New York – Wall Street Journal: Stadium Seating For Internet Morals; Speakers Will Recommend Jews To Block Social-Media

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    New York – A group of ultra-Orthodox Jews have rented out Citi Field for a meeting later this month intended to draw thousands of men to discuss the dangers of the Internet and formulate a communitywide response.

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    The event, set for May 20, has been publicized internationally within the Orthodox Jewish press and tapped into a world-wide debate over how to reconcile modern life with the Internet’s perceived moral dangers.

    It is a concern that transcends the Orthodox community, organizers note.

    “We’re hoping to come together as a unified community to address a challenge that in the last number of years has begun dawning not just on our community and the larger Jewish community but society as a whole,” said Eytan Kobre, 52 years old, a spokesman for the event who is also the North American editor for an Orthodox magazine, Mispacha.

    “Hopefully we’ll fill the role that the Jewish people have tried to fill from time memorial, which is serving as a beacon to the world and as a force for the transformation of the good in society,” he said, adding that the event has already had sold out the 42,000-seat stadium.

    But the meeting, which some published reports have estimated will cost nearly $2 million, has drawn a series of sharp attacks—for its men-only policy, for instance, and for its cost, criticized as extravagant at a time when many families are struggling.

    The Hasidic rabbis wanted women to attend, but “logistics did not permit for it,” said Mr. Kobre, noting that in this community “a religious gathering of this nature is gender-separated.”

    A live video-feed will be streamed to six locations around the metropolitan area for women to watch, he said.

    Other critics say the event is a smokescreen for religious leaders seeking to consolidate control over their congregations by limiting access to outside information.

    A counterprotest—dubbed “The Internet Is Not the Problem” and expected to draw hundreds—is scheduled for across the street from the stadium event. It accuses Jewish leadership of scapegoating the Internet while avoiding a more pressing problem: child abuse.

    “You can spend all the time and money protesting the Internet and you can’t get worked up about child molestation?” said Ari Mandel, who said he left the ultra-Orthodox community about six years ago, joined the Army and recently returned to civilian life.

    Mr. Mandel, 29 years old, organized the counterprotest after learning last week that a young family member had been molested. “We were outraged,” he said. He is mobilizing supporters through a website and Facebook page for the protest.

    Organizers said they were disappointed to learn of the counterprotest.

    “Whether it’s a legitimate issue or not, and I’m willing to posit that it is a legitimate issue, are they really going to make progress on it by holding a counterrally?” Mr. Kobre said. “It seems like a cheap political circus. It’s sad. It’s unfortunate.”

    Organizers stressed that the intent of the Citi Field event wasn’t to ban the Internet but to promote its responsible use. Speakers will be recommending that all Orthodox families install filters on their computers, and block out all social-media sites including Facebook and Twitter, said Mr. Kobre.

    He cited recent reports in mainstream newspapers and magazines depicting families of all faiths grappling with the issue, particularly how to speak to children about Internet pornography. “I expect that any member of society in good standing would be pained by that sort of thing,” he said.

    Still, he acknowledged that Orthodox standards could well exceed secular ones: He included People Magazine as an example of a website for recommended filtering.

    The event at Citi Field isn’t the first time the ultra-Orthodox community has grappled with the Internet.

    Earlier attempts by Orthodox religious leaders to ban the Internet in congregants’ households have largely failed, many said. But efforts to restrict it continue, including contracts at some religious schools requiring parents to promise that their children won’t be allowed Internet access, under threat of expulsion.

    Accusations have surfaced that some schools are requiring male students and their fathers to purchase the $10 tickets and attend the Citi Field event.

    “That’s kind of coercive,” said Dr. Michael Salamon, an Orthodox psychologist on Long Island. “What we’re getting is a lot of arm-twisting.”

    Akiva Marks, a 47-year-old software designer who moved to Israel from New Jersey several years ago, said he considers himself ultra-Orthodox and wasn’t unaware of the dangers posed by certain websites. He recalled helping his 8-year-old daughter with a research project on the presidency and typed in whitehouse.com instead of ‘.gov.’

    “I quickly shut down the browser,” he said.

    But several years later when he was required to sign a school contract stating that his daughter would have no access to the Internet, “she thought it was ridiculous,” he said.

    He praised the goal of the conference but questioned whether it would be successful. “I think that it’s become more and more indispensable to most peoples’ daily lives,” said

    “The community needs to be educated and understand the things to avoid,” he said. “But I think that those who are organizing it don’t bring the right skills to do that and by trying to solve the problem without the right skills they’ll alienate those who need a solution.”

