New York – Op-Ed: A Response To Ichud Hakehillos And The Upcoming Internet Convention At Citi Field

    305

    New York – This article is in response to the upcoming convention at Citi Field. (reported on Mar 14 2012 by VIN)

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    It’s beautiful to see such an effort being made amongst our Rabbanim regarding an issue that is finally being taken seriously. It’s also great that we have finally realized the futility in banning something that was inevitably going to be a part of our lives.

    Our sages taught us long ago “ Ein gozrin gezeirah she’ein hatzibbur yecholim la’amod bo.“ (Halachic deciders should not promulgate an edict if most of the population will not follow the edict). The reason for this principle is simple; the general population will start to lose respect for authority. And while it’s 15 years too late, the past is the past and all we can do is learn from it. But learn from it we must!

    This huge problem certainly needs a huge solution, but I’m terribly afraid we are heading for a huge disappointment. If what I read in the pamphlets is true and our huge solution is filtering, then we have learned nothing from the past.

    Filters sound good and make us feel good, but they are completely ineffective. A filter is only as effective as much as the person using it wants to be filtered. And while it’s a great way to stop pop-ups and inappropriate web-pages, it is irrelevant to the issue we are facing. I will be brief as to why filters don’t work by highlighting some facts people may be unaware of.

    TECHNOLOGICALLY– The Internet by design was created not to be filtered. By designing it as a web, no matter how much you try you can’t control the information. Look at the middle east countries where dictators were brought down by social networking. Of course they tried everything in their power to pull the plugs, but the Internet can’t be controlled. The MPAA tried to stop peer-to-peer file sharing and was never successful. The internet was designed in the 1960’s using a system called packet switching so that traffic can always reroute itself, which makes censorship almost impossible.

    PASSWORD – When I was just 17 and the web was first starting to explode my father was visited by one of the first “filter companies”. They wanted his haskama. During the demonstration my father asked me what I thought. I sat down at the computer and with a few clicks bypassed the filter. My father told them to come back when my child can’t disable the filter. They never came back. I wasn’t a computer genius and you don’t have to be one. Any child can learn to break even the most sophisticated password protection. All you need is for one person to figure it out and within seconds all his friends will too. And for those without friends they can google it. Monitoring software can be disabled just as easily. So can the “chavrusa system”. Don’t be fooled by the companies trying to sell you their products.

    WIFI. Free unfiltered wireless internet is available almost anywhere you go. The current goal is to have wifi available free over the entire USA, as it is already in some cities. Any filter you have at home is irrelevant. Almost every new electronic device has wifi capability. And trying to password protect every one of them is an unrealistic goal.

    I remember when some US senator came up with the idea to make inappropriate sites have a button that says “Click here if you are over 18”. He should be awarded the nobel prize for that brilliant idea!

    Filtering and monitoring are necessary, and they work well in schools and public places, but if the point of this convention is about filters, then call it an expo and make it at the Jacob Javitz Center. Its time we deal with the new realities of the day and we therefore must look for real solutions.

    Fortunately there are huge solutions but they take more effort than buying a $100 filter. It takes dedication and lots of time. The good news is, there are Rebbeyim and teachers that are willing to do it. We have B”H in our day a young generation of talent that is eager to help, but they need proper direction.

    So, while Filters are important and sound great, I give it an F. An F because it will Fail us and an F because it will Fool us into thinking we solved our problems.

    The real solutions all start with an E and they have an Excellent track record.

    Education, Excitement, Entertainment, Endearment, Exposure, Expression, Embracement and Enjoyment!

    Education – We need to educate our children by teaching them why our Jewish values are superior to the values they see outside (or now, online). We need to teach them how to handle challenges that come their way and stop making believe it doesn’t happen. Life is about making choices and we need to teach our children how to how to choose wisely, including on the Internet. When a Rebbi or teacher is unable to acknowledge that his class is using the Internet, he can’t have a discussion about it. When social networking is not allowed, how do you teach online privacy and safety.

    Excitement – We need to make our schools more exciting. There are countless organizations that are using technology to make yiddishkeit more engaging and fun; from interactive jewish learning to smart-boards in the classrooms. With the vast information available on kosher websites, there is so much useful and helpful content for everyone to make use of today.

