HaRav Binyomin Finkel Shlita, who heads the “Internet Gemach” visited HaGaon HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman Shlita on Monday, 9 Elul 5772 where he received chizuk for his ongoing efforts to get people to disconnect.
According to a Yated Ne’eman report, the gadol hador stated one mustn’t rely on oneself but one must disconnect for the internet has claimed many victims. The moshel was given from the Chafetz Chaim regarding the wagon driver who trusted his horse to take him to his destination only to find himself drowning in a river. The same holds true for us, and we must distance ourselves from “החלק הבהמי” and not to trust oneself.
The report cites the gadol of warning against those who view the situation as a ספק ספיקא of possible loss of revenue and parnasa, but one is unaware of the loss due to the computer and internet, citing “אדם דואג על איבוד דמיו ואינו דואג על איבוד ימיו”.
Technicians will be available to ‘disconnect’ laptops from the internet this week, without cost. Dozens of avreichim brought their laptops to Beis Medrash Imrei Shefer in Har Nof and Beis Medrash Merom Harim in Ramot 3, both in Yerushalayim, to have the internet connectivity feature removed by technicians from the gemach.
A technician is in Ramot 1 at Beis Knesses Shaare Tevuna on Tuesday 11 Elul, and on Wednesday, at Beis Knesses Ohr HaTzafon. On Thursday in Beis Knesses Ohel Yosef in Ramot Polin. The technician will be in these shuls from 18:00-20:00.
For additional information from the internet gemach, one may call 1-599-502-200.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
How would I read THE yeshiva World News
To be safe, don’t use the “telephone” (simply an analog version of the VOIP). Don’t use financial instruments that requires using the internet (such as banks and credit cards). Don’t use package delivery systems whose tracking is integrated with the internet (UPS, FEDEX, USPS, etc.). Since the “money” for the most part exists as internet-connected entries on various banks books, avoid using American currency. It might also be good to avoid utilities whose control is via the ‘net, such as electricity, gas and water. Of course don’t even think about using AMTRAK or the airlines.
Baruch Hashem Klal Yisroel has such Gedolei HaDor as HaGaon HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman Shlita!
And how would we be able to read the yeshiva world news without internet? explain that one to me, hello, yeshiva world is writing articles using the internet,it’s easy for these rabbis to say disconnect, what about people in buissiness who rely on the internet to make a living, rabbis get out of your shell this is 2012 not the 18 hundreds, keep up with the times. people have to have self control.
thank you for this very important “news” story. What can you do with a laptop today that is not connected to the internet?
Until there is a readily available way in which those who need occasional internet access for work, school or personal business, many frum yidden will be reluctant to “cut the cord”. As the world evolves to the point where even the most basic activities such as travel planning, bill-payment and purchases of many necessities moves online, there will have to be some accomodation that filters out pritzus (better than current filters) but provides limited access to “kosher sites”. I suspect that computers could be programmed to allow access to a limited number of websites for banks, travel agencies, seforim stores, grocery delivery companies, etc. that could get “hashgacha” in the same way restaurants do.
In other words, if you read this article (or published it!) you already violated the takana of the gedolim at the assifa. Anyone care to explain?