    He noted that as a result of medical advances in recent years, the most respected Jewish scholars can live to be up to 90 years old. “We benefit greatly from maintaining their wisdom among us that much longer,” he said. “But it’s a little harder for them to analyze Internet issues.”

    “I think the fears are legitimate, absolutely,” he said. “I just think the approach is wrong.”

    Mr. Kobre said that the organizers are technically savvy, though he did not know who would be speaking at the event.

    Even accepting the meeting at face value, Dr. Salamon said he questioned whether blocking out content was the best solution.

    “You don’t deal with it by talking about pure filtering—you deal with it by teaching about how to deal with what may pop up, even with the best filters,” he said.

    “Pornography has always been out there; marital problems have always been out there,” he continued. “They are not necessarily made worse by technology.”

    Some rabbis said they were initially skeptical of the event, but have become convinced of the organizers’ good intentions.

    “My position on it has evolved a lot,” said Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, 30, who leads a congregation in Venice Beach, Calif., and runs a popular religious blog. Initially he worried that the Citi Field event would reprise earlier efforts to ban the Internet. But after speaking with organizers he became convinced that they were determined to teach people how to use the technology responsibly.

    “I’m hopeful that this event will somehow make the Internet kosher for those who have always felt it’s prohibited,” said Mr. Fink.


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    92 Comments
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    yuppps
    yuppps
    11 years ago

    “he said, adding that the event has already had sold out the 42,000-seat stadium”

    What a joke, they didn’t even sell 10,000!

    bubii
    bubii
    11 years ago

    This gathering is an attempt to retard the progress of humanity we dont need this gigantic gathering it could be told simply what was many many times told to parents to guard their childern from harm this is sheer stupidity.

    11 years ago

    if they can make it to 20k people they will be very happy!

    11 years ago

    Do I have to go, or can I stream it live? Will it be on YouTube later?

    groissechuchum
    groissechuchum
    11 years ago

    I have no idea whats right anymore

    kolemes
    kolemes
    11 years ago

    While the molesting issue is a big problem with no easy solution it has become a rallying cry for all anti frum bigits leading the battle is The “jewish” Week, Forward and NY Times. Its funny how they are using the same playbook the world is using against Israel it goues like this “we don’t hate Israel we are just against settlment” . Same thing here you grab a legitmate problem and you mask it to bash degrade and dehumanize the 99.% that are good frum erliche yidden. The Jewish people were always “blessed” with selfhating jews willing and able to sell their poor brethon down the river.

    UseYourHead
    UseYourHead
    11 years ago

    This cannot properly be called a “discussion” unless the audience gets to participate.

    enlightened-yid
    enlightened-yid
    11 years ago

    This comedian is funny. He said “hopefully Jews will be a beacon to the world and a force of transformation to the good of society.” Someone remind him that the goyim do not look up to hypocritical orthodox-Jewish culture that bans the internet to hide its scandals and to keep their people misinformed; protects its perverts, abusers and molesters at all costs, treats women like indentured servants, and condones white collar crime and scheming against government monies and from anyone who is not their own as long as they don’t get caught. Yes this is indeed this is the beacon of morality.

    hayhay
    hayhay
    11 years ago

    Hay Akiva Marks, Whitehouse.com is not a dirty website. Your stuck at 10 years ago when it was.

    hayhay
    hayhay
    11 years ago

    So there going to talk about Facebook and Twitter? you think they’ll say that we need filters to? And I though the rabonim are not smart.

    musthavegum
    musthavegum
    11 years ago

    yes indeed its true this event is sold out,but you can get tickets true skalpers which is not cheap ,,,,chochem einov beriosho

    MonseyMan
    MonseyMan
    11 years ago

    they are sold out. i have a ticket that i don’t indent to use. anyone want to buy it for $15

    11 years ago

    I have my tickets & can’t wait to go!!!

    amommy
    amommy
    11 years ago

    FYI : I called to purchase tickets and they have no more . So sold out it is !!!

    11 years ago

    Eytan Kobre is super eloquent, I love his articles. He is a lawyer and talmid chacham and a great voice for our community. And he isnt a self-hater insecure apologist, like others.

    MyComment
    MyComment
    11 years ago

    This asifa is nothing more than scapegoat the internet. Instead of focusing on the real issues: kids at risk, OTD, religious apathy, molestation, etc, etc. occurring across all spectrums of ultra-orthodoxy the Rabbis choose to focus on technology. I guess the asifa is a “feel good” outing.

