Jewish Scene
Military mouse keeps Shabbat
Kobi Nahshoni
Published: 21.04.07, 14:38
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28 Talkbacks for this article
1. Proof that...
Ayelet Chen ,   Israel   (04.21.07)
the religious can get 'significant sums of money to the continuation of development', even while reservists die for lack of funds for adequate training and equipment. What a shame.
2. logic
Dave ,   Herzliya   (04.21.07)
This seems like a reasonable use of Army funds and resources......
3. omg thats so stupid, stop the insanity already
(04.21.07)
4. Fantastic news
Avi ,   Israel   (04.21.07)
With this cleaver little device, more people would be able to keep shabbat and then our beloved God would not let another shoa to happen to us Where would we be without our pointless rabbis????
5. This is equal to spilling the seed!
שילה   (04.21.07)
6. Are computer mice milchig or fleyshig?
Steve ,   San Francisco   (04.21.07)
7. Is this a joke?
Yona ,   Bat Yam, Israel   (04.21.07)
This reminds me of my orthodox friend who consumes shrimp out of the house, but refuses to eat beef for fear that it may not be kosher. Get a life people. Either orthodox or not... but make up your mind.
8. Do me a favour Rabbonim,just declare Electricity kosher&lets
get on with life! ,   Alan SA   (04.21.07)
9. Disgusting
Tammuz Kay ,   Jerusalem   (04.21.07)
I find this sort of religious bull disgusting. If you don't want to follow religious rules, then don't. The idea that you can outsmart god on a technicality, which can be seen often in orthodox society, is offensive to me as an atheist and should be just as offensive to someone who actually believes in an omniscient omnipotent being.
10. The point that the talkback comments are missing is..
Rachel ,   Jerusalem   (04.21.07)
that if something is a matter of life or death, saving life overrides keeping Shabbat. In the IDF, it may not always be clear if something is a life or death situation. There may be false alarms or situations which are potentialy life-saving, but turn out not to be. The article clearly states that these devices are specifically for those situations. If it is clearly NOT a matter of life / death, one cannot rely on such leniencies. If it is clearly to save life, one does not need the leniencies. If it is a grey area, one can rely on the leniency of the indirect action in these devices.
11. yshar coah !!!!!
(04.22.07)
12. This b***s**t is outts control. In the IDF
Allan ,   US   (04.22.07)
evreything involves life and death. Let these religious nuts set the Shabbat phones and mice in their homes not in IDF bases. Enough with the religious coercion already.
13. Look
ben ,   singapore   (04.22.07)
Draw a line between Millitray and Religion. This is the cause of may blunders.G-d knows the facts of todays Israel. The terrorist are bombing on sabbath and high holidays and here these fellows talk about do's and dont. I have nothing against the rabbinate but the rabbinate must make some rulings or the nation is going to face another Invation ! Shabbat awarness in one thing the national security is another important matter that need some real measures !
14. Totally rediculous
James ,   Toledo Ohio USA   (04.22.07)
Are you people serious? Some of the things you do, or don't do, is quite unbelievable! I think you take this religion thing too far. I'd bet that God even chuckles at some of this stuff.
15. backwards
Aaron ,   Israel   (04.22.07)
Most of the posts so far have it backwards. It's not that if the soldiers didn't have this technology that they wouldn't be violating Shabbat, They would, because it's a matter of life or death. Rather, this is a way for them to violate a less stringent commandment than they would otherwise. They are not "cheating G-d," they are simply trying allow the necessary things to happen with the least amount of unnecessary halachic violations.
16. To some this is worse than neo-nazis in the idf
Ilan ,   Ariel   (04.22.07)
After reading the article about a soldier filing a complaint for neo-nazi behavior by other recruits then reading these talkbacks against minimizing the need to break the Shabbat it begins to makes sense. Israeli and Jewish are not the same thing.
17. Current IDF soldier speaks
Amitai Cohen ,   Bet Shean   (04.22.07)
Don't these people have anything better to do with their time rather than finding pointless solutions to non existant problems. This is an example of the problems facing israel. Rathern than determine how to solve national and strategic problems we have brainwashed robots worrying about shabbat observance. Seriously, is a shabbat friendly mouse going to save the state of Israel. These rabbi's need to get a life.
