Rav Mordechai Blau of the Mishmeres Kodesh agreed to be interviewed by Channel 10, which was seeking to understand the “Threats of the iPhone” and similar devices as indicated by pashkavilim in Meah Shearim that warn against using such devices.
10:
Can you explain the dangers associated with the iPhone and Blackberry please?
R’ Blau:
They are very dangerous. They are small and sometimes, you can be sitting in the beis medrash and the yetzer hora says “why not surf. Not here where you can be seen but you can hide and do it somewhere. Chareidim have a yetzer hora too.
10:
Can you give us an idea of the situation? Are they brought into yeshiva? Can you tell us?
R’ Blau:
Baruch Hashem we are okay. The smart phone and iPhone and such items are not inexpensive and as such, most of our community cannot afford them, speaking of a bachur yeshiva and avreich.
The rav then shows a simple kosher phone.
10:
What are the sanctions regarding one apprehended with an iPhone?
R’ Blau:
If he is caught with such a phone he is tossed out of the yeshiva. The same for a female in a Beis Yaakov. There is no place for them there.
10:
Rabbi Blau, please respond openly and honestly. Do you the rabbis feel the earth crumbling under you? Are you afraid of losing control?
R’ Blau:
Your question is quite legitimate and somewhat complex. The ground is not crumbling but the generation is problematic. We are not living in the times of our grandparents in the cities and villages and one wishing to act against the Torah, act inappropriately does not have to go to Jaffa Street to do it but he has the device and can bring it home.
The rav then shows a sign of a new program addressing WiFi and the fact that this wireless network can in theory penetrate one’s computer, where he stores his divrei Torah. He details somewhat.
10:
There are thousands of chareidim visiting the Chadrei Chareidim website and forums. Perhaps this should be permitted?
R’ Blau:
Do you think Chadrei Chareidim is representative of the chareidi tzibur or perhaps the place they go to unload, saying things they cannot say at home or at work.
10:
No, listen. There is a clear atmosphere of rebellion against your way of life.
R’ Blau:
Please, this is not the chareidi media. It is like an electronic Pashkavil.
10:
Do you surf yourself to get a first hand idea of what is taking place?
R’ Blau:
Baruch Hashem I do not have to. there are those who do and I get my mail describing what I need to know, concerns over those places they fear chareidim may visit and stray…
10:
Why did G-d create Steve Jobs?
R’ Blau:
Wow, you threw something at me I cannot answer. I do not know who that is.
10:
The creator of the iPhone and the like.
R’ Blau:
Ahhh, in order to bring divrei Torah from place to place.
10:
Laughing “thanks”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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15 Responses
it is a shame that after all of the years of charadi education that people can not be trusted to use the internet in a safe manner.
Education and learn by example is not utilized when it comes to internet usage.
trusted ?we are all all trusted, but everyone has their weak moments, which planet r u from?
As usual, the reaction and attitude towards students is “either all or nothing”. If you own a smartphone, Bais Yaakov all of a sudden becomes too good for you and you’re out. I don’t know if the Rabbis thought this far ahead, but what do they think will happen to kids they kick out of school because of this – where do they think they’ll go??
Quoted from the Rabbi in the interview: “If he is caught with such a phone he is tossed out of the yeshiva. The same for a female in a Beis Yaakov. There is no place for them there.”
Wow. Just Wow. The words that resound in my head are, “There is no place for them here.”
I still find it amazing and disheartening that the religious schools find it so easy to give up on a student.
But then again, people who attend extreme schools are probably extremists themselves, so it suits them.
Lazer its a shame you never learned the Gemara that says clearly “ein apitropis l’aroyos” and that you are not familiar with hilchus yichud.
I only wish channel 10 had interviewed one of the Net psychologists dealing with not only “chareidi” dangers but the dangers at large facing kids. Be it internet preditors, or online gambling.
Lazerc: Would you also say it is a shame that after all the years of charadi education that two people of the opposite gender cannot be trusted to be alone in a room (issur yichud)? Of course not. Why not? Because you understand human nature. This is no different.
I think that it is admirable that post no.1, feels that way, as s/he has obviously managed to reach a madreiga where s/he don’t feel that the internet is a threat for s/he. I feel somehow the same about myself, however the biggest danger for me on the internet is bitul zman. You should see how the Chafetz Chaim describes bitul zman – it is frightening.
Nothwithstanding temptations will always tempt all Jews (chareidim included). E.g. After 80 years of being a KG, Yochanan Kohen Gadol changed from a good orthodox Jew to a Saducee (call it somewhat Reform). The gadol hador, Elisha ben Avuya became an apostate. Many homes have been broken by the internet. In fact Pirkei Avot addresses this by stating: that a person cannot even trust oneself until the day of death (we much each have our checks & balances to keep us on the derech).Therefore there must be rules set in place. It is a need for the generation.
Having a blackberry does NOT require u to have internet!!!
Yes chareidi education teaches that one should not trust himself, even Amoraim went great lengths to avoid being tested.
So if the iPhone was created “to bring divrei torah from place to place”, why such fierce opposition?
Im puzzled by the last remark.
Im also glad to see that there is a trustworthy “police force” in place surfing and keeping the rov updated as to where “chareidim may visit and stray…” Ain apitropus L’arayos”
What an incredibly well handled interview.
great interview…number one? you must be a malach to make such a statement
To the people who don’t understand why people caught with these devices should be thrown out of schools: Sometimes harsh actions have to be enforced so as to save the masses. Harsh measures hold people back from purchasing and using such devices. What exactly do you propose?
to my critics, not only do I learn gemora, but I have spent many years teaching it.
the problem is simple, can people be trusted?
the same philosophy exists here in Israel regarding working. can men be trusted to go to a secular job, can men be trusted to attend a secular school to learn a trade?
we who read YWN all use the internet. does this mean we also take in the porno? I certainly hope not. a person who is dedicated to HaShem will certainly be able to go through life with out getting involved in the filth.
There is a problem with charadi education that it can not give over the love of HaShem that is necessary to prevent the youth from being at risk. Before there were iphones etc, there were drop outs from charadi education; now with these devices there are still drop outs.
A differnt approach to charadi education is needed to help young people cope with the outside world other than throwing them out of yeshiva/seminary if they have a smart phone.
in addition the smart phone is not the problem, it can be a symptom of a problem. If the child is one who will waste time on the internet, there is a deeper problem that will not go away simply by eliminating the access to the internet.
one should realize that there are three important components in a child: the parents, the peer group and the teacher. If all three are positive: the parents loving, observant of the child and helpful, the peer group are kids who are in the proper derech, and the teacher competent and caring, the result is that the child will have no reason to deviate from the proper path.
the problem is usually one of the three components are lacking. Thinking that eliminating the child’s access to the internet is foolish; if he is off the derech he/she will find other sinister outlets for his/her rebellion, HaShem yerachem.
I do not advocate the smart phones, but understand that they are not the problem, they are a symptom of a deeper problem and that is what needs addressing. Often it is the parents, often it is the teacher and these two often cause the child to find a peer group that is negative. At this point it is hard to rescue the child.