הצנזורה היא המסר: שלושה עולמות של צנזורה בפרשת חיים ולדר

This article explores differences in the nature of censorship imposed by three types of ultra-Orthodox media: print, online, and social networks, revealing significant differences among them. The case study is that of Chaim Walder—the author, educationalist, and counselor, who was accused in November 2021 of serious sexual offenses and eventually committed suicide. Reportage of the case was censored in various ways in most of the ultra-Orthodox media. The present research focuses on the differences among the various modes of censorship evident in the media in their coverage of the affair, focusing on the differences themselves, explaining those differences, and expounding on why censorship continued in this case even after the story was widely published and known to the public. The research methods included a systematic collection of all Haredi journalistic sources during the relevant period (59 printed sources and 9,933 online sites) and their textual analyses; netnography, and in-depth interviews. The study indicates significant differences in the characteristics and patterns of censorship among the three types of media. Notwithstanding, clearly all of the ultra-Orthodox media share common ground in that they all function under some sort of censorship. The conclusions drawn from this study not only expand the initial scope of the issue but include a new theoretical perspective: censoring is not merely a tool for hiding information but also a vehicle for transmitting it. Moreover. it is an instrument for conveying educational and social messages.