B"H
What really really goes on my nerves lately is seeing more and more male Haredim using the Internet in a negative way.
Of course, this is nothing new, as for years Haredim have been sneaking into Jerusalem internet cafes in order to surf through pornographic sites, news, soccer, basketball or forums. At the Internet Cafe in Yaffa Road they even asked for Mechizot (small wooden separations) so that no one can see what they are looking at.
When I mentioned this subject to some haredi friends a few years ago, I was cut off. They claimed that this is only a lie and gossip about the haredi world. And the anti - religious crazy former politician Tommy Lapid had set up this rumour.
In the meantime we all know that the haredi world has a severe problem with the "Yetzer HaRah - the bad side in a person". And it is always the guys using the net and not the Beit Yaakov - girls.
One of the two owners of the Internet Cafe in Yaffa Road told me that every second week the Mea Shearim "Modesty Police - Mishmeret HaZniut" is showing up and asking the owners not to let the haredi population into the Internet Cafe. The owners claim that it is their business and one of them said to me that if even a camel was putting enough money on the counter, it would get a computer. In other words, money is everything.
Lately, some haredi rabbis wanted to make decisions about a kosher internet. The net would be allowed to the haredi population but only kosher sites, of course. But who could check that ? The Haredim enter the Internet Cafe in groups and stay there for 3, 4 or 5 hours. On Mozzaei Shabbat (Shabbat end) they come, put the streimel aside and surf the net. Anybody does it. Litvishe or Chassidim, it doesn't matter who. Belz, Gur, litvish, Breslov, you name it. The only one's I haven't seen so far are Toldot Aharon but this doesn't mean their society is holier than the others.
The same is starting at the university library now. Many Haredim come in and immediately sit at the free computers. Many of them were thrown out, as the university computers are only for research. Well, they do research but not in the subject they are supposed to.
I have no solution solving the problem. On the one hand, people want to be religious or at least they look so from the outside. On the other hand, as soon as a computer is around, the Torah seems to be forgotten.
It is high time for the Yeshivot to deal with the problem.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
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B"H
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel,
I think your friends opinion is far too negative. In every society there are great and less great people, and when I have a bad experience with someone haredi or whatever, I don't accuse the whole society of being bad.
As I said, I met great people and I also met loonies. That's life !
Hi M.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering when you were going to get tired of the male only thing.
Women can be Rabbis too.!!!!!!!!!!!!..................I know you don't like that idea but I know some women that are far better Reb's than 99% of the men I know.
Most of Judaism is liberal and that's a fact!!!!!! The Black hats are just another cult belief system. Not based in realty.
If it wisent for the support of the secular Jews , we have allot less black hats and maybe they might even get a job!!!!!!...... Instead of living off the backs of their women.
I really enjoy your writing. Its a real pleasure to read your work. "GOOD JOB" If you would like I can show you how to hook up with some normal Jews who are not crazy and know how a women should be respected.
Love and be safe, all ways Daniel
B"H
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel, I was just falling off my chair while I was reading your comment.:-)
I don't intend to be a rabbi at all. If I was male, I might take it into consideration.
The women issue in the orthod. world is anything but easy. However, usually it doesn't bother me too much. There are even lots of pros being a woman.
I don't see the black hats as cult. In my opinion, they can do whatever they want.
I know normal people as well. Well, in Jerusalem you don't find too many but there are. And I prefer being with the orthodox. Believe it or not.
Hope to see you soon here and thanks for the compliment.
Miriam
Hi M
ReplyDeleteI think you would make a great Rabbi!!!!!!!!
You know your way around the Torah and you know allot of disenfranchise women in the Orthodox community. Its time for a big change.
The black hats are a very small minority in the whole jewish spectrum. I think they only represent about 15% of all the yids in the world and it is true they do give the rest of us a very bad name!............ "Aloof ,arrogant ,smug, condescending, Intolerant , insolent"............ and very bad social manners in public most black hats are guilty of all these charges, The way some of them act in public its no wonder some people want to kill us. I really wish the Israelis would cut off all their funding and make them earn there own way in the world. No matter how much money the Israeli state puts in them, the best historians and Talmudist come from America.
In fact most of the really good scholars of them don't come from New York either.
B"H
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel,
Maybe you know the wrong black hats.:-)
There are actually nice ones as well. When you come to Jerusalem I will mizzionize you and then you are going to be another black hat. :-)
Miriam