Jewish Scene
UK chief rabbi slams Steve Jobs
Ynet
Published: 20.11.11, 14:59
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1. i couldn't have said it better...
Joe ,   London, UK   (11.20.11)
Fantastic and so true, which is of course, what people dont like to hear.... the truth. But to say that The Chief rabbi is critical of Jobs, the person, is wrong. Money is what makes the world go round, and Jobs did a great job at this. The 'i' generation is speeding up in full force. but unfortunately as long as people give in to peer pressure, nothing will change. Well said, Reb Jonathan
2. Steve Jobs did not create it, he exploited it
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (11.20.11)
3. the "Me" Generation
Ellen ,   Israel/USA   (11.20.11)
This group of individuals were defined way before the advent of the iphone an the ipad. They got that way for a variety of reasons. They are frequently only children ( raise in birth control), they were schooled when everything and anything they did was praised and they usually got what they wanted from parents and grandparents. All this led to a feeling of entitlement and "me" While I am loathe to disagree with someone of Rabbi Sack's knowledge, in this instance he is incorrect. Many things created the consumer culture of today and it is wrong, IMO to blame Steve Jobs.
4. Why focus just on Apple products?
Maurice ,   Montreal   (11.20.11)
Consumer society includes all kind of products nowdays. I found it odd that the rabbi picks on Steve Jobs. The man is gone. Give his soul a rest!
5. Amen
Christian ,   Sweden   (11.20.11)
6. this rabbi sounds like a real imam.
Salma ,   Palestine   (11.20.11)
dear Rabbi, why do you not condemn the selfish god as well ? read the Bible/ Quran/ Torah , the god too says i,i,i , right ?!
7. The iRabbi
iMarc ,   Belgium   (11.20.11)
8. steve jobs
malkie bass ,   negev israel   (11.20.11)
the rabbi said its all i,i,i he is so right I phone I pad &I tunes yeah yeah yeah
9. If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?
Adsel   (11.20.11)
And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when? In other words, buy yourself your coveted IPad now, just don't forget to use it for the good of others as well. iHilel.
10. #6 salma
solomon ,   bklyn   (11.20.11)
Jews and Christians believe that G-d commands us to aid and respect our fellow human beings. Your comment says more about you (and your compatriots?) than anything.
11. Pathetic. If SJ were a Jew, chief rabbi would call him hero.
Rachel Rabin ,   TA, Israel   (11.20.11)
.
12. He is jealous Apple products beat the Tanah in popularity.
Michael ,   California, USA   (11.20.11)
Also, Steve Jobs beats g in popularity among the young who are the future of the world. Time to move to the side, rebbe.
13. enough already
zionist forever   (11.20.11)
Yes Steve Jobs was an innovator and made alot of contributions to the world of hi-tec and to Apple die hards he was a god. Isn't is going to far now with everybody from people in the industry to world leaders to rabbis praising the man? The man died nearly two months ago now so isn't it time to end this remember Steve Jobs fahion
14. The iRabbi is jealous because Steve Jobs
tea man ,   marjayoun   (11.20.11)
Happen to be of Moslem Syrian Origin and he could not fathom that
15. My Generation vs. iGeneration
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (11.20.11)
Steve Jobs only exploited the fact that today the young generation is very individualist, somehow selfish and not willing to share. My children's generation - unlike mine - has become the i generation. When my generation (The song with the same name from the WHO talks about a generation not i the individual) was protesting for a peaceful world racial equality social justice there was strong unity as a group. This is why it lasted and made strong impact around the world. Today the 99% - occupy Wall Street - movement which started with a good message could not find a direction and thrust to continue. Some diverted the real objective to their personal political views others - older - ones were just reminiscing their youth by playing the bongos . There was never a cohesive movement. All because it is the iGeneration. As I said in the top of my post Steve only exploited this fact and made money.
16. # 6 Poor Selma someone find her a hubby
Salma?Selma!! ,   Jerusalem Israel   (11.20.11)
Poor Salma who is probably really called Selma or Ilana and lives alone in Tel Aviv glued to the computer needs serious psychological help and a boyfriend . She must have the most lonely of lives her only "friends" the Talkbacks how sad.
17. Steve Jobs.........
sas ,   israel   (11.20.11)
Rabbi Sachs - you really are an i...t. stick to your sermans in the synagogue.
18. BASHING STEVE JOBS ? BIGGEST MARKETING-GENIUSES WERE JEWISH.
Nowhere Man ,   Metropolis, Zion   (11.20.11)
19. Jonathans Sacks ego....
Eli Vered ,   Raanana,Israel   (11.20.11)
Great , slam a modern icon. Why pick on some one who was revered and praised and only recently passed away? Steve Jobs was mot alone, he exploited the situation - as most business men crave to do. The only reason is that Lord Sacks needs the publicity to feed his ego, Not a nice comment from him. Criticize the companies, not the man.
20. steve jobs
sam ,   israel   (11.20.11)
the mac works and is faithful. what does rabbi want? i think his "iSacks" got the best of him
21. Would you say that if Steve was a Jew ??
i-mad ,   i-reland   (11.20.11)
Doubt it.
22. Thanks Solomon! (#10 about #6)
Alejandro Ramos ,   Georgetown, Canada   (11.20.11)
Thank you very much Solomon for putting "Salma" in her place in such a very elegant and civilized manner!
23. Sacks' comments invite only ridicule
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (11.20.11)
His comments have already reached the secular technology press and have provoked ridicule - of the otherwise well regarded Sacks and of the tradition he represents.
24. # 4 - . I found it odd that the rabbi picks on Steve Jobs ,.
split ,   US   (11.20.11)
He had Lebanese roots ,... You won't hear anything bad about booze distillers/distributors and you know why? ,...
25. to this #6
Avaram Goldsmith ,   Toronto, Canada   (11.20.11)
Seems the article to subtle for you, and you provoke in expectation for your cinical remarks and just a remember that yours immams speak only about vest explosive pods, your last " high barbarism tech" because you are not capable to delivery nothig else.
26. The Rabbi sold his apple stock back in Jan 2009?
seadog1946 ,   ArthurKill, NJ   (11.20.11)
27. Rabbi Sacks should offer an alternative
josh mark ,   Jerusalem   (11.20.11)
The world is made by ideas. Steve Jobs captivated many people with his ideas. Instead of knocking them, Rabbi Sacks should offer better ones. It seems a dark day when the best that a Rabbi can do is to tear down the contributions of someone else.
28. Simple silliness! Electriicity; cars etc etc
Michael Redbourna ,   Arad Israel   (11.20.11)