Askanim from the Vaad Tikshoret (Communications Committee) are working with talmidim from Yeshivas Chevron towards developing and certifying a special kosher cellular telephone that would be deemed acceptable by roshei yeshiva.
A number of months ago a number of talmidim realized the kosher phones could be opened with relative ease, leading to kenos during which rabbonim addressed the troublesome realization and the need for a more reliable kosher phone that is blocked to unwanted content that does not permit bypassing the safeguards.
Efforts are underway to develop an acceptable phone that will include a camera and media player as askanim explain the issue was that some of the video content was unacceptable, but a camera, not a movie camera, appears acceptable.
The askanim negotiated with various companies in the hope of persuading them to develop a phone that would meet their criteria, in line with the limitation set forth by Gedolei Yisrael Shlita. Kikar Shabbos News adds that in recent weeks the askanim appear close to finalizing a deal on such a phone and they are meeting with the appropriate rabbonim to receive final approval.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Which basically means butchering android AOSP.Apps are the biggest issue though…
Maybe they should have a custom signing process for kosher apps =P.
Just curious…
Who exactly are these “askanim”?
And who are these “Gedolei Yisrael Shlita”?
I haven’t seen even one name yet.
This is all made to sound terribly positive as though the bochurim at Hevron are working with or for the Vaad Tikshoret. In fact what the situation is, is that the Hevron bochurim came out with their own semi kosher phone because they wanted a phone that would allow them to take pictures and see video. The Vaad and the Gedolei Yisroel Shlita realized that if Hevron bochurim were allowed to get away with this, so would others. They have therefore panicked and are trying to make it look as though everyone is working together in this. As #2 asks though, who are the “askanim” and the Gedolei Yisroel Shlita in this. He might have also asked which of the askanim have a conflict of interest, i.e. they make money from selling phones and telecommunications services. And which of the Gedolei Yisroel Shlita find money from the askanim’s profits channeled to them as nesinos [without tax deducted at source or paid afterwards].