Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Frum community and the Hamodia
While many of you either agree with the points that I have made in my last Hamodia post, or have at least kept an open mind and have, first thought and then, disagreed, others chose to dismiss everything without any thought or reason. This is very reflective of the attitude exhibited at the Hamodia newspaper. The lack of open-mindedness, backbone or opinion is not a plus in journalism. It goes against all the principles of Frumkeit and journalism, and subsequently is also a perfect deterrent for readership. Since when is it a problem for a Frum person to express an opinion about everyday life-issues, political issues or the issues that face the Frum world today? Why is it that when we finally have a newspaper on the stands instead of accommodating our readers, we betray them by not being honest in its pages?
So who is reading the Hamodia? The Kollel Yingerleit, that's who. So now, if you subscribe to the Hamodia viewpoint, ask yourself, what are we accomplishing with the Hamodia? Do Kollel Yingerleit need to read newspapers? Why are we printing a newspaper that is geared towards Kollel Yingerleit? Shouldn't they have no need for newspapers at all?
There is a reason why no real businessman will stop reading the New York Times and start reading the Hamodia. Because it doesn't give them what they need. You give the Frum Lawyer, the Frum real estate guy, the Frum stock trader what he he wants and he'll drop the Times in a heartbeat. Why not give it to them?
In closing, the Hamodia sells itself short by avoiding any issue that may have positive impact on the Frum community and can affect major positive change. The Hamodia editors, a microcosm of the Frum community, make the mistake of closing their mind to ideas and merely strive for mediocrity.
If we want better, we have to demand better!
While many of you either agree with the points that I have made in my last Hamodia post, or have at least kept an open mind and have, first thought and then, disagreed, others chose to dismiss everything without any thought or reason. This is very reflective of the attitude exhibited at the Hamodia newspaper. The lack of open-mindedness, backbone or opinion is not a plus in journalism. It goes against all the principles of Frumkeit and journalism, and subsequently is also a perfect deterrent for readership. Since when is it a problem for a Frum person to express an opinion about everyday life-issues, political issues or the issues that face the Frum world today? Why is it that when we finally have a newspaper on the stands instead of accommodating our readers, we betray them by not being honest in its pages?
So who is reading the Hamodia? The Kollel Yingerleit, that's who. So now, if you subscribe to the Hamodia viewpoint, ask yourself, what are we accomplishing with the Hamodia? Do Kollel Yingerleit need to read newspapers? Why are we printing a newspaper that is geared towards Kollel Yingerleit? Shouldn't they have no need for newspapers at all?
There is a reason why no real businessman will stop reading the New York Times and start reading the Hamodia. Because it doesn't give them what they need. You give the Frum Lawyer, the Frum real estate guy, the Frum stock trader what he he wants and he'll drop the Times in a heartbeat. Why not give it to them?
In closing, the Hamodia sells itself short by avoiding any issue that may have positive impact on the Frum community and can affect major positive change. The Hamodia editors, a microcosm of the Frum community, make the mistake of closing their mind to ideas and merely strive for mediocrity.
If we want better, we have to demand better!
Comments:
you seem to have a gripe with the Hamodia. In that case don't read it, but, don't talk bad about it either. I enjoy the paper, the parts that I read, anyway. The N Y Times is an antisemitic paper with a bias against Jews and innaccurate reporting about Israel versus Arabs. Its news in Unfit to print and I wouldn't even read it in the bathroom or use it as toilet paper.Just post informative, relevent news items on Chaptzem, not all the junk you've been posting 'til now.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: February 13, 2007 9:40 AM
: February 13, 2007 9:40 AM
Either you're an idiot or just plain stupid!
Hamodia is the Jewish home's newspaper! Period.
There isn't one heimish paper out there that comes even close in quality or cleanness. The topics covered are truly amazing. In a world where any piece of news is on the web within seconds of course some of the news is "alte neias" to those who do have access to the net however as many people as there are today who do have internet most of Boro Park still does not which is something to be admired and for them Hamodia is the source for news around the world and around the corner. so Chaptzem although you probably get more then 30 clicks a day Hamodia still has many more devoted readers!
Hamodia is the Jewish home's newspaper! Period.
There isn't one heimish paper out there that comes even close in quality or cleanness. The topics covered are truly amazing. In a world where any piece of news is on the web within seconds of course some of the news is "alte neias" to those who do have access to the net however as many people as there are today who do have internet most of Boro Park still does not which is something to be admired and for them Hamodia is the source for news around the world and around the corner. so Chaptzem although you probably get more then 30 clicks a day Hamodia still has many more devoted readers!
