Dear Editors.
I don’t know who to direct my concern to, but I figured if public awareness was brought to this issue, the right party would perhaps take notice. I went into my kitchen cabinet this morning to have myself a bowl of cereal. But was seriously shocked when I pulled out the box.
On the back of the box was the photo of a very immodestly clad woman, across the full length of the box.
I have two questions.
First of all, why would a company which gives Hechsherim, give a Hechsher to a cereal company if this is the way their boxes are displayed.
Secondly, if it already DID make its way to a Kosher grocery store, why should the store not cover up the picture with a sticker, should they choose to accept delivery of the product?
I firmly believe that exposing children to such photos is the same Issur as offering children cereal without a Hechsher.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my concern.
Y.K. Lakewood.
(TLS welcomes your letters by sending them to [email protected]).
Not every tree is a woman
Please if you have these issues and really bother you hatzneia leches is the way call the rav hamachsir or approach the store owner privatley in a gentle discusiion that works best
The coop is carefull about this and usually covers it up. The problem is going to the coop, the way many ‘new’ lakewood woman dress is shocking.
Comment removed.
YOU broght it into your house its your achraios to check the box b4 you bring it in
When the cereal is made by a multi billion dollar company, they are not making it just for Lakewood or the Jewish community. the marketing department is focusing on the world at large. Although the manufacturers ackowledge the growth of the kosher industry at large it is still a very small percentage of their customer base.
The food is Kosher. The Kashruth organizations has no control on the marketing departmen. For example seasonal holdiay graphics or the latest action movie which has paid top dollars to be advertised on the back of these cereals.
Now although I may not approve of this advertisment on the cereal boxs the kashruth organization is responsibile for the food inside and that many Jews across the globe have access to kosher food. When a major multi billion manufactuer is distributed across the globe to every corner in the world it allows many jews to have access to kosher food. Very few cities and townships have COOPS, Shlomieys or Pomegranets outside the NY NJ region. Many people find their kosher food in the local Shoprite, Jewels, Dominiks, Kohls or local gorcery chain.
So the bottom line- it should be your responsibility to cover up or discard the box when you get home.
your 100% right! but seeing as it got to your cabinet i could ask the same question on you…
If you think store employees have time to put stickers on boxes, you’re in dream land. Keep an empty box in your cabinet, & before you enter the house, remove the bag, throw the box into the yellow can outside your home, & place the bag in the old box! I fyou see anyone rummaging through your recycle can, call Mishmar HaTznius!
WELCOME TO THE WORLD! your children will be exposed to alot worse and since you sent your letter in via email im going 2 assume you have internet which may c”v give your children acess to things alot worse… need i say more?! The grocery is doing you a great service theyre not responsible for more than that.
to #2 these “new” woman you speak of are people wives… stop looking at them and go home to your own!
Kemach, Gefen, Haddar, why don’t you buy one if the above brands. If you are so concerned. If it bothers you enough then you have many options. Don’t fool yourself.
but why must they dress in such a provactive, eye catching way? Surly not for their husbands…
There is a new invention, (as new as these ads), it is a cereal keeper. A clear plastic container which seals air tight (yes, your cereal might not be stale now) and is a very convienient to pour. Get the local schools to sign that everyone must get them in order to be accepted (unless you have an ishur), and you have yourself a business (to keep you busy, so you stop looking at unclad cereal boxes).
This should be ur biggest tsara. Get a life
Cudoos to you for being sensitive to a very important problem. My wife and I came to a decision that there is nothing beneficial about a breakfest table where each tzelem elikim is hiden behind a carboard box. doing mazes, or being mezmirised by snap, crackle or pop. Emtying the cereal box premeturely to fetch an iresistable prize was also a concern of ours. So our solution worked well , & would solve your imodist isssue as well.
Tupperwaer contaners or other large plastic container. works well. stays neat has a pour spout & remains fresh. enjoy!
i belive there is alot of erliche frum yidden reading this post this morning why is there not one person saying i am maskim are we faultering in our yiras shmayim he has a real true consern what is the remedy is a big question but we should be atleast maskim to him
The way some women dress is being machshil the rabim.as much as one tries not to look ,we are human and have nisyonos. Please dress for your husbands at home.not in der gass.
Why don’t you think about a move deep in the woods or to another country. This is America – Freedom for ALL. That way your children won’t be exposed to anything. You’re worried about breakfast? Take a look at the news.
You know I never noticed that picture but now I did. Am I better off now?
Life has really changed in over 50 years. No pictures of women in frum publications, concern about pictures on food containers. In my day we had less kids at risk because they were not so insulated & lived a more normal life & those are the roshei yeshiva of today. So what has being frummer accomplished ?
The yiras shamayim has to be so strong that even if there is a clad thing on the box it shall not be seen by the person. – I am notsaying the picture is right its just that we are living in a goishe world and we are exposed on a daily bases to so many things that are not tziusdig . So the peshat of a bal yiras shamayim is that he should not see it even if its there , we have to put a gevaldiga effort to get to that madrego
Your kids see more sneaking on to your Internet connection.