    Entertainment – We need to bring kosher entertainment back to our youth. Concerts, rallies, and overnight trips should be encouraged not banned. Yes, they may learn less now, but in the long run we will have children who love to be Jewish.

    Endearment – We need EVERY child feel wanted, both by his family and school. We need to get rid of names like “kids at risk” and “off the derech”. All of us are at risk and we should never judge others as off the derech. Every parent is told never to call their child “bad” because then they will then act bad. Same with these labels, they accomplish nothing. No child wants to go to an “at risk school”. Rebbeyim should treat every child as at risk. Schools and parents have to accept every child no matter what level of religiosity they’re at. Never should we make a child feel unwanted because it will cause shame to the rest of the family or because it will give the school a bad reputation.

    Exposure – In the words of Rav Hirsch, If you keep a child indoors all the time then the first time he goes outdoors he will catch a cold. Instead we must expose them as youngsters so that when they get older and leave the home and face the outside world they will be prepared.

    Expression – we must allow our children to express themselves. That means they can ask any questions they have. They should decide the topic of the day and we should listen to what they feel. No student should feel guilty for asking something that’s bothering them. Just as a therapist always asks “tell me how YOU feel about it” we should do the same in the classrooms.

    Embracement– we need to embrace technology because that’s our connection to the younger generation. This is the way they communicates and it’s not going to change. When you mock texting, you mock them. When you ban facebook you’re banning them and your distancing yourself from their world. As one teenager told me; “ I’m not addicted to my cellphone or facebook, I’m addicted to my friends,” and who of us isn’t?

    Enjoyment – Lastly, we need to make sure our children find enjoyment as being Jewish. Better that we have less tests and let the children have more fun, rather then have them think Judaism is boring and undesirable. Because those who don’t find enjoyment in being Jewish will either leave the fold or stay Jewish but resentful inside, which may even be worse.

    We need to remember the words of Chazal “Chanoch Lena’ar al Pi Darko”. This R’ Hirsch says is the golden rule of education of which the Torah requires of us. We have to evaluate each child and see where his/her strengths are and then equip and train them early for that which they will practice when they have outgrown our guidance. Whether it’s the path we envisioned for them or not, we shouldn’t focus on changing our kids but working with them. Read the words carefully “teach them according to their future path” not ours!

    I once asked my father why they keep banning all Jewish events, and he told me, because it’s the easy way out. Blaming is also easy. Parents blame the schools and the schools blame the parents. We blame our kids friends and we blame our neighbors. Now we found something new to blame, technology, and it cant even defend itself! In a recent book entitled “Off the Derech” Faranak Margolese interviews many teens as to why they went off the Derech. The three main reasons she found was, a lack of positive feelings, unanswered questions about Jewish beliefs and the ability for our children to develop their unique emotional and religious potential. Technology did not even make it on the list. Sure, the internet can be used as a tool for those looking to get away but so can everything. By blaming technology loose focus, we should aim to fix the source of the problem.

    We can keep trying to shelter our kids more and more until we suffocate them or we can choose to teach them how to live as a frum Jew in the new millennium. It takes work and dedication to find real solutions, but if we don’t, we might as well start preparing for the 2nd convention in five years from now, where I’m sure a new updated filter will be announced!

    Dovid Teitelbaum is the son of noted Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum Z’l, Dovid is the Director Camp Sdei Chemed International.

    reprinted with permission from Dovid’s blog here


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    305 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    11 years ago

    Finally, someone has the brains to post this. Well written.

    ShmutzVesh
    ShmutzVesh
    11 years ago

    Dovid! Exellent article! You are right on target as usual! I am personally appalled as to what people today are banning and assuring etc etc.. A child will never learn to hold back his bad desires unless he doesit on his own. We need to direct them in the right direction, let them realize things on their own. Forcing our children to do things will never work in the long run. You cant force a child to love yiddishkeit, he has to love yiddishkeit!! Same with the internet, a person must on his own decide that he will refrain from doing bad things because , true, they might not be doing it now, but just wait until they are able to do it on their own…. you will see what happens!!

    maxedout
    maxedout
    11 years ago

    While I agree with you 100%, the rabbanim will never agree. They want to be able to be in total control over of all us. With proper use of internet comes knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the more you realize just how inept the rabbanim really are. They may be talmidei chachomim, but they lack any decent leadership skills.

