ELECTIONS IN ISRAEL – CHAREIDIM AND THE DRAFT | TZEDAKA QUESTIONS | MUSICAL SELICHOS

Dear R’ Dovid and the Headlines team,

I have been a long time listener ever since my brother recommended your show to me years ago. The first episode I ever listened to was one about the role of women in the home, and I heard it at a time when I was an overwhelmed stay at home mother to 3 little kids. I felt like school and seminary and any sort of learning happened in another lifetime (and I had graduated BJJ only 5 years earlier). That show gave me chizzuk when I sorely needed it. Since then, I have tuned in to every episode. During Covid it was one thing I could look forward to and expect, and every YT season I look forward to hearing your divrei Torah about inyanei d’yoma. It is eye opening and refreshing hearing different perspectives and ideas from rabbanim across the spectrum- something that is especially valuable today when issues feel polarizing and (supposedly) differing opinions from the majority make people feel isolated. The balance of lomdus and frumkeit with current events and “eyes wide open” politics is unique. I just wanted to reach out before the new year with a very belated but heartfelt thank you and note of appreciation.

Ksiva V’Chasima Tova!

Ps. Idea for your next Sefer: a compilation of the inspiring weekly divrei Torah given at the start of each program

Regarding the latest show, 575:

Firstly, it’s always a treat to have an episode hosted by R’ Dovid. Thank you!

R’ Pindrus and his position would be a lot easier to take seriously if he’d be calm in the interview. By treating every question as though the interviewer is attacking him it doesn’t seem like he’s willing to come to the table and have a conversation with someone with a different view, this likely drives further division. I’d think that someone charedi should exhibit more ahavas yisrael rather than treating any jew who disagrees with them as their enemy. I grew up largely in the charedi community (in the US) and rhetoric like this is a large part of why I don’t associate with it anymore. The amount of head in the sand “the system works” is astonishing.

I also couldn’t help but relate what he says to the previous interviews about collecting. I’m curious what percentage of charedi life in Israel is funded by tzedaka from abroad, and is it really tzedaka if a person won’t work because of a community philosophy rather than a real need.

Thanks again for a terrific program, and best wishes for a k’siva vachasima tova!