Chacham Ovadia Yosef Shlita & leading Sefardi Rabbonim urged yeshiva students to avoid electronic and cellular devices that allow watching movies or surfing the internet, Ynet reports
In notice published on Thursday, the Rabbonim claimed these were “street debauchedness” that must be rejected in favor of the yeshiva and studying at the seminary.
“We heard of small, new devices that let you watch movies and surf the internet, heaven forbid, and reach all sorts of foul places – in one instant a man can stumble and fall, heaven forbid, to the bottom of the pit,” read the notice.
“Therefore,” the rabbis added, “We urge to keep as far away from these dangerous devices as possible, keep restraint and beware.”
The heads of the esteemed Sephardic yeshivas and members of Shas Party’s Council of Torah Sages called on the “charming young men” to be strengthened by the Torah and devote every free moment to study it “with desire and joy.”
The rabbis noted that this message is especially important in days when “we hear about daily disasters that are hard to contain”, and stressed that the Torah protects and rescues its followers.
The rabbis further warned that nowadays, the streets are flooded with both new and old debaucheries that may prevent a person from devoting himself entirely to the study of the Torah, which may lead to a slippery slope.
In their notice, the rabbis recommended the students to keep practicing the Torah diligently, and remember that it is the Torah that serves as the best advocate ahead of the Day of Judgment.
(Source: Ynet)
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17 Responses
Sounds like a good idea.
– Sent from my iPhone
I think the title is a little incorrect. I think that the loshon that Chacham Ovadia used was more along the side of “urge” vis-a-vis ban. Han denotes that it is something that is “asur” to have. Rather, he suggests that we all go back to studying Torah and it should keep us occupied and happy.
Plural of PDA is PDAs, not PDA’s.
PDAs=More than one PDA
PDA’s=PDA is, or, belonging to the PDA
Banning the technology never works. Better is to direct it to productive usage.
RavBaruch, actually, the original poster is correct. ‘s indicates the plural of letters and numbers.
According to the text of the article (unlike your sensationalist headline), he banned nothing. He said that students should leave their toys at home and stick to their studies. So where’s the hiddush in that?
ELL, no. An apostrophe never indicated plural of a word. It’s CDs not CD’s.
EMTs work on an ambulance. Not EMT’s.
Shall I go on?
In the article, R’ Ovadia is repeatedly quoted as “urging” people not to use electronics that can get internet/movies. However, I do not see the word “ban” or “assur” anywhere.
Also, PDA is a term usually reserved for palm pilots and personal organizers, not to the type of electronic referred to here.
RavBaruch –
You are technically correct, although apostrophes denoting pluralism of acronyms has been used for a long time, and apparently still exists in some style guides.
You are incorrect in stating that ” An apostrophe never indicated plural of a word.” In the case of acronyms, it has been used for a long time, even though it is now out of favor.
For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym_and_initialism#Representing_plurals_and_possessives
Just a Jew: watch your tone, you are talking about a Gadol!!!!!
#10 sephardicpride
I have no idea what you’re talking about. And please turn off your Internet or use it only for work. It’s assur, as per many a Gadol.
– Sent from my iPhone
justajew, you actually quoted wikipedia? The encyclopedia of mob truth. You could have just put in that right now. No, an apostrophe *never* indicates plural. The editors of this so-called news site ought to know this.
justajew and RavBaruch, you have better things to do than argue about English grammar?
I don’t know why yeshiva bachurim need anything but perhaps a regular phone.
I heard b’shaim R’ M Wolfson, someone who has a cell/pda, it’s a shaila if he can say shelo asani aved…
#12 RavBaruch
Don’t like WP? Here’s another source for you:
http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/keyto.htm
I would link directly to the Chicago Manual of Style, but it’s a subscription site.
Key quote:
“To avoid confusion, lowercase letters and abbreviations with two or more interior periods or with both capital and lowercase letters form the plural with an apostrophe and an s” (7.16). Example: M.A.’s and Ph.D.’s or MAs and PhD’s (both are correct); x’s and y’s, p’s and q’s.”
#13 Your Sister
Perhaps you meant “…*don’t* you have better things” ? 🙂
Justajew: sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you have a chip. Don’t freak out, its going to be okay.Just daven hard, try not to follow any blogs so closely, and try to think of the true meaning of ahavat yisrael. Also remember that we are Jewish, and love you.
sephardicpride:
Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but I live a wonderful happy live, and have no chip (on my shoulder or elsewhere).
I’m not the one telling other people how to act, you are.
I’m not “freaking out” and writing 5 exclamation points after sentences, you are.
I suggest YOU “daven hard” for a sense of humor, as you obviously missed in in my first comment.