    Berel13
    Berel13
    11 years ago

    Radica thought: gezera the same way we treat tref meat, tref movies and tref magazines – do not look at the inapproprite sites but other uses are OK. Learn some self- control. Do not overdo everything. Immunize. lewarn from Prohibition – when you make everything assur it becomes even more attractive.

    11 years ago

    Its no mystery. Banning anything, whether it be drugs, alchohol, or r’l the internet, will be a total failure and those who engage in such efforts are captive to their own ignorance. The rabbonim who signed a kol koreh and tried to ban the internet in EY are now the subject of ridicule even among their own followers. Its time to grasp technology and enormous potential for positive outcomes rather than trying to live in a dark cave and hold back the light.

    schmaltzy
    schmaltzy
    11 years ago

    Brilliant! The importance of this article goes way beyond the Assifa. It is a masterpiece in outlining what our attitude needs to be with chinuch today. If the Assifa inspired this article, it was worth it just for that. Hopefully all mechanchim will see to it that this article is pinned to their office wall. Kol Hakavod to Dovid Teitelbaum. May it be a zehus for his much missed father R Eli Teitelbaum and his grandfather R’ Yaakov Teitelbaum Z”L

    Shmeel
    Shmeel
    11 years ago

    If we cant stop the shmutz from coming into out intrenet, then it must be assur. Just like if you cant shecht meat properly then meat is assur. I cant believe that Daas Torah approved such an article like this one that is telling us to expose our yingerlach to this kind of shmutz that can only lead to more precious yidden going off the derech.

    mutti
    mutti
    11 years ago

    great article. but i still think we need to have filters on the net. most kids aren’t going to overide filters and the option of having no-filter is almost an open door to curious teens. therefore, the question remains what filters to use and to what extent?

    11 years ago

    BRAVO!! This covers absolutely everything and is amazingly written. Yasher Koach!

    isaackohn
    isaackohn
    11 years ago

    BRAVO!

    But…This will NEVER be printed by any major Jewish media outlet. After all, the so-called Rabbonim are sacrosanct, untouchable and infalliable.

    Miguel
    Miguel
    11 years ago

    It gives me hope for the future to see an article like this in a mainstream frum website. I hope this is reprinted everywhere. Thank you for making my glass half-full again.

    11 years ago

    #8 . I don&#8 217;t think ha said &#8 220;no filters necessary&#8 221;. He agrees that we need filters, but that isn&#8 217;t the solution. Just having a filter is a band-aid. We need a filter AND education.

    sunshine2
    sunshine2
    11 years ago

    I agree with most of what your saying, I just have a question on one thing,in terms of exposure, how do you just expose a kid to what is happening, Just let him do whatever he wants? (what did you have in mind by that?) Also one thing that I feel should be pointed out more, is that we MUST star to instill a sense of pride, pride to be Jews, pride for our values and pride for who we are, I think that being proud of who we are may be the only hope for all of us to tackle these spectacular times and to stand up to who we are and what we hold is correct.. Thank you for speaking and saying words that everyone else is just scared to say!
    KOL HAKAVOD!

    abeytt03
    abeytt03
    11 years ago

    This is a incredible article, both for it’s content and it’s boldness. Any solution that does not involve education as its man feature is missing the point.

    The Internet is a vital tool, and with proper education and application it can enhance every facet of our great community.

    jacobthejeweler
    jacobthejeweler
    11 years ago

    Congrats on this article! Beautifully written! Im sure more people will read this article here than in fjj anyway! Hatzlacha and keep fighting the good fight!!!

    YidelfromBP
    YidelfromBP
    11 years ago

    Mr. Or Rabbi Teitelbaum!

    I’m giving you a double “E”

    I AgreE and DisagreE

    I AGREE that the current generation most adjust to the current challenges. I’m not sure in what neighborhood you live in but in many neighborhoods it changed and its changing gradually.

    You’re right in the ultra frum community’s its not taking place yet and reason could be because they tent to realize, recognize (or Acknowledge) the problems much latter In the game. Its a huge challenge to restructure the chinuch system! Lots of work (Team Work) needs to be done.

