Addressing the tzibur on motzei Shabbos Shuva, HaGaon HaRav Nissim Karelitz Shlita explained there are those among us who are confident they will not fall prey to the pitfalls of the internet, aware of the dangers, while the internet poses great challenges and one must be extremely cautious.
The rav added that our nature is that we influence one another and as such, we must distance ourselves from such a person, namely one who is connected to the internet.
Such a person’s lifestyle is contrary to a Torah lifestyle, he adds, and these people do influence those around them and therefore, we must remain distant.
Adding to the ferocity of the rav’s statements, he was asked to comment on piskei halacha in which rabbonim ruled that one who has internet connectivity may not be a בעל תוקע on Rosh Hashanah. The rav responded that one must question if such a person is even counted among Yidden categorized as shomrei Torah.
The rav made no dispensation for those requiring internet for employment, including women working with computers, warning all to distance themselves from this danger.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Confused. Are we not reading this on the Internet?
ywn constantly brings us updates on the gedoilims views on the internet but their site which is full of lashon hara rechilus letzonos and kefira is still going!
Rabbosai! Gedolei Yisroel — one after another — are painfully repeating this same message! How much more must they and we bear — and how much more suffering and destructin must Klal Yisroel see — before we heed the holy words of our Giants who see what we do not?
Clearly such a person is not a shomer Torah u’mitzvos. Our Gedolim, in their great wisdom have ruled that the Internet is assur. Therefore one who has it voluntarily puts himself outside klal yisroel. Would you dream of allowing one who is mechalel shabbos blow shofar? What is the difference between a mechalel shabbos and one who is mechalel sheim shomayim every day of the week?
Are you suggesting that going online is being mechalel sheim shamayim??
And why are you all preaching whilst typing?
In Har Nof Rabbi Mordechai Yiztchak Rubin addressed one particular issue in his shabbat shuva derasha. He said we can’t allow kids to have ANY access to unfiltered internet. He wasn’t saying that anyone can use filtered internet, but specifically that even if you allow kids access (which isn’t a good idea), allowing them unfiltered internet absolutely irresponsible.