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 9:50 AM
: February 13, 2007 9:50 AM
your average Jewish and frum homeowner, baalebayis and baleboostah, are not the businessman, stockbroker, real estate agent, etc. looking to get something from Hamodia. The average reader of Hamodia, I think, is the average homebody. Just regular frum people who wish to read the Torah outlook on the news. Most probably it is the wives in such houses that are reading Hamodia.
I subscribe to Hamodia but hardly read it. And I do not bother with reading the news. I see the news all day long on the internet so I have no need to read the news in hamodia. I read the features (some of them) and bits and pieces of some articles. My wife reads more of it.
Most people who feel a need for anothe rpaper (stocks, sports, comics, politics,whatever) will not drop their paper for hamodia, but might enjoy to read hamodia in addition...
I subscribe to Hamodia but hardly read it. And I do not bother with reading the news. I see the news all day long on the internet so I have no need to read the news in hamodia. I read the features (some of them) and bits and pieces of some articles. My wife reads more of it.
Most people who feel a need for anothe rpaper (stocks, sports, comics, politics,whatever) will not drop their paper for hamodia, but might enjoy to read hamodia in addition...
I am a businessman and I read the Hamodia. If there are any shortcomings in the Hamodia it's definetly worth the price to have a heimishe newspaper void of all the garbage that you find in all the rest of the papers. Isn't it worth a personal sacrifice ?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 9:54 AM
: February 13, 2007 9:54 AM
MR. CHAPTZEM You sound like a retard and not very sophisticated. Your expertise is writing about motorcycle crashes and Shomrim. Please don't get ahead of yourself.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 12:08 PM
: February 13, 2007 12:08 PM
"It goes against all the principles of Frumkeit"
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No it doesn't, my friend Mr. Chaptzem. This is frumkeit. Since when is it about being expressive or open-minded?
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No it doesn't, my friend Mr. Chaptzem. This is frumkeit. Since when is it about being expressive or open-minded?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 1:31 PM
: February 13, 2007 1:31 PM
I will not read a newspaper that does not acknowledge the existence of women or girl children. At least the Jewish Press has pictures of women. I will not read Hamodia, Yated, Michpocha, Binah, et al. I keep repeating this. There is nothing untzniusdik in the image of a frum woman.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 4:18 PM
: February 13, 2007 4:18 PM
SHOELACE UNTIDE...
As a result of not having his shoe laces tied the above Mr. Shoelace tripped and suffered a slight concussion to the brain! You sound like the typical Satmar "shnook" trying to betray the COOL GUY spirit by using foul language! You sound just plain silly! And chaptzem you should be posting such comments
As a result of not having his shoe laces tied the above Mr. Shoelace tripped and suffered a slight concussion to the brain! You sound like the typical Satmar "shnook" trying to betray the COOL GUY spirit by using foul language! You sound just plain silly! And chaptzem you should be posting such comments
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 4:56 PM
: February 13, 2007 4:56 PM
I love Hamodia. Personally I don't buy it for news, I only read the magazine on weekends for the divrei Torah and hashkafically correct articles, and I recycle the rest without a glance. But that's just me, other people who otherwise wouldn't open a secular newspaper might enjoy having a cleaned up version of the news, which is fine by me.
I agree that Hamodia is geared towards the Kollel type. Instead of trying to change them into a paper which caters to business men, why don't you let the businessmen buy what already exists for them in other papers, and let the Kollel yungerleit and other of like mind enjoy a paper geared to them?
Different papers target different crowds. If you don't like a certain crowd and their mindset, it's likely you also won't like their papers, etc. But it doesn't prove there's anything objectively wrong about it, just that you don't like it. That's fine! You're welcome to your opinion and you're welcome to publish it here. Just keep in mind they're doing nothing wrong in producing a paper geared to a certain crowd.
You also asked what we're accomplishing with having papers like this, since yungerleit don't need a newspaper. I don't know enough about the issue to agree or disagree, but I can say their WIVES often enjoy the magazine! (My husband does not learn in Kollel by the way.)
Anyway, I think it's asking a lot to have a newspaper which appeals to both businessmen and kollel families. Let each one have its nitch.
I agree that Hamodia is geared towards the Kollel type. Instead of trying to change them into a paper which caters to business men, why don't you let the businessmen buy what already exists for them in other papers, and let the Kollel yungerleit and other of like mind enjoy a paper geared to them?