If this is your only problem you davened good.
your kids know more about what is going on than you do..time to wake up and smell the begonias
I’ve been in town when there were festive occasions and I mingled with the crowd. Many times I could see the kiddies cell phone screens. You parents would be surprised at what your “frum” kiddies are viewing on their cell phones. And you think a cereal box is bad? You should take the cell phones away from the kiddies.
Nisht gut far de andere surt tzu zen vi mir redden vegen di inyonim.
I agree that having such pictures in your house can make a roshem on your childrens neshama.
The suggestions above make sense;
1) buy the kosher brands – which some come stickered already for you.
or
2) dump the box and use tupperware.
The kashrus organizations are there to make sure the food is kosher. The box advertisements, they have no control over.
Grow up and learn the world doesn’t cater to Jewish people! The cereal is kosher we can’t control the advertising business. If you don’t like it don’t buy it or change the box when you get home.
You than should never enter Shop Rite or Wal Mart.
Better yet just stay home & order delivery service. & while ur at it get rid of the Internet.
To 23, ech vice vous de zoug!
Get a life. If this is what you worry about, stay under the rock!
I don’t think it is the supermarket’s problem don’t bring it in your house like this but it is for sure the husband’s problem to make sure that his wife dresses nicer at home then the street
How dare you belittle a person who has a real concern. You may not be holding where he is so you are not sensitive to his concern, but that is no reason to blast him. I agree that it is not the kashrus agencies responsibility, but I appreciate the problem. There IS a tznius problem in town and a man is NOT a malach- if there are improper sights, most men will be nichshol- that is the way hashem made the world. To tell a man not to look is to be in denial of the nature of a man. Unfortunately, many women do not seem to be taught this, and many husbands are oblivious.
We had the same issue, but didn’t realize it was an issue until my teenaged son asked us not to bring cereal boxes with pictures of women into the house. That made us more aware of what we were bringing into the home altogether. We have since bought only kosher brands of cereal (for other reasons too). For those who don’t realize it’s an issue, wake up.
Its time to stop demanding of others to cater strictly to your taste! There are others that could care less. If something bothers you- as an adult you can make your own decisions- buy it or don’t!! Its getting out of hand how everybody tries to push their chumra on the entire world!! Worry about yourself NOT me!!!
Signed,
Enjoying my wheeties not my Kemach Krunch!!
Most people reading this article on the interTumenet have been exposed to much worse.
A- get the internet out of your house, and if you need the internet for business then only use it for business.
B- buy tuperware
C- even better buy the kosher brand (you will also save yourself any sheiles of Bishul akim, pas akim, and Cholov Yisroel.
Being the frum person that you are do you really want to eat from a factory that has a mashgiach pass bye once a month?
Do not buy the cereal & stop making your own problems.
The cereal box didn’t come into the house by itself – blame the buyer. If you must have that cereal, pour it into a container and discard the box. If you have a beef with the store – contact the manager.
Beteavon!
I know this boy tha is totally off the derech bec his parents once bought honey nut cheerios with the Easter Bunny on it, that’s what did it. Nebach on the store that sold the box.
#10- i like that. so true… so true!
If you have acsess to the internet at home or at work i am shure you saw more then a ladie on a cereal box. Don’t fool yourself!!!!
My frumkeit went down the drain, the day a saw a bottle of White Rock Seltzer. That mermaid keeps popping up every time I try to learn a shverer sugya. I’m mamish not moichel the baal simcha that brought White Rock into our shul 30 years ago. B’H the orange juice company stopped having the little Tropic-Annie on their containers ! Every time I went to a bris I had to klop al-chait.
#8- my thoughts exactly..u are so right.
Better to look at a women and think of a box of cereal, than to eat from a box of cereal and think of a lady.
Buddy, we’re in golus. The O-U or any other “hechsher” adding their sticker to a o-u product live in a world of reality outside Lakewood. How come such a letter is not found anywhere else but the Lakewood Scoop? Not the Monsey community connection, not the dozens of Brooklyn publications, only Lakewood. Because people in Lakewood think that the world should be custom made for them and their unique lifestyle. While the lifestyle is beautiful, take two steps out (maybe not) and you’ll see a whole different set of rules and a whole different “normal”.
zei gzunt!
Can;t believe a cereal box is a major issue. Perhaps we should whip the “new women” like the Taliban does in Afghanistan if they don’t approve of their dress.
Uh-huh! And who are you trying to convince?! That’s what the parents say! How about, maybe they weren’t very good parents? Ever occured to you? Most of these kids had some sort of rough upbringing for ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. Sometimes the father was never home, others the mother. Sometimes the parents were home but weren’t parents!
STOP BLAMING SILLY CEREAL BOXES! I have yet to see a cereal box that was so terrible that a fuss like this should be made. MUCH more is unfortunately seen just by walking the street and living in this world.
Is this the new problem in Lakewood?! We don’t have enough yet? I have yet to see an image on a cereal box…..that comes even CLOSE to what is seen on the streets…..This is the Golus we are in. It all boild down to Yiras Shomayim but I don’t believe a single Gadol would say that CEREAL BOXES are the issue!! Go ask them.
