By Rabbi Yair Hoffman The Power of Student Voices: A Torah-True Initiative There’s a problem that we are currently facing that was pointed out yesterday by an anonymous letter-writer in Brooklyn. This challenge presents us with an opportunity to engage our students in meaningful change, while learning from the timeless wisdom of Avraham Avinu’s purchase of Me’aras HaMachpelah. As written in the Tanchuma  [Behar 1], we are taught, “Be not alarmed by a man of evil eye” [Mishlei 28:22] – referring to Ephron the Hittite. The Divine Lesson from the Midrash The Midrash elaborates: When Sarah Imeinu died, Avraham approached Ephron to purchase the cave. Though Ephron initially declared “The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you, what is it?” – appearing generous – the story reveals a deeper truth. As the Midrash notes, citing Rabbi Chanina, these weren’t ordinary shekels but kentorin (centenaria), a much larger measure. When Ephron saw the substantial silver Abraham weighed out, he became alarmed and flustered, saying “In the choice of the land we shall bury your dead.” Hashem said, “You were alarmed about money? By your life, you will have a deficiency in the matter.” Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi bar Shalom teaches us that every mention of ‘Ephron’ until this point was written in full (with the letter vav), but after taking the silver, his name appears without the vav – “And Avraham weighed out to Ephrn.” This diminishment of his name eternally symbolizes how materialistic pursuit can diminish our spiritual stature. Engaging Our Youth in Sacred Change In our beautiful community today, we have a unique opportunity to channel the energy and creativity of our students toward preserving our values of Kedusha. Through a coordinated letter-writing initiative in our schools, we can address the concerning trends in our community publications while teaching valuable skills and eternal values. The State of Our Publications The letter-writer pointed out that week after week, our community publications, which once served as bastions of modesty and spiritual elevation (think the Jewish Observer a’h), are evolving in concerning ways. While the abundance of creativity and innovation in these magazines reflects our community’s vibrancy, we must lovingly examine whether all changes serve our highest values. A School-Based Solution Our educational institutions are uniquely positioned to lead this change. Here’s how we can implement this meaningful project: Integration with Limudei Chol: Our secular studies classes, particularly English and writing courses, can incorporate letter-writing assignments focused on preserving our community values. This practical application gives purpose to these studies while reinforcing our Torah values. Guided Learning: Morahs can use this project to teach: Effective writing skills Proper letter format Persuasive communication The art of respectful advocacy Critical thinking about media content Family Involvement: Parents can extend this initiative into the home by: Hosting family discussions about media content Supporting their children’s letter-writing efforts Contributing their own letters alongside their children Creating meaningful dialogue about our values Understanding the Challenge The Sukkos editions of the frum magazines and Newspapers now stretch to some 300 pages, filled with advertisements that, while celebrating our community’s success, often tip into promoting material excess. More concerning are discussions of cosmetic procedures and emphasis on physical appearance that may not align with our deepest values of tznius and inner beauty. The Crown of […]