The young man who cut his life short was Ze'ev Serulovich, z"l, the reason for his tragic suicide is a result of parental alienation, according to neighbors.
The tragedy occurred at Tash Shul Williamsburg, where the 15-year-old's body was found after extensive searches.
As you will recall, and as reported extensively in DIN, last week, a bar mitzvah boy took his own life, a few hours after his bar mitzvah celebrations ended. Reports state that Ass'kanim from the community to which his mother belonged prevented his father, who belongs to another Chasidic group, from participating in his private bar mitzvah celebration .
The Bar Mitzvah event was organized for him by the "ass'kanim".
Sources close to the family noted that for several years the boy had been crying incessantly, when all he wanted was to see his father, whom he loved all these years, and due to family reasons he divorced his wife.
However, according to the ass'kanim involved in the case, the children were forbidden to meet with their father, whose soul was scarred by the fact that their parents were divorced, and therefore, the ass'kanim claimed, it would be better for him not to meet with the father.
Following the incident, the famous American influencer Yonassan Shvartz published a long and chilling monologue, and began his remarks with a message he received from several ass'kanim who asked him not to deal with this issue "because the story should be swept under the carpet"... "
"There are dead children walking around here, a child committed suicide, and that's what you have to say? Sweep??? What does that sound like?" he cried out from the blood of his heart.
Rabbi Schwartz continued with pent-up pain, saying:
"I personally accompany such stories, hundreds and even thousands of children who are estranged from their parents. Usually it's alienation from the father, are these children alive? These children are called dead! Indeed, they have not yet committed suicide by hanging rope or jumping from the roof, but their lives are not called life, walking around dead in the streets!"
On Sunday, the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO Flatbush) held its annual breakfast, yet Senator Chuck Schumer, who frequently attends, was nowhere to be found. Multiple politicians at the bipartisan event linked his noticeable absence with his recent decision to abandon Israel.
On a video posted to X, Congressman Mike Lawler, an honoree at the breakfast, and Dov Hikind, both slammed Schumer for his attempts to interfere in Israeli politics.
Lawler said, “Just as we don’t want people interfering in our elections, he never ever should interfere in the Israeli elections.”
Hikind accused Schumer of “stabbing Israel in the back.”
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov added in a tweet, “@SenSchumer we missed you today. Yes, stabbing Israel in the back would not be a good look, especially after hostage families were begging and pleading for our support. Shame.”
 |
| Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovitz in Aish |
The following does not represent some original thought or halachic innovation. Others have said things like this before, and more will say them after. I’m simply joining an existing chorus, and demanding that hypocrisy be called out and, potentially, avoided.
In the most recent issue of Mishpacha Magazine (April 3, 2024), in the wake of the Attorney General’s ruling that the Israeli army must initiate the process of drafting previously-exempt yeshiva students, Gedalia Guttentag interviewed Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, the rosh yeshiva of Aish HaTorah, about the Chareidi position regarding exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service.
In response to the interviewer’s question about the IDF manpower shortage, Rabbi Berkovits acknowledged the problem and said,
“We need miracles. The most important asset that Klal Yisrael has is the olam hayeshivos, now more than ever. And the fact that we’re protecting Klal Yisrael means that we need to take ourselves seriously. If we recognize that at a time like this, when Klal Yisrael is in danger, the yishuv in Eretz Yisrael is in danger, then we need to take what we’re doing seriously… I know it’s very difficult to maintain a state of chizuk long term, but in the first days after Simchas Torah, when the yeshivos reopened early, people were learning like crazy. There were all-night sedorim. You know, it was very difficult to maintain that. And I think people have gone back to normal life. We really do have to strengthen our passion, our hasmadah and our tefillah.” (Emphasis mine)
I have written numerous articles explaining why I don’t agree with this perspective. Nonetheless, let’s assume that Rabbi Berkovits is correct: that the people learning Torah, rather than those who are fighting for Israel, are, in fact, the authentic source of Israel’s protection.
Let’s work with this oft-cited reason for military exemptions for those who are learning in yeshivot. (In my less generous moments, I summarize this as, “You’re fighting in Gaza, and we’re learning in yeshiva. You’re welcome.”)
Johnny, Tamar, Shahar and Arbel (6) and Omer (4) Siman Tov were burned alive and murdered by Hamas terrorists.
This video was posted on their TikTok accounjt only 3 weeks before the massacre.
🕯️ May their memory be for a blessing
"Our mistake was made a few months ago, when we listened to the US," Danon told Kan Reshet Bet. "We changed the modus operandi in Gaza and took our foot off the gas pedal. That brought pressure on us. Today the international community is saying that it's taking too much time."
Danon also responded to the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet's decision to take immediate steps to increase the amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"Unfortunately, the tragic incident in which aid workers were killed had consequences in the international arena," he said. "There was an effect in the world and we saw that we needed to do something about it. On the other hand, if the world cares so much about Gaza, there is a port in Arish (Egypt -ed.), there are solutions to bring in humanitarian aid. We are not responsible for the Gaza Strip."
When asked for his opinion on Minister Benny Gantz's call to hold elections in September, Danon said, "The last thing we need right now is to set a date for elections. The people have already chosen the current leadership to lead even in a time of crisis."
"The last thing I want is to see changes in the leadership - not in the Shin Bet chief, not the IDF's Chief of Staff, not the commander of the [IDF's] Southern Command, not the Defense Minister and not the Prime Minister - none should move from their positions. Changing any of them will not serve the goal of victory."