    Amazing the Rabbis admit that the internet is here to stay. They could have known this 15 years ago if only they would have respected their congregants and listened to them. But the Rabbis don’t seem to learn from their errors. Now they are about to ban social media.

    Rabbis, for the sake of people who still respect Rabbis – please please do not ban social media. Its here to stay and it is the mechanism of how people will interact and do business.

    Dr. E
    Dr. E
    11 years ago

    I guess in order to sell out the place, someone paskened that better to have mass Bittul Torah by emptying out the Battei Medrish, than risk the Askanim looking like idiots in a half-filled stadium.

    Dan_Daoust
    Dan_Daoust
    11 years ago

    You don’t gather thousands of people into a baseball stadium in order to explain in a nuanced way the details of how to navigate through the modern world as an observant Jew and use the internet in a responsible way. You gather people in a baseball stadium so you can yell at them, “This is assur!!!” Anyone who thinks the speakers at this event will be more balanced than that are kidding themselves.

    But I’d love to find out I was wrong…

    ConcernedMember
    ConcernedMember
    11 years ago

    I wish there was a way to find out how many tickets were sold that were NOT forced by schools. In other words… how many were purchased willingly by people genuinely interested in attending vs. how many were purchased by people who were told their kids would be tossed out of school if they didn’t attend.

    maxedout
    maxedout
    11 years ago

    i wouldnt go if I had a ticket and limo ride for free. even a helicopter. Im not lubavitch but if it aint good enough for them, then Sir Kotler and his ilk are not good enough for me.

    lbpss
    lbpss
    11 years ago

    I think phones should be banned too.

    11 years ago

    There is no need for scalpers. Tickets have been allocated to synagogues and other such organizations. They will fill all the seats, because if they don’t get enough takers the tickets left are given to yeshivas to bring all their bochurim.

    bfexpress
    bfexpress
    11 years ago

    To have this story and the related counter protest define what Judaism is to the millions that read the NY Times is a huge Chilul Hashem. Yes the internet has many dangerous components. That is true. Not all is bad. Some is very good. That is just as true. They spent $2,000,000 for this gathering? How about setting up professional guidance counselors with professional degrees as well as knowledge of the Frum community and technology to evaluate every kid in our yeshivos? Facebook is a huge problem for kids. You try and block it and they will go elsewhere to log on to it. Treat the addiction professionally. Feed a man a fish, you have fed him for the day. Teach the man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.

    If you are reading this post, you obviously utilize the internet. Chances are, you do your banking on the internet and perhaps save money on some purchases and do much good with the extra coin. To make the problem “the internet” is like boiling the ocean. Filters are a start but far from a solution. You know what our Rabbis probably value a lot? Education. There’s no perfect answer. There never will be. However,internet education (counseling)gives you the best chance.

    Reb Yid
    Reb Yid
    11 years ago

    Will there be simultaneous translation?

    Also, if this event says you can have the internet with a filter, that will be a major step forward.

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

    If Achdus is what’s being called for at the Kinos – where is the Agudah, Young Israel, the OU, Chabad etc etc etc ???

    frimeyid
    frimeyid
    11 years ago

    If you give away tickets…and they have…and you send a bunch to each shul and tell the local representatives to sell, thats not called sold out. This morning I could have bought 50 if I wanted to do so. Some guy in shul was collecting the money for tickets and bus tickets. The Mets also claim to be sold out when there are complete sections empty. It’s an accounting trick. They are sold out of tickets…in their office, but their agents are holding the tickets.

    RebKlemson
    RebKlemson
    11 years ago

    sold out because they blackmailed the yeshiva world to attend. nice going. anyone scalping tickets for this now

    yiddishkind
    yiddishkind
    11 years ago

    They waited too long, but it’s never too late.
    Anyone who browses the Web without a filter and has not encountered pornography is lying. There never has been such challenging times as we are going through. We will do our best to keep the schmuz out of our lives.
    And to all these enlightened Doctors and helpers let them keep out. If they cannot help they shouldn’t wreck.

