Only a few hours after returning from a lengthy fundraising trip to the United States the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe Shlita summoned gabbaim and chassidim to gather for an urgent kenos. The rebbe explained he is setting up a committee that will have wide-ranging authority to oversee technological devices, such as phones and internet. The rebbe spoke out forcefully against the danger of the technological devices purchased today, emphasizing the need to keep such devices far away from families in the chassidus.
The rebbe reportedly also addressed concerns over a sharp decline in tznius among the women in the chassidus.
The rebbe instructed gabbaim to establish two committees with the first including five of the more prominent members of the chassidus; Rav Shmuel Brandsdorfer, Rav Netanel Brandsdorfer, Rav Chaim Meir Kahan, Rav Moshe Brandsdorfer, and Rav Aaron Samet. This council will oversee tznius matters in the chassidus.
One of the matters the rebbe wishes to place an emphasis on is non-kosher cellular phones, telling his rabbonim that if an avreich is apprehended with a “treif phone” they are empowered to break the phone, to smash it and they will not be liable for damages.
One of the more extreme rulings being reported in the rebbe’s name is that if they find a treif phone hidden somewhere in the yeshiva they may even take it on shabbos and smash it, explaining the reality necessitates chilul shabbos.
Four prominent members of the chassidus will make up the second council, including Rav Dovid Dov Spitzer, Rav Chaim Uri Rosenberg, Rav Aaron Diament and Rav Mordechai Brandmark.
This committee will be responsible to address ‘gashmiyus” matters, including fundraising, running the yeshiva, beis medrash and talmid torah.
Chassidim who attended the urgent meeting where shocked at the hard line taken by the rebbe. Some chassidim explain that stories have been circulating in the chassidus of a breach in the community regarding the use of treif phones and the internet.
The rebbe instructed chassidim that if they are aware of someone who compromises tznius standards as defined in the chassidus they should distance themselves from such a person.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
What is your source for this report? Check the recording of his speech and I think you will find that this report is wrong.
“One of the more extreme rulings being reported in the rebbe’s name….”
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what is that supposed to mean?
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Do you know for a fact that he said this?
If not, you have no business publishing it.
I’ve heard that the recording is available on a TAY phone line, and that if you listen to it you will find that the rebbe did not permit smashing the phones on Shabbos, but said to ask a rov whether it would be OK to confiscate them on Shabbos in order to smash them after.
Just curious if he accepted money from donors in LA that didnt have Kosher phones.
Disgusting and disgraceful. Just because he is scared that his chassidum will rebel by using internet/social media he is giving a psak that is going to cause people to steal and cause chillul shabbos!?
A zuch un azvei may sholom reign supreme. May we be zoche to follow Gedolei Yisroel without interjecting our narrow mindness.
#5
Assuming this report is true would you care to state your halachic qualifications in disqualifying the psak of this Rebbe?
Its highly unlikely that rav kahn would paskin that its ok to be mechallel shabbos in order to keep one of his chassidim from posting on Facebook or booking a flight on his cellphone. First of all, not that many chassidim and kollel yungerleit in meah sheaarim spend their days surfing the internet looking for pritzus and even if they did, does the rav really believe that being mechallel shabbos is a preferable option? Whoever spread this story clearly has an agenda to speak lashon haroh about the rav or make him look silly.
#5 Its not Disgusting and disgraceful!!! Its to keep standards of kedusha and tahara in the chassidus. Its not directed at cynics like you, but people who are interested in living to the higher standards of the talmidim of Shomrei Emunim, which includes Toldos Aharon and Toldos Avrohom yitzchok.
Where is the Emunas Tzadikim in today’s generation, you guys have no Kovod Rabbonim whatsoever!!!!! Don’t you realize you are dealing with fire!!!! If this is what the rebbe wants then that is what you do! לעשות רצון צדיק!!! ובזכות זה נזכה בע״ה לבג״צ בב״א