Mekubal Rabbi Binayahu Shmueli Shlita has come out against iPhones and other smart phones, stating one who has a phone connected to the internet cannot be counted in a minyan.
Rav Shmueli, Rosh Yeshivas Nahar Shalom in Yerushalayim, spoke on Monday night the eve of 10 Teves to Kol Berama Radio about the ongoing wave of Islamic terror in Israel that began erev Rosh Hashanah 5776.
Rav Binayahu explained that HKBH is trying to awaken us and if chas v’sholom we do not get the message; the situation will become more difficult.
The rav addressed the matter of smart phones, stating a person with such a phone must not be counted for minyan. “The internet brings cancer. The smart phones and the internet are among the more difficult issues of this generation. A person must remove them from his life and his home” the rav explained.
Rav Binayahu stated HaGaon HaRav Wosner ZT”L gave the same psak halacha as have other gedolei yisrael. The rav lamented that entire lives have been destroyed as a result of the internet.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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13 Responses
I use the internet for downloading shiurim and for commenting on Yeshiva World News!
I’m reading through the 10 commandments and can’t seem to find this law
When i hear them turning away money from people who have these devices then I can respect it. Otherwise its a man making up his own torah.
“entire lives have been destroyed as a result of …” alcoholism … yet we still make Kiddush!
“A person must remove [smart phones and the internet] from his life and his home”
A little more realism and imagination from our Chosheva Rabbonim Shlita would be productive and worthwhile. Sentiments like those expressed in this article aren’t.
interesting, so all of us who read YwN are not allowed to daven with a minyan?
Can someone explain halachakly why this is true? I Know the rabbanim giving this psak are great people, but it makes no sense! what about people who speak lashon hara, eat vegetables without washing them, and cheat in bussiness? Which Averos make the cut? Also why does having a smartphone make someone a sinner? Does this also apply to computers? Also are there differing opinions on this matter?
Are Rebbes allowed to accept donations from smartphone owners?
does he understand that smartphones are used in business all the time. at my office, we rarely see customers. everything is emailed. so should we close down? my opinion, he is looking to get his name in the news. problem is, he is doing it the wrong way.
Many charedi Israelis rely on the money from rich American balabatim. where do the balabatim make most of their money! You guessed it! This was posted from my iPhone which has a filter
I’ll write the tenth comment on this article, but none of us count because we are on the Internet
Does it matter if it’s filtered?
Oy vey!
I have my weekday Siddur loaded on to my I-Phone.
What should I do?
I think I shall just go behind the Mechitza and cry.
The people there don’t count either.
Actually this is great – now every Agunah who got married in the last ten years can get their wedding annulled because the witnesses owned smartphones and therefore were not kosher eidim.