    11 years ago

    while molesting is a big issue and being ignored….. that’s mainly where the critics start and also ends, i totally agree that molesting is real issue and really needs to be resolved but dont expect to make a ball game convention to address how and what will be done… however internet is a issue applies to all even though i dont agree with them and especially as they never really addressed what their solution is and i dont believe “banned” is not the answer, but we all agree that there is a problem and we are looking for solutions, and yes “a lot molestation is actually related to internet”
    so i will be attending IY”H and hopefully there will be some solutions there, if not than hopefully in the future there will….. the minimum we could do is spending $10 and a few hours of our time

    qazxc
    qazxc
    11 years ago

    Why is the idea of a few rabbonim expressing their opinions regarding the internet getting some people so worked up?

    The idea of a ban on all internet access is history. The idea of unlimited, unsupervised internet access for all people of all ages is likewise dead in the water.

    Therefore, at this point we are really discussing the correct balance between caution and carefree.

    Why are some people offended that some leaders would like their followers to take caution to an extreme? Obviously I haven’t given up my internet access but frankly other people doing so won’t change the taste of my cholent this shabbos.

    On the other hand, when those of my kids who are still young enough to live at home are invited to friends’ houses I do worry about the level of caution the parents exercise in protecting their kids from the dark side of the internet and frankly I am happier when the other parents’ response to my inquiries is that there is no internet access in the home.

    Even with filters and monitoring software and our computer being situated dead center where the screen is visible to all I still ‘tziter’.

    So why all the anger about the asifa?

    11 years ago

    casn someone please explain why we need citifield? why not just make an asifa on 13th avenue? The cause is a good cause but why spend 2 million plus 42,000 people traveling time (at least an hour and a half plus security clearance another half hour)

    11 years ago

    Our kinder are being abused by the hour and this is what they want to focus on? More computers should be accessible, not less, so that the victims can see there is help out there for all of them. This is a real shanda to cut off communications for those who need it the most.

    Weeee
    Weeee
    11 years ago

    There is a way to fix the molesting situation. It’s called the Osterich effect, If you bury your head in the sand it doesnt exsist. Thats what gedloim are doing here by attacking the internet they show the molesting issue is not a big deal

    ayinglefunadorf
    ayinglefunadorf
    11 years ago

    The biggest Chilul Hashem in USA history. Can you imagine this counter protest about child abuse in Orthodox Jewish Homes getting all this publicity.

    RamapoJew
    RamapoJew
    11 years ago

    I am saddened that this event has sold out. I was hoping that the event would be a failure, and that this would be the opportunity for the silent majority to prove that we are free thinking normal people. The fact that 40,000 of our brothers are so easily manipulated does not say much for the future of a once great people.

    11 years ago

    Didn’t Rav Solomon say 10 years ago that the internet is totally Assur unless used for business? Did Daas Torah C”v change its mind?

    Yossi_Schochet
    Yossi_Schochet
    11 years ago

    So the real question…Is Lubavitch invited and if so, are they coming?

    yuppps
    yuppps
    11 years ago

    Guys, Guys, take a deep breath and relax!

    If you need a ticket you’ll have one; there’re over 25,000 tickets left.

    If it is as they say “sold out” then:
    1)Why are they still spending thousands of dollars on marketing this event?
    2)For what good reason did they just release a 28 page magazine with its articles exclusively focused on convincing people to come and in the same time challenging everyone opposing them?
    3)Why are all the askunim in chaos mode?
    4)A sold out event means 42,000 seats sold, then why are they putting people who wish to purchase tickets on a waiting list? What can they do with a waiting list if there are no more seats left?

    The answer is simple: STRATEGY!

    These people are not stupid; they know how to market an event. And they know it well!

    After noticing what a big laughing stock they became, they decided to play it cool. Their plan is to tell everyone that there’re no more tickets left. Now their foolish image builds up and they earn a little respect, so everyone comes running to see maybe I can still get a ticket. They can’t just sell tickets because everyone will see their lying, so they make a list….that’s all! Simple!!!

    Aryeh
    Aryeh
    11 years ago

    Children do not require any access to the Internet, for any reason whatsoever. It is worse than stuffing the pockets of a young man with money and sending him on a midnight stroll through Bangkok (G-d forbid). The Internet is anonymous and there is no accountability or even any effort required for inappropriate actions. Adults should have a logging system in place that sends a list of their activity to their spouse, and ought to consider disallowing it in their homes altogether.

