Frum media will not kosherize the super bowl

 Sports is a important staple of the American culture, professional teams play all sorts of games followed by ardent  loyal fans. As the country  gears up for super Sunday, many in the frum community have been following or getting swept up with  superbowl fever. Especially  this year as the Superbowl is taking place in the NY/NJ area at Metlife stadium, there is even more coverage about the game in the frum media. Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning will be standing on the field were many celebrated the Siyum hashas. 

The NFL  has been marketing the big game more than ever, and for 2 full weeks it dominates the airwaves, advertising and other media. This culture has impacted many in the frum community, by hosting parties and watching the big game, be it for the commercials, the half time show, or the actual game itself. 

Gedolei Yisrael call for introspection, Chizuk in Torah learning and Shabbos in light of recent tragedies.

Following two horrific tragedies in Yerushalayim were a family died due to a gas explosion, in another 2 little girls died R'L from exposure to a poisonous substance left by an exterminator, The Gedolim said that this is klal yisraels tzara. There is a Midas hadin and we must do Teshuva said Rav Shlomo Amar.
 Rav Shteinman said we dont know cheshbonos of Hashem but must do teshuva on Bittul Torah.
 Others called on all to be mekabel Shabbos 10 minutes earlier as a zechus. L'Refuah Chaim Michael Shlome & Refoel Yitzchak Eizik Ben Michal who were exposed to the poisonous substance.

2014 Yarchei Kallah Agudath yisrael of America in Yerushalayim Photos Video

Rav Nissan Kaplan

Agudah Yarchei kallah Novominsker Rebbe,  Rav Aaron Leib Shteinman

Click HERE  for video

BJL article Photos below of day 2

The oilam was zoche to hear a shiur on the sugya by 

Last Year  Yarchei Kallah

Video: Kabalist Shofar blowing on Tu Bshvat to help singles find shidduchim

Many gathered with the mekubal Rav Dovid Batzri in his Kabalah yeshiva in yerushalayim on Tu B'shvat in a special prayer ceremony beseeching Hashem to help singles find their zivug. Click below
For Candy throwing Video click  HERE

from bhol

Did the Frum media fall into the NY Post trap?

 The frum media, both in print and online all covered the gruesome murder of  Reb Menachem Stark H''yd. To their credit, some newspapers focused on Reb Menachem himself, on his life as a frum yid. Focusing on his chesed and tzedaka, on his life as a son, husband, father, brother and a friend. Other articles spoke of the shock and grief, the pain of his family. Nebach an almanah with Yesomin R"L whose father and husband was taken away in such a brutal fashion. The shock and shared pain felt by the community displays how klal yisrael shares in the pain of yenems tzorah.

However many frum media outlets got caught up in what the NY Post was trying to do and that is divert the story and turn it into something else. Instead of focusing on the tragedy- the discussion changed to calls for introspection on our business practices, antisemitism and other topics. The NY Prust took a murder and turned into a blame the victim story. Setting a narrative as if his business practices have led to this murder. (Most of those bloggers making these accusations have apparently never worked a day in their life or have absolutely no understanding of the real estate industry.)

Many editorials by responding and reacting, have fallen into the trap the NY Post has set. "Dont blame an entire community for the business practices of a few" wrote one editorial. Is that saying, you agree that the individual deserved what was coming to him R'L???? have we lost our senses. This tragedy should not be used to teach lessons in morality. Nothing in the world can justify or explain what transpired, all we can do is weep and feel along the tzaar of this mishpacha. May Hashem grant them koach to pull through during this difficult time.  המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

" Shul Rage "

It happened in middle of davening  the unthinkable happened how dare you?? piercing eyes from across the room all pointing to one man, he committed a terrible sin. Deathly stares that can cut a knife followed by shouts of.. nu.. nu shh and even a raging verbal rebuke. For the rest of davening some people were visibly unnerved. what did he do that he deserved this treatment? nebach this fellow forgot to turn off his cell phone, it rang by mistake. 

Those few seconds the phone rang, felt like eternity for those mispalelim who were incensed at this horrible crime. If only people would daven with the same Kavanah and rage they directed at this poor fellow. Why the rage? a little noise of a few seconds can cause people to just lose it, to shout at this yid. Yes the piercing  sound of a cell phone in middle of shul can be very distracting, does it deserve the reaction it got.

 Not to justify, but maybe "shul rage" is somewhat an extension of Road Rage.

Agudath Israel releases statement -condemns NY post coverage of Murder of orthodox Jew

Agudath Israel Condemns NY Post’s Lack Of “Basic Human Dignity”

The New York Post crossed a line today, even for a paper specializing in the sensational, with its offensive front-page cover and equally offensive coverage of the vicious murder of a  young Hassidic father of eight, Menachem Stark, Hy”d.

The paper demonstrated the poorest taste by choosing to focus on anonymous accusations rather than on the human tragedy of a wife and family’s sudden and terrible loss, and on their, and their community’s, grieving.  Particularly at a time when Jews have been attacked on New York streets and are regularly vilified by hateful people around the world, the tabloid has demonstrated unprecedented callousness and irresponsibility.

Perhaps it is unrealistic to expect very much from a medium like the Post, but one should, we think, be able to expect some basic human decency in the wake of a family’s terrible personal loss.

Agudath Israel of America and its constituents, along with decent people of all religions and ethnicities, extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Stark’s widow and children.

We, further, commend the New York Police Department for its active pursuit of leads to Mr. Stark’s murderers, and pray that they be apprehended and brought to justice swiftly

From New year's eve to the Superbowl, the lines have been blurred

It was last year, were some frum papers and magazines have decided to buck a new trend, not advertise any super Sunday related advertisements by Frum establishments. Super bowl related ads have dominated the frum media lately as the great American culture blends and seeps into our camps. The Big game no matter how big it may be, is not our culture and not an event we as frum yidden mark on our calender.

It is surprising that on New Years day, the frum Online Media and papers are full of articles referencing the new year as if Rosh hashana were today. A Heimish Frum news website posted a live link to the party and countdown