine supporter of Israel and the Jewish people. Trump has personal and professional ties to the Jewish community, with Jewish grandchildren and a deep respect for Jewish values. As President, he immediately prioritized Israel, taking courageous and unprecedented actions that solidified the U.S.-Israel alliance.

To Yeshiva World News, It’s frankly shocking that you, an outlet representing the Jewish world, would publish any piece in favor of Kamala Harris or the current administration. There’s no “balance” here—only one clear choice in this election: Donald Trump. By giving a platform to opinions that contradict this, you’re misleading your readers and undermining what you claim to stand for. Publishing praise for someone as hostile to Jewish values and Israel’s interests as Kamala Harris is an embarrassment. Kamala Harris and her administration have consistently aligned with the most anti-religious and anti-Israel voices in American politics, blatantly pandering to anyone willing to side against our values.

As a Jewish voter, I’ve spent a lot of time weighing my options in this election, and I’ve come to a decision that might surprise some: I’m voting for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. I believe that Harris, as a continuation of the Biden administration, brings a steadier, more principled approach to issues that matter deeply to both the Jewish community and America’s standing in the world. For me, this choice goes far beyond any one issue. It’s about a broader approach to governance, foreign policy, and values. I’ve listened to my friends who support Trump. Without doubt, Trump has championed policies that are supportive of Israel. But in my view, his position lacks depth. He’s pro-Israel, yes, but only because he has Jewish friends and allies who support him.

Before Simchas Torah, a Jewish magazine ran a piece urging parents to ease up on their teenage bochurim and let them enjoy a few drinks on the Yom Tov. This kind of “don’t make a big deal” message might seem harmless on the surface. After all, I was once a bochur myself and recall having a small l’chaim to enhance the joy of the day. A little moderation in celebration, after all, is one thing. But what I witnessed this past Simchas Torah was nothing short of alarming. In the place I attended, there were so many bochurim intoxicated to the point of total dysfunction that extra security was required to help manage the situation.