    I DISAGREE with you!

    I think you just have the facts wrong!
    The Kinus is not to talk about installing filters! As you responded to my comment on your Blog!

    All the BP residents received a 6 page pamphlet explaining the Kinus goal very clear as far as I understand.

    The kinus is to be Meoirer the Tzibur about the dangerous of the Internet (and don’t tell me its not) everyone should face it and decide for them self how he wants his children and Doiros to deal with it!

    All they want is the Oilem and the Rabbunim to take the situation dead serious!!

    Of course every community is different (we have different levels in the army as well) they should set their own Rules and standards!

    Harav Solomon is not naive! (You didn’t say that. But in your article you betray him as such) They are writing it very clear: they want to work WITH it and not AGAINST it! Yes there will be kiosks for The Jnet, The Filternet, Yeshiva Net, Etc. Well its a perfect venue to get some customers why not? 
    BTW for some people a simple Jnet Filter on the Blackberry (Costs less then $5.00 a month) can do the job for the persons Yidishkeit

    I truly believe they realize the world has changed and all they want is the chushiva Yiden to understand the severity of it and take the appropriate steps to WORK WITH IT NOT AGAINST IT!!
     
    I can maybe feel your pain and understand where you coming from your are a little 1 track minded, apparently you live in Lakewood and they DO have very strict enforcement rules for the parents with Internet access. And YOU might be forced to obey and that irks you.

    But its not the case in Many community’s
    You replied to my post on your Blog that they write “we can’t live with it” do I need to be a Kindergarten Melamid and explain? Of course “we can’t live with it they way things are now” we need to take drastic measures to change the behavior.

    Thanks,
    Yidel From BP   

    a-simple-jew
    a-simple-jew
    11 years ago

    Yasher Koach Reb Dovid. Finally someone is speaking out on the REAL issues! Mamesh, a breath of freah air.

    yankey
    yankey
    11 years ago

    here is another big problem when you see that they are only concerned about our sins ,and never will you see a positive call for a meeting for example, here are some issues that lots of our oliem suffer, yeshivas, financial stress, housing, and the list goes on and on, and you never hear rabbonim gathering to discuss issues that really bother the himshe olim so the olim feels hey you really don’t don’t care they are here to boost themselves

    DTeitelbaum
    DTeitelbaum
    11 years ago

    This my first time commenting on a blog (or for that matter reading). My views are from seforim and my campers I talk to. I just created this account now because if my name is being used, I feel I need to correct some comments above.

    perhaps
    perhaps
    11 years ago

    Kol Hakavod for your article.

    I think that this whole event is not the brainchild of the Mashgiach Shlita, rather the individuals who own yeshivanet, Jnet and other “Kosher filters” are the main pushers behind this event. My reason: Read the pamphlet that was circulated, a Rav was asked whether it is prudent for a frum yid to have a “yeshivanet” type filter.

    I also find it curious that there is no website for the event or ticket information…

    11 years ago

    Why is this being sdiscussed in a public forum? If anybody has a problem or concern about the upcoming convention, it should be discussed with the rabbonim organizing the event. Reb Dovid writes “that he does not mention any names” what does that have to do with questioning rabbonim and gedolei yisroel who are organizing this event. Secondly, the purpose for having a filter is not for the child bent on cracking the password and getting around it. It is for the innocent child using the web for kosher stuff not to get side tracked. A lock on a house can also be picked and broken into, does that mean we should not lock our houses? All the “e” words which you write about is wonderful, but will not stop the child who is bent on looking at the bad stuff? I don’t get your whole piece!!!!

