Sharing Is Not Always Caring   

In life, we also wear masks — not just on Purim, but every day. We choose what to share and what to keep private, what to reveal and what to hold close. But in today’s world, there is a growing push to remove these masks, to exhibit full transparency and raw authenticity. I’d like to explore this new mindset of openness and sharing, and whether or not Yiddishkeit embraces it.

Is Openness Always Appropriate?

Over the past several years, I’ve noticed something fascinating. I give shiurim on hilchos Shabbos to a variety of groups — men, women, bochurim, and seminary girls. Part of the curriculum focuses on refuah on Shabbos — when taking medication is permitted, and which types of pills are allowed.

When I first began giving these shiurim, no one mentioned their personal experiences. But over time, something changed. Slowly, more and more people started opening up, asking detailed questions about their personal pill regimens — right there, in front of the entire group. Discussions about different therapies also became more common, shared without much hesitation or discomfort.

As I began noticing this shift, I started asking others about it — and I learned that it was reflective of a broader cultural change. One rebbi shared that it’s no longer uncommon for him to see talmidim openly taking pills during or right after class — something that would have been unheard of in the past. Menahalim have told me how different things used to be; convincing parents to seek necessary support for their children was often an uphill battle because of the heavy stigma surrounding these issues. But over time, that resistance has softened. Today, getting the right help has become far more accepted, as people recognize that addressing these challenges can make a real and lasting difference in a child’s success and well-being.