Different papers target different crowds. If you don't like a certain crowd and their mindset, it's likely you also won't like their papers, etc. But it doesn't prove there's anything objectively wrong about it, just that you don't like it. That's fine! You're welcome to your opinion and you're welcome to publish it here. Just keep in mind they're doing nothing wrong in producing a paper geared to a certain crowd.
You also asked what we're accomplishing with having papers like this, since yungerleit don't need a newspaper. I don't know enough about the issue to agree or disagree, but I can say their WIVES often enjoy the magazine! (My husband does not learn in Kollel by the way.)
Anyway, I think it's asking a lot to have a newspaper which appeals to both businessmen and kollel families. Let each one have its nitch.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 5:05 PM
: February 13, 2007 5:05 PM
Hell man, you seriously are bored. I'm not exactly sure why I still check out this site regularly when you haven't posted a decent news item for weeks.
And then you go cursing out Hamodia's lack of journalism. I agree that it's a bad paper, but this is the pot calling the kettle black.
And then you go cursing out Hamodia's lack of journalism. I agree that it's a bad paper, but this is the pot calling the kettle black.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 5:59 PM
: February 13, 2007 5:59 PM
To 'shoelace untied'
I think you have a lot more untied. You don't have to advertise it!
I think you have a lot more untied. You don't have to advertise it!
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 6:18 PM
: February 13, 2007 6:18 PM
A shame that Yated doesn't do a daily, in my opinion, much easier to read, because of the style/layout, and more interesting.
Yated's letters are the best, coming from the hearts and minds of the typical reader. Hamodia's letters are good for those wanting to fall asleep.
Yated's letters are the best, coming from the hearts and minds of the typical reader. Hamodia's letters are good for those wanting to fall asleep.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 7:09 PM
: February 13, 2007 7:09 PM
While I personally find the Yated to be intellectually superior to the Hamodia (and just as pure Frum-keit wise) I am appalled that Chaptzem would allow rants that smear Rebbes and Rabbonim. If all comments are approved by the Blog author, how do you justify allowing "shoelace untied" to call the Gerer Rebbe Shlit"a names? Not to mention his Nivul Peh? He is obviously a dim-witted ignoramus who probably buys a newspaper for the pictures (v'hamayvin yavin). What is your excuse?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 8:38 PM
: February 13, 2007 8:38 PM
The Hamodia are known thieves anyways.
They steal all of their material and never properly credit anyone with doing so.
They also are narrow minded, and just follow the derech of the Rebbe of Gur, and pretty much FORCE the rest of the world their Mehalech.
AND: They CLAIM that they have GEDOLIM behind them!!
Besides for the Gerrer Rebbe, who else is Lichtenstein's Gadlo?
Noone!
He RUNS the place. You are just SUCKERS. He pays the bills, and you guys make beleive that it's you paper.
They steal all of their material and never properly credit anyone with doing so.
They also are narrow minded, and just follow the derech of the Rebbe of Gur, and pretty much FORCE the rest of the world their Mehalech.
AND: They CLAIM that they have GEDOLIM behind them!!
Besides for the Gerrer Rebbe, who else is Lichtenstein's Gadlo?
Noone!
He RUNS the place. You are just SUCKERS. He pays the bills, and you guys make beleive that it's you paper.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 8:52 PM
: February 13, 2007 8:52 PM
What about the YATED and THE JEWISH PRESS are they any better?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 13, 2007 10:35 PM
: February 13, 2007 10:35 PM
to the anonymous who wrote " I will not read a newspaper that does not acknowledge the existence of women or girl" that isn't quite true, besides what do you need to see pictures of women for? A man isn't supposed to look deliberately at a woman even if she is dressed properly. ( I don't mean regular looking at - like if you have to talk to her or something, I mean to look at a woman just for looking)
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 14, 2007 8:57 AM
: February 14, 2007 8:57 AM
To the previous poster, Guess what? I am a proud, frum woman who is sick of fuzzed out pictures of women in frum publications. Come on, it won't corrupt any yeshiva bochur if there are pictures of someone's bubbe or a 5 year old girl in a newspaper. If little girls don't see pictures or drawings of themselves even in the "family" section of Mishpocha magazine, they might grow up feeling ashamed of their bodies. Is it possible that the epidemic of anorexia and size two girls has happened because of girls trying to disappear in our society? Just asking.
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Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 14, 2007 1:34 PM
: February 14, 2007 1:34 PM
