Writer and editor David Rotenberg, 57, a resident of Modi'in Elite, is an editor on the Haredim 10 website and the Chabad Online website, a content consultant for newspapers and websites, and a book editor.
40 years ago, at the age of 17, he began writing for the Kfar Chabad newspaper, and later became the New York correspondent for the newspaper 'Yom Hashishi', and wrote and edited for the newspaper 'Israel Shelanu'. Later, he worked for the newspapers 'Ma'ariv' and 'Yediot Ahronoth'.
After several years in which he wrote and edited about 20 books - historical books, alongside children's books and comics - he returned to the world of journalism as an editor at the newspaper BaKhilah. After retiring in 2006 from BaKhilah, he was appointed editor of Kfar Chabad and transformed it, and also worked at the newspaper Mishpacha.
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In 2009, he founded the website 'Chabad Online', which he edited for several years. About three years ago, he resumed editing it. Less than two years later, in 2010, he founded the 'Forum Haderei Haredim', which later also became a news website.
Eight years ago, in 2014, after retiring from 'Behadrei Haredim', he founded the 'Haredim 10' website with his wife, Shari Roth.
Over the years, he discovered and cultivated many talents, some of whom currently serve as senior editors and journalists in the Haredi and general media.
Who is the 'next big thing' in the world of Haredi journalism?
Mandy Cortes, writer for the Kfar Chabad newspaper, Neshem magazine, and editor of the Kikar Hashabbat and Chabad Online websites.
Why him?
Although he is very young, he has the combination of a writer and an editor. He has the discretion required in editing, knows how to distinguish between the essential and the trivial, along with a quick grasp. He also has a combination that not many journalists in the Haredi media have - the ability to write magazine articles that are invested in the printed press, along with a good understanding of the 'online' media.
As someone who discovered some of the greatest talents that have emerged in the Haredi media, I am sure he will go far. He surpasses some of them in his talents.
He has only one drawback: in a world where those who have done almost nothing walk around like peacocks, he is too modest and humble. Without elbows.
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Mandy Cortes, 24 years old, was born into a Chabad Hasidic family living in the Nahalat Har Chabad (Nahla) neighborhood in Kiryat Malachi.
He studied at the Chabad 'Haider' in the Chabad neighborhood, and went through the classic path of Chabad Hasidim in Israel: three years in the small yeshiva 'Tomchei Temimim' in Lod, three years in the large yeshiva 'Tomchei Temimim' in Kfar Chabad. After that, he went for a 'group' year in the Chabad yeshiva at the Chabad World Center-770.
He began his journalistic career at the newspaper 'Kfar Chabad' at a very young age, while still studying at the yeshiva in Kfar Chabad. In New York, he began working at the newspaper on a regular basis.
""After studying in New York, everyone chooses their own path - where to study. When I was 20, I went to a yeshiva in Moscow for one year, where I studied 'smicha' for the rabbinate. After Moscow, I returned to New York for six months - until the coronavirus. Since my visa ran out and the coronavirus began, I decided to stay in Israel - and I was sucked into the world of journalism.".
Why specifically to the media?
""Really? I kind of rolled over. I never initiated it. It wasn't a goal I was looking for. I've always loved journalism, I've always been a curious guy, to be a good journalist is to be curious.".
""When I studied at the yeshiva in Kfar Chabad, I started writing stories that were published in the Kfar Chabad newspaper. But it wasn't something regular, but mainly during holidays and the like. That went on for several years. I started working regularly at the newspaper 4 years ago, when I was in New York.
""At first, I wrote regularly in the newspaper's news supplement. I was responsible for the opening article, a different topic each week. Slowly, I moved to the magazine and today I write in the magazine. In the last six months, I joined as an editor at Kikar Hashabbat. I have been an editor on the Chabad Online website since the end of 2017.".
How do you combine multiple jobs?
""The jobs in newspapers and on websites are indeed covered under the same umbrella of 'communications,' but there is a big difference between them. In a newspaper, it is work that requires and requires attention to detail. Being comprehensive, more theoretical. A website, on the other hand, is something more dynamic. Working on websites requires different skills. Technically, I deal more with websites. For me, a newspaper is a few hours each week.
""You learn over time how not to waste time. You can grind water, you have to focus the interviewee. Slowly, you learn not to waste time on these things. You learn to do things at the same time.".
What do you like more - online or writing in a newspaper?
""I love both jobs. Each place and its uniqueness. In the context of the newspaper, it is required to go deeper. I travel within the context of the newspaper and meet people - I learn a lot. In the end, it is writing. You do not report on a simple news event, but something longer, more invested. My creation. You open the newspaper on Saturday and it is something completely different.".
What is the article that you think is the most special that you have written to date?
""There were many special things... An article about the 'Sidur HaBaal Shem Tov' that I published a few months ago - it really caught on. It was when the Chabad World Library uploaded the archive with half a million manuscripts to its website. The 'Sidur HaBaal Shem Tov' is the most precious thing in the library. It is the most valuable asset in the library. And its photo was uploaded to the website for the first time. There is a page there with the names of the students of the Baal Shem Tov, who wrote in their handwriting for him to pray for them, with blood stains.
""As part of a conversation with the librarian, we published photographs of the siddur. The responses I received were tremendous - dozens of responses. A siddur that has been talked about for years, there are many legends about it, and seeing the photographs for the first time moved many people. People asked where the siddur was, if it was possible to see it. The answer is - it is impossible.
""This is truly a huge heavenly congregation. It's hard to explain how the ideas come to us, how every week we find an interesting idea. I give credit to the editor of the newspaper, Menachem Cohen, who deserves a lot of credit.".
What is your dream going forward?
""I got into journalism, I really like journalism, but in terms of work, I pretty much got into it. As such, I have no ambitions to advance. It could happen, if I'm interested. Working in the media also has its drawbacks, like any profession. I love the profession. At the same time, I have no media ambitions. I'll give it time, and we'll see how it develops.".
""Most of my work is in the Chabad incubator. Both the newspaper and the Chabad Online website - it's within my clique. In the end, there's something unique in that you don't work in something general, you work in your own Hasidism, it's a completely different style of work.".
How do you feel that David Rotenberg chose you as the 'next big thing' in the world of Haredi media?
""A great honor. I am very flattered by this. David Rotenberg is one of the legends in the world of journalism. He founded websites, edited the newspaper Kfar Chabad. A very great honor. I often wonder how, after 40 years in the field, he doesn't feel a certain burnout.".
"I've been in the profession for four years, I look ahead and it's very hard for me to believe that in 10 years I'll still have this drive and the motivation like today to invest in articles in the newspaper and on the website. I follow his work, and see the passion that remains at its peak, and wonder where the strength comes from.".
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