Dr. Yitzchok Levine Hamodia 10 th Anniversary Magazine Page 83 Name Withheld Y ou see it quite frequently in publications that cater to the observant Jewish community: a letter to the editor or a short opinion piece “signed” Name Withheld by Request, or Anonymous, or C. M., Brooklyn, NY. Some of these submissions go so far as to omit any indication of who the writer is. The question is, why are so many people reluctant to have their name at the end of something they wrote? I believe that there are at least two answers to this question. First of all, there are matters that someone may write about that most certainly should be kept private. For example, if one has fallen for some sort of get-rich-quick scheme, he or she may want to let others know about the scam, but would not want the world to know that they fell for it. Or it may be that the issue one writes about is personal and very sensitive. In such cases the writer is indeed justified in concealing his or her identity. However, one sees letters and comments expressing valid opinions and observations that do not reveal the writer. More often than not, these writings express constructive criticism about some issue. There are valid points that need to be made, despite the fact that some may disagree with them or prefer to ignore the issue. We are not talking about submissions in which the writer is simply out to bash this or that. In my opinion, such writings should not be published, because they do not contribute anything positive. As the famous saying goes (attributed to more than one gadol, “Not everything that is thought should be said; not everything that is said should be written; not everything that is written should be published.” Recently I sent out an email to my distribution list about a certain issue. Someone on my list responded with a number of what I considered to be valid points. I emailed this person and asked if I could circulate his comments. The reply was, “Yes, but please do not use my name. Frankly, I still have unmarried children.” This I belief is a key point in why many are reluctant to divulge their names after a letter or article that expresses their opinions. They feel, to perhaps be a bit too blunt, intimidated. And let us make no mistake; there are some people within our community who can make one’s life miserable. In 1877, Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch wrote the following about anonymous writings. “Various publications opposing our call for secession ... have already appeared under the cover of anonymity. Their contents only show that their authors are in no position whatsoever to voice any opinion worthy of note on this question.... Any replies written anonymously or signed with a fictitious name will not receive any consideration from me. One who lacks the courage to sign his true name to his views must be aware that what he is saying is meaningless, and that therefore he cannot expect others to take notice of it. Let the anonymous gnats buzz happily in the sunny meadows. I certainly do not want to spoil their pleasure.” (From page 168 of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Architect of Torah for the Modern World, by Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman.) In light of this , it seems to me that all submissions to Orthodox publications should contain the name of the writer, unless, of course, they deal with very personal issues. For this to happen, our community must foster an atmosphere in which people can express valid opinions without fear of repercussions. Such an atmosphere would contribute much to the mutual respect that is a foundation stone of Yahadus. Dr. Yitzchok Levine, Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stevens Institute of Technology. e-mail: [email protected] tenth anniversary mag2 new TF:Layout 1 3/13/2008 12:49 PM Page 83

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Page 1: Name Withheld - personal.stevens.edu

Dr. Yitzchok Levine

Hamodia 10th Anniversary Magazine � Page 83

Name Withheld

You see it quite frequently inpublications that cater to theobservant Jewish community: a

letter to the editor or a short opinion piece“signed” Name Withheld by Request, orAnonymous, or C. M., Brooklyn, NY. Someof these submissions go so far as to omit anyindication of who the writer is.

The question is, why are so manypeople reluctant to have their name at theend of something they wrote? I believe thatthere are at least two answers to thisquestion.

First of all, there are matters thatsomeone may write about that mostcertainly should be kept private. Forexample, if one has fallen for some sort ofget-rich-quick scheme, he or she may wantto let others know about the scam, butwould not want the world to know thatthey fell for it. Or it may be that the issueone writes about is personal and verysensitive. In such cases the writer is indeedjustified in concealing his or her identity.

However, one sees letters andcomments expressing valid opinions andobservations that do not reveal the writer.More often than not, these writings expressconstructive criticism about some issue.There are valid points that need to bemade, despite the fact that some maydisagree with them or prefer to ignore theissue.

We are not talking about submissions in

which the writer is simply out to bash this orthat. In my opinion, such writings should notbe published, because they do notcontribute anything positive. As the famoussaying goes (attributed to more than onegadol, “Not everything that is thoughtshould be said; not everything that is saidshould be written; not everything that iswritten should be published.”

Recently I sent out an email to mydistribution list about a certain issue.Someone on my list responded with anumber of what I considered to be validpoints. I emailed this person and asked if Icould circulate his comments. The replywas, “Yes, but please do not use my name.Frankly, I still have unmarried children.”

This I belief is a key point in why manyare reluctant to divulge their names after aletter or article that expresses their opinions.They feel, to perhaps be a bit too blunt,intimidated. And let us make no mistake;there are some people within ourcommunity who can make one’s lifemiserable.

In 1877, Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirschwrote the following about anonymouswritings.

“Various publications opposing our callfor secession ... have already appearedunder the cover of anonymity. Theircontents only show that their authors are inno position whatsoever to voice anyopinion worthy of note on this question....

Any replies written anonymously or signedwith a fictitious name will not receive anyconsideration from me. One who lacks thecourage to sign his true name to his viewsmust be aware that what he is saying ismeaningless, and that therefore he cannotexpect others to take notice of it. Let theanonymous gnats buzz happily in the sunnymeadows. I certainly do not want to spoiltheir pleasure.” (From page 168 of RabbiSamson Raphael Hirsch, Architect of Torah forthe Modern World, by Rabbi Eliyahu MeirKlugman.)

In light of this , it seems to me that allsubmissions to Orthodox publicationsshould contain the name of the writer,unless, of course, they deal with verypersonal issues. For this to happen, ourcommunity must foster an atmosphere inwhich people can express valid opinionswithout fear of repercussions. Such anatmosphere would contribute much to themutual respect that is a foundation stone ofYahadus.

Dr. Yitzchok Levine, Professor in the Department of

Mathematical Sciences, Stevens Institute of Technology.

e-mail: [email protected]

tenth anniversary mag2 new TF:Layout 1 3/13/2008 12:49 PM Page 83