#15 sounds like a pervert. Please be careful.
Boy, this has hit a raw nerve. I have a completely different take on this. How about stopping to serve your family cereal, which is junk food to start off with. Cook them homemade oatmeat or other healthy cereal, or better yet, start off the day with a protein like eggs. Cereal is NOT the best way to start your day anyway, so learn a little about nutrition & feed your family right.
you are surely right. by trying to put everyone in a bubble, it sometimes backfires. there are many more kids off the derech today than 40 years ago, & I wonder why?
#43, I hope you realize that he was kidding…honestly. I know it’s hard to get the sarcasm across in text, but don’t take him or #39 seriously.
And if they are being serious, than this is a very sad reality indeed.
btw, another reason why so many kids are going off the derech these days is probably cause we’re trying to hard to shelter them. When everything is “no no no!” than they start to rebel. Instead what we should be saying is “There is this nisayon out there, and it’s not going away any time soon. We’re trusting you and believe in you that you’ll make the right choices and decisions.”
When you show a kid that you trust their judgement, than they’ll respond in kind. By trying to sweep everything under the rug, you’re showing that you don’t think they can stand up to the nisyonos of this dor, and making “stolen waters” a lot sweeter.
And I hear they are thinking of giving women the right to vote too!!!!
Ok,ok,I am joking, buy some Tupperware and don’t get all nutsy about nothing
there is no more snow to talk about
I have a soulution. . How about drawing a beard on the face and drawing pants with vassa zuken ? So now not only don’t we see anymore clad we will see a chassidishe rebbi, think about this idea , this should solve this groice bruch problemo
#15 is is one hundred percent correct and honest. Its guys like you that that make me wonder. Unless your a woman, in which case you are just oblivious to the ways of man.
i don’t understand this issue with jewish people having a problem with products that have an immodest woman on the package. in the summertime everywhere you take your children, a woman can be seen dressed immodestly. you’re not gonna ask that woman to cover up rite? it’s ridiculous. you can cover up a picture on a box but your children are going to see pple dressed immodestly in places where they go.
gee wiz. what a waste of space all this is. seriously dude, GET A LIFE. if you dont like the picture on the cereal box than DONT BUY IT! you cant shelter your kids forever. do you cover their eyes when you walk down the street and pass a goy? you sound like a very frum, aidel person who truly cares about the neshamos of young children, may i ask you a question? why do you have internet? dont you think that having internet is 10 times worse than a cereal box with a stupid lady in a excercise outfit?? and might i ask, WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE CEREAL BOX???? its ok for you and not your children.
1. I don’t understand why this post seems to assume that it’s only a “Children” problem. are all adults imune to yetzer horah when seeing such images?
2. Why do so many here thing that if “That’s not the worst problem there is, we should not pay attention to it.
3. Although America is a “free for all country” this does not mean that the life of a yid is also a “free for all” life. we must do whatever we can to not to be brought to such nisyonos.
4. the argument that women may dress however they want to no matter how provocative, and it’s the business of the men not to look at them, is like saying that anyone should be allowed to offer drugs for sale in a public place “and if you have a problem don’t buy them!!”
Acording to every psak of Hilchos tznious it is OSUR for a woman to dress provocatively and be seen this way in public (even if all private parts are fully covered!!), just ask ANY rov.
To all, those who used the words “get a life”, you should admit to yourselves that what you mean is “get a life with a “normal” goyishe mentality and stop living with such a “Torah minded life”
Doo u understand that there’s more then 50 comments to some ridicules persons letter to the scoop, why the scoop even published it when there are more important things to post about just sad 50 comments bout a box of cereal amazing
Have you seen the length of Fred and Barneys outfits on the boxes lately ? Simply scandalous. I told them. Look how respectable Capn Crunch dresses. Why can’t you be more like him? At least they wear something. The Silly Trix rabbit is running around with nothing on.
I agree with #56. I think this person just wanted to get a reaction to a rediculous post. I also think he specifically wanted to post something to get a Tzniyus message across, or visa versa, talk about immodestly dressed women. Either way I think that some of the comments are inappropriately stated. Talking about women in Lakewood on the scoop is in itself not tzniyus. I know I’m talking from a female point of view, however, sensitivities if you really want to know is the basis of tzniyus. If your sensitive to something you don’t do it. Whether it be buying food boxes with something objectionable on it, wearing innappropriate things, going to places in the summer where pritzus is expeceted, listening to garbage “jewish music”, too much socializing with couples…. the list could go on and on. Save the posts on the scoop for more vital topics than silly cereal boxes.
If you try and shelter your kids from everything in this world in an exterme way, like this of a picture on a cereal box ,than when they start realizing when they get older this will all be so new to them.They will probably go off in an exterme way. This is the world we live in and you have to learn through experiences how to be resilient to it.
Why was my comment not published. Was it the minivans, cell phones, or Ankles?
stop being such a prude, there is a whole world out there and it doesn`t revolve you or your community. as other posters said” why then did you buy it and bring it home for your young children to gwak at???????