    OyGevald
    OyGevald
    11 years ago

    Any nay-sayers knocking this article are the ones unrealistic and out of touch, lacking the facts.
    This article has the facts!
    Another issue is, some of the best or biggest Rabbonim who endorse the Asifa & past concepts – running the gamut of Chasunah Takonos or Concert bans, have exempted themselves from adhering to the so-called “Rules”. Some have adhered but can’t stop their children from making Simchas that way. Some adhere along with their families but yet attend others Simchas that clearly don’t abide by the “Rules”, and that showed that “rules were not for US, only for YOU”. When that happens, it’s doomed to failure!
    I challenge the Asifa coordinators to announce that every Shul Rav & “Rebbe” must abandon his (non-kosher) phone ALONG WITH HIS CHILDRENS, REGARDLESS OF AGE, followed by any non-“business man” as part of the organization, (Gabbai, Baal Koreh, Miveh Yid etc.). Between me & you, we all know it ain’t gonna happen. No Rav or “Rebbe” can know whether his married sons have Text-cababilities or online access & how much he uses it. There is nothing any current leader in Klall Yisroel can do short of ostracizing their followers or supporters. As such, it is doomed to fail. But hey, maybe this article will be the main drag of the Asifa now! Hopefully it will.
    Thank you R’ Dovid.

    11 years ago

    You take my breath away! Ashrei yeladeto!

    CommonSense
    CommonSense
    11 years ago

    I agree with what you’re saying in regards to those that get pulled into the apkorsus of the internet.
    However in regards to pornography and illicit desires..education excitement and all that good stuff will not help one iota.
    When people want something bad enough they will rationalize and somehow fit it into their lives. I know I used to be drawn into this shmutz 20 minutes after the most spiritual shabbos or yom tov.
    The only thing that has proven effective is Covenant Eyes.
    I havent figured out a way around it..and I’ve tried.

    11 years ago

    This article misses one major point. It’s not just the youth that are at risk. Many adults need help and too many are addicted. For them it’s too late for education. They need practical solutions. Though I’m pretty sure regular filtering is not the answer.

    11 years ago

    Let’s utilize this asifa as an honest discussion about all the above. We should all be brainstorming together openly and hopefully we can come up with the right solutions…

    a-simple-jew
    a-simple-jew
    11 years ago

    This article is billed as a “response to the upcoming convention at Citi Field.” Yet the major thrust of the article appears to be a critique of our current chinuch system. The article points out the shortcomings and failures of the system to address the needs of ALL of our children, and it offers many valuable suggestions as to how to fix the system. The bottom line is that unhappy, unsuccessful and unfulfilled children (and adults) are much more likely to go to the wrong places on the internet. Children (and adults) who are happy, successful, and find fulfillment in life (and their Yiddishkeit) don’t need it and won’t look for it. All the filtering in the world is nothing more than a feeble attempt to attack the symptoms of the problem and not the root causes.

    11 years ago

    If the purpose of a filter is to prevent one’s self from straying, it may be adequate. If the purpose is to hide the real world from your children, it is as effective as damming the Mississippi with a twig.

    The truth is that it’s very hard to come across “indecent” material unless one is seeking it out, or is seeking out material often associated with indecency. (e.g. looking for illegal software will usually present pornographic material.) The best way to avoid it on the Internet is the same way one avoids it in the real world: don’t look for it. You don’t take your children into strip clubs or to (nude) beaches. Teach them not to look for such things on the Internet, and they won’t find it.

    Also of importance is how we deal with a situation in which a child comes across such material, whether on purpose or not. Looking at such things is assur. Of that, there is no question. However, it’s a Lav. There’s no Kores or Missas Beis Din for it. We have to teach our children why it’s wrong, but without stifling their natural curiosity. That just plain doesn’t work.

    thechief
    thechief
    11 years ago

    I mark the E with an F not because DT is wrong it is theoretically,beautiful,but you,he and i know it ain’t going to happen.

    a-simple-jew
    a-simple-jew
    11 years ago

    PS – Please don’t get me wrong. I’m 100% in favor of filtering and all other types of safeguards that are proven to be effective. It’s an absolute necessity for every Torah Jew using the Internet today. But that, in my opinion, is not the real issue at hand.

    myownopinion
    myownopinion
    11 years ago

    Yasher koach R Dovid.
    I’d like to add a point. yeshivos not accepting kids, thus making them feel like they don’t belong. They are betrayed by everyone they were told their whole life to trust rosh yeshivas, menahlim, rabbonim. When they see the elites of klal ysroel behaving in a selfish way, they lose all the trust in them and unfortunately in the whole yidishkeit.

    se613
    se613
    11 years ago

    Dovid,

    Why did chazal make a prohibition of yichud didn’t they know about all these EEEEs?????

