Interview With The Voice Regarding Finkelstein Article

The Voice of Lakewood published an article last week about Yehoshua Finkelstein in commemoration of his shloshim. The article discusses the unfortunate proliferation of the drug problem in our community and recommends establishing Jewish rehabs for those who have been affected. The Voice is known to discuss topics that others would not, so TLS asked The Voice what went into the decision to print the article and was Daas Torah consulted? TVOL responds: As always, whenever a topic like this is printed, Daas Torah is definitely consulted. In this case, much thought and time went into the decision to print it and only after large amounts of the article was cut out and the rest was carefully edited. We do understand that some people may have been offended by it and we truly apologize for that. In the realm of publishing a publisher constantly has to decide when the pros of printing something will outweigh the cons, in this case our rabbinical board felt that it should be published.

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11 COMMENTS

  1. The finkelstein article should not have been cut at all. If you want to help do as Reb Aaron Kotler, OB"M said
    "The truth must be heard,

    Even if the public doesn't like the sound of it.

    Whatever the circumstances, regardless of the consequences.

    The truth must be stated-loudly, clearly & unequivocally".

  2. kol hakovod to The Voice for standing up to whats right yet showing sensitivity to those who may have disliked some article…keep up the good work you have a wonderful mag.

  3. I’m not sure what the point of the voice to print this article was it may be a very series and important subject but one that should be brought up by the proper professionals (who by the way are working diligently on the matter )and not printed by a family magazine
    Ps if you ask around way more people are upset that it was printed than think it should be printed

  4. Why doesn’t the oilam get it that you can’t forever sweep everything under the carpet. If this would be an isolated incident one can understand however unfortunately its not.

  5. there may not be anything wrong with speaking about drug abuse, but to say the reason he Overdosed was that he went to a 12 steps program instead od the Nikolsberger Rebbe that is dangerous.

  6. I happened to know the people involved in The Voice and you’re wrong on this one. They are upstanding bnei torah who actually do consult das torah and don’t just put in articles for ratings (they have no competition). They’ve been around for many years and have a very fine magazine.

  7. “The Voice is known to discuss topics that others would not”.

    Hmmmm…..how about grilling our “representatives” (yes, the frum ones too!) for the constant rise in taxes which is destroying families?
    How about grilling the Board of Ed?

    What a leitzanus. The Voice is known as an arm of Aron Kotler and will never speak up about the real issues we face.

  8. History shows that in any war, the key to victory is the possession of information about one’s adversary, and clear knowledge of the threats faced from an opponent.

    There has been some debate as to the Voice of Lakewood’s decision to mention the recent tragic death of Yehoshua Finkelstein.

    Make no mistake. We are in a war, daily. A war to protect our children from, and assist them in combating, the very real dangers that do lurk in our midst. Ignoring these threats, or worse, denying that they exist, would do a great disservice to our fellow parents, and their children…and may be the first steps towards defeat.

    Everyone has a standard of which publications they will admit into their home. Adding another to that list is anyone’s right. But no one should be allowed to stifle a voice that is doing its duty in alerting us to a plague that has invaded, and calling to us to mount appropriate defenses.

    If we derive only one lesson from this terrible loss of life, it should be this:

    If one has a son who is kind, gentle, and popular…one who went to the best Yeshivos, and comes from a solid Mishpacha, then adopting the attitude that one can be secure in the knowledge that “it doesn’t happen in Lakewood, and cant happen in my family”, may result in their burying him.

    Lets not sweep that under the rug.

Comments are closed.