After Fifty Years, Veteran Writer Bids Farewell to Hamodia
Rabbi Binyomin Kluger, a longtime writer for Hamodia, concluded his regular work with the newspaper this past Friday, bringing to a close a writing career there that spanned five decades.
He marked the occasion with a special farewell column addressed to the paper’s readers.
Kluger, 77, a Chassid of Sanz and a resident of Yerushalayim’s Givat Shaul neighborhood, has been a familiar and respected voice in Hamodia since its early years. Alongside his journalism, he has long been active in the Torah world, serving as an inspector for the monthly examinations held in batei midrash across the country, a role connected to the Mifal HaShas initiative founded by his rebbe, the Sanzer Rebbe, the Shefa Chaim zt”l.
Writing under the pen name “K. Binyamin,” Kluger authored weekly columns for decades and published dozens of seforim in parallel to his newspaper work. His final column appeared on Friday, when he formally took leave of his readership.
In his farewell essay, Kluger reflected on his lifelong commitment to the printed word, writing that throughout his years of journalism he chose to remain loyal to print media, believing that “when words are written in black and white, their power is intensified.”
Looking back on more than fifty years of writing, he described Hamodia as a home for his words and recounted the countless hours and settings in which articles were produced — in the early hours of the morning, under blazing sun, in the depths of night, and in every conceivable environment. He noted that at the moment of writing, a journalist never truly knows who will read the words, how they will be received, or whether the intended emotion will fully carry through.
Kluger also wrote about the discipline he maintained over the years, explaining that he never skipped a weekly column or took time off, out of a sense of responsibility and gratitude for the privilege of having a regular platform. In recent years, he added, his “Past and Present” column became firmly woven into the contemporary pages of Hamodia.
Expressing thanks, Kluger wrote that he is deeply grateful to Hashem for the merit of being counted among the newspaper’s writers, and he extended appreciation to the editorial staff and management, whom he praised for their sense of mission and shared purpose. As he departs, he offered a blessing to those who continue the work, invoking words of peace, unity, and goodwill.
While stepping away from his official role, Kluger emphasized that he is not abandoning journalism. He plans to devote himself to writing future books in a quieter setting, describing his departure not as a full goodbye, but as “only a half-farewell.”
{Matzav.com}