    ShamgarBenAnat
    ShamgarBenAnat
    11 years ago

    The reason do many people are rolling there eyes, including myself, is because the gedolim first wanted to assur the entire Internet, Now 8 years later thathasnt quite worked, simply bec most people, including myself, have to use the internet for work.If i told my boss, sorry my rabbi told me if that i use the internet i will burn in gehrnim and my kids will be put on the bad list of shidduchim, she would look at me like i was meshuga. 99% of people who work nit need, but MuST use the internet to get paid .
    Raboty, the problem is that te people who DON’T work make all these insane laws. The people who are onwelfare or having bubble and Zeide pay their bills while they have 10 kids, learn all day while reading the sports section of the daily news and have there wives almost have a mental breakdown watching their kids and working 3 jobs to pay the bills bubble and zeroed who are also working at 80 to help pay for their “proud youngerleit who is in kollel, are the people who hijacked Orthodox Judaism and made it ridiculous. Look out we are turning into a socialist religion, where the welfare recipients, entitled no workers who “let learn all day” make te rules, kind of what just happened now in France where Hollande just won and is going to fix Frances problems by raising the already high tax on corporations to 50% to 75%. By banning 99% of the Internet, u r basically banning commerce.. Also just remember the people banning the Internet want us to pay there tuition bills and kollel bills while making it harder for us to pay out bills.
    Here is one other thought couldn’t we just have used te money this thing is costing us at Citifield to give to Bikur Cholim or Lev YAel or some kind of tzwdaja that helps people. Really we have to make people pay$10 a head and I u have a big family $50 (5 men) to pony up for this. I mean I don’t think” master Ani” meant giving money to citifield which is owned by billionaires.
    On another topic GO METS

    savtat
    savtat
    11 years ago

    For 2 million dollars – you could have bought internet filters and given them out for free at all the yeshivas and day schools so the parents could monitor the use of their children’s viewing.

    Member
    11 years ago

    Its sickening to think that the leaders of Jewish life want to demonize the very asset that Humanity has to end intolerance and hatred.

    ChareidiMan
    ChareidiMan
    11 years ago

    Why are people so against it? Lets say we accomplish nothing except that 40.000 Jews came together to listen to divrei Torah and say a kapital tehhilim together, is that not good enough right there?

    Furthermore, why would you not at least give it a shot? why knock it before you have heard what they want to say.

    Hock26
    Hock26
    11 years ago

    Someone should tell media that the event is being sponsored by B&H Photo

    elliot770
    elliot770
    11 years ago

    INTERNET IS NOT THE PROBLEM!!!! The chazal have a saying for it PAS BESALOH.Just walk around Lakewood all the woman dress in black.Its a mitzvah for a woman to make herself apealing for their husband. What are they teaching girls in Kalah classes today . If a husband is happy at home he will not stray elswhere.The problem is not the internet the chinuch of girls before they get maried is the problem. I cant go into it talk to frum marriage councelors and youll be in for a shock. Its no secret in NY about the problem of beard and payos types doing illicit activities.The same Rabonim who are calling the asifa should look into the root of the problem. Teach normal behaviour. A balanced chinuch will help stop the problem.How about an asifa to encourage more learning torah and musar for the men. How about sifrei musar or chasidus. What hapened to musar in yeshivos.The chazal teach borisi lecho yetzer horo borosi lecho tora tavlin.LETS NOT FORGET CHAZAL. You cant fight the yetzer horoh by talking about the internet put more emphasis on yiras shomayim and learning musar Everyone is going to be a godol goes out the window after a 10 yr stint in kolel.

    ayinglefunadorf
    ayinglefunadorf
    11 years ago

    Can anyone please explain me what is the difference between the Internet and Artscroll? How can i filter the Artscroll Chumish,Gemoroh etc so my 10-15 year old cant read the stuff not Aproporiate for his/her age. Noach Daughters, Sdajm,Miskav Zochor etc. This sforim with were printed for 500 years without filter. None of the Chachomim were concerned?

    elliot770
    elliot770
    11 years ago

    To comment#91 Who said his worker was a yid that he sent to check out the website. Maybe it was his non Jewish worker. That in itself is disgusting . Is a goy any less a person who dosent have morals Any way I” m not sure the story makes sense I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn and I”l throw in some tickets to the asifa box row seats. By the way does anyone know where i can get the concession to sell hot dogs at the citi field asifa. I”l make sure that the hechsher is good for klal yisroel and Lakewood. Do they eat Satmar Lubavitchor ,or Chasidush shechita. . Does anyone know if there is a committee who I can check this out with.IS mayim chayim good or does pepsi or coke llive up to their standards.Is their a klal yisroel Rabbinical commitee to guide the vendors.