    MyHumbleOpinion
    MyHumbleOpinion
    11 years ago

    Kudos to Rabbi Teitelbaum!
    So far the best (and most sensible/realistic) article that i ever saw written on this subject by anybody with the title Rabbi. To date

    Miguel
    Miguel
    11 years ago

    How is this issue different than any other challenge that has arisen in the past to challenge our ideals? Why is there this accepted idea of an across-the-board solution? Let every parent deal with the challenges to their chinuch in their own way, the same way they have to deal with any other issue. Every child will react differently to a filter, just like they react differently to everything else in life. I find that in many areas of frum life we try to find solutions that will work for everyone. There is no such thing.

    noahz6
    noahz6
    11 years ago

    this is our last bullet, to make a mega asifa , if we use it on this which will not succeed we are left without any ammunition. its not rabbunim its askunim, some vigilanties that love the power and control and wont give up for common sense.

    se613
    se613
    11 years ago

    R’ Dovid
    Why did chazal say that if one has two ways to go and he chooses to go in the direction where there is pritzus even if he doesn’t look he is a RASHA! They could have just educated them with all your EEEs and they will be fine!!! Additionally chazal sau harchek min hakiyur. We are obligated by the torah to make gedorim (fences) that should us back from sin!!

    MINBP
    MINBP
    11 years ago

    Can we PLEASE have a like button ?

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    11 years ago

    Its the obligation of the Gedoyle Hador and Rabunim to alert the public to any danger to yiddishkyte and make Takunes and Eseerem,Gedurim,Vesugim…
    When the Gedoyle Hador put an Isser on anything we need to listen what they have to say…When Satmere Rebbe z”l put an isser on television and NO member was accepted in his Kehilla who possesed a TV….He had the super power with his koac of Kedishe to enforce it. Today we DO NOT have those heilige tzedikim but we still have gedoyle hador who will try to work with this major chorben which is destroying rch”l a big percentage of our new generation..Lets NOT try to disagree with them lets work with the problem and in the zechis of tefilles tzibir i am sure hashem will listen to every tefilleh and evrery participant should be better only one percent it was all worth it….I am not saying here shovovim torahs but we all know that some thing has to change..We are LOST in the forest and need a WAY out….

    Yirah
    Yirah
    11 years ago

    The reason an ehrlicha Jewish man doesn’t intentionally look at passing women on our streets (even those who are dressed modestly) is because he fears Heavenly retribution or because he is so impressed with the Creator that he can’t bring himself to violate his Will. If he is nichshal on occasion, he will do teshuva and clean himself up. Woman also need yiras shomayim to remain ehrlich, by the way.And by the way, dressing in black and white does nothing to create yiras shomayim. The same facts hold true on the Internet.

    The whole discussion here is what to do if one has no yiras shomayim or has only intermittant yiras shomayim. It is sad to openly admit that many of us have no yiras shomayim.

    It’s sad that we have a tendency to shoot the messenger and I fear for the author. May his yiras shomayim be a zchus for him and his family.

    se613
    se613
    11 years ago

    Dovid
    You may be right that threre are ways to get around a filter but for the vast majority of ehrliche yiden that are not looking to get around it a filter is very effective. Please do not respond that a these people do not need filters because if all the filth is so readily accessible even the most ehrliche person can have a weak moment and trasgress aveiros chamooros or worse. This things are facts that I know from my own experience. How dare you undermine the neeed for filters. Dont say that you didn’t undermine it because you are very clearly mocking the asifah which has that very clear cut goal in mind. Your ideas maybe good ones and they should be explored but they have nothing to do with the URGENCY and importance of a filter for every computer and every smartphone that a frum yid ownes. The mashgiach shlita has at leat as much brains and experience as you. and btw he is behind the asifah not jnet.

    se613
    se613
    11 years ago

    Dovid,
    Don’t we daven every day al teveainoo lo leeyedei nisayon. Which means that although you are correct that we have to educate our children about the beauty of yiddishkeit we are still not guaranteed that any of us can withstand a nisayon and that is why gedolai yisroel are obligating everyone to get a filter on their computer and iphone because we are obligated to minimize the nisoyon as much as possible.
    btw K9 is a filter that protects the computer so even in a wifi area you are protected.
    To all those saying that the gedolai yisroel are not the ones behind this asifah that is a filthy lie!!! The mashgiach shlita and the skulener rebbe shlita (who know and share the pain of klal yisroel from the hundreds if not thousands of people that come to them constantly) are solidly front right and center of this entire project. If anyone wants to take on these gedolai yisroel whose only concern is the future of klal yisroel let him stand up, don’t put forth lies to further your agenda.