18. Itching to be secular
Israel   (04.22.07)
it is obvious that they keep designing all these shabbat things because they want to do these things on shabbat. What a waste of money. If you are religous, don't do anything on shabbat, if you are not religious do what you want. What a stupid waste of money just so religious people can find ways around not keeping shabbat.
19. I know secular isn't stupid, so what's your excuse?
Ilan ,   Ariel   (04.22.07)
Isn't the article clear enough for you simpletons? The goal is to design equipment that can be used in the army by religious Jews without there having to be a situation of "danger to life" (pikuach nefesh). As it is now, religious soldiers do not have to violate their beliefs unless there is a driving need for them to work on Shabbat. This minimizes that necessity and allows more near normal operation of the army even on the Shabbat. It may bother you that Israel is a Jewish state with a Jewish army (as in a State and army that respects Jewish values), but if so just vent your bigotry as such.
20. 19: Yes, it's a Jewish State, not a "rationalizer's" State
David ,   Rehovot   (04.22.07)
The user is pressing a mouse button and the computer recognizes the button in order to perform a task. That a program sets a delay to give you an ignorance based rationalization that you're somehow not doing work doesn't change the simple fact: You're using an electronic device to accomplish work on Shabbat. The fact that you declare an entire block of apartments a "home" so you can do things you want to do on Shabbat is similar. What you do is rationalize in order to interpret the religion to your own liking, yet demand that other Jews are somehow wrong from making different interpretations. You're a hypocrite and a fool.
21. I'm a Jew and not a Karaite
Ilan ,   Ariel   (04.22.07)
And if you know the difference then you are not as stupid as I thought.
22. #1 is right!
jason white ,   afula,israel   (04.22.07)
No money for the Trophy system or training,but for b.s. they have the time and money. Why defend against anti-tank missiles when an automatic urinal is so much more important. Who needs boots or a ceramic vest? A Shabbat friendly mouse or pen is so much more important to the well being of our combat soldiers.
23. To 1. Proof that
s judah ,   london   (04.23.07)
You should think before you talk. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. What you don't know the 10 comandments? Ayelet Chen was a beautiful pizmon written by Rabbi Shalom ben Yosef Shabbazi. You have something to live up to, don't spit at it.
24. remember Shabat, tha'ts all
dave ,   Caracas   (04.23.07)
all this devices will find use in other fields, so stop with the hate. and if those devices, do make us (non religious) remember that is shabat (we are always forgetting) so they are working already.
25. Obviously the right thing
mike   (04.23.07)
Technology is easy and if it improves the esprit d'corps the chances of success are improved. This work tell the shabat observing soldiers that they are an important part of the zaha"l Unfortunately technology cannot replace infantry, but it can help.
26. Why I love Israel::Only in Israel
Scott ,   La Jolla, CA   (04.24.07)
The noted Southern author William Falkner once wrote that "You don't love because, you love despite." Yeah, this seems like all of the above: silly, misguided priorities, bringing us closer to remember the Sabbath Day to make it holy, melding halacha and military goals, a father's love for his lost son, etc. That is why I love Israel. There are a lot of reasons to love it because, but things like this make us love it all the more. Despite. Only in Israel. Keep what we are alive. Happy Birthday!!!
27. APALLING TALKBACKS
Michel SLONIMSKI ,   Paris, France   (04.24.07)
Those tallbacks expressing "disgust" if not sheer hatred for the religious concerns are just apalling. They show (1) how un-Jewish parts of Israel's population and the global Jewish population have become ; and (2) that the seculars demands for "tolerance" are just bla-bla.
28.  #27 J'AIME 'APALLING'
Colette   (04.26.07)
it's just SO Mr. Bean. Meanwhile monsewer, we live here, et vous? Allons enfant, get going, over here, and THEN we MAY listen to your views, n'est-ce pas? Very nice of oui net to print all your overseas 'stuff', mais non? Shalom et Shabbat Shalom. L'hitraot but not au revoir...
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