    rationalman
    rationalman
    11 years ago

    i knew your father well….er shept nachas….to think out of the box, you first must think….

    berelw
    berelw
    11 years ago

    internet is here to stay…this convention will just be for naught. regarding rabbonim i lost my respect for rabbonim, with the whole lips fiasco. it made me see something i never saw before. im sure this convention will do the same for many. missed the train off target. perhaps get the klal to add in torah ahvas yisroel middos tovas be busy with kedosha will correct peoples weaknesses

    satmarkj
    satmarkj
    11 years ago

    This is all a cover up from the rabbi they deal with this problem the same way they deal with all the other problems which is make a big fuss about something that’s not the real problem so popel will look away from the real problem
    As long as 100’s of boys are on the streets and not excepted in yeshivas and small kids are not being excepted in schools only beaches

    satmarkj
    satmarkj
    11 years ago

    As long as 100’s of boys are out of a yashivas and small kids are not being excepted is schools for no good reason this problem will never go away. You tell a 15 year old boy that just got thrown out of his yashiva for just not being blessed with the best head not to use the internet!!!! Or tell parents that have a house full of kids that have to move only bc the school decided that from now on they want to become an elite school and let anyone that doesn’t meet there standards find a new place tell those parents that rabunim don’t let internet bc that’s the answer to all the problems and as soon as you put a filter your kids will magically have a school

    11 years ago

    Reb Dovid, your father was my sons’ Rebbe at YTT and he certainly espoused those views you mentioned. While most Rebbeim were intent on drilling boys on Chumash and mishnayos your father was intent on giving the boys a love for Yiddishkeit.

    Yaakov2
    Yaakov2
    11 years ago

    As long as kids see that the adults whom they are told to respect, cut corners themselves, in Yiddishkeit, cover up on Molesters in Yeshivos and keep getting arrested for Money issues and no one ever criticizes these “leaders” – how can any child ever have any respect for Yidishkeit???

    His Father was very “noted”, indeed but did we forget so fast, that this “whistle blower” who blew the whistle on so many important matters in Yidishkeit, was completely silent on the ‘Rabbi Kolko issue’, although they both taught in the very same Yeshiva, for many decades and everyone knew what was going on but no one had the guts to “talk”.

    Kids are not stupid and when they see people who are supposed to “teach them right form wrong” yet are silent on matters where they have a vested interest to cover it up, the kids loose all respect for all Yidishkeit.

    OscarMadison
    OscarMadison
    11 years ago

    When the rabbonim banned television, they were right. It’s a government brainwashing device that serves no useful purpose whatsoever. That’s why the ban held; it made actual sense and was absolutely the correct thing to do. Many non-Jewish parents also prohibit TV in their home. World leaders and other elites don’t watch TV either.

    The Internet is communication, networking, the externalization of human knowledge. Unlike TV, one contributes to and interacts with the Internet. It’s actual interaction as opposed to TV which is just brainwashing.

    However, when a “gadol” says I lose olam haba for watching Seinfeld I have to laugh at that…

    sane
    sane
    11 years ago

    The fact is that there has always been a tension in Yiddishkeit between “entertainment” or “down time” and the maxim that dictates that not a second ought to be wasted. In Yeshiva we are taught of the Gedolim who never wasted a second of their time and that we are to emulate them. Yet, we appear to need outlets such as concerts, sports and etc. This conflict appears unresolved. Is Yiddishkeit supposed to be one big uncle moishy concert?

    kayboy
    kayboy
    11 years ago

    The point of filtering isn’t to not let your kids know what’s out there rather its like a law while it will be broken the general public will try not to.
    Also the point of the asifa isn’t to assur the internet rather to come together as a klal saying that “we as a group accept upon ourselves to use the internet for kosher purposes only, and all those that don’t put themselves into a situation where they won’t expose themselves or their family to all the shmutz on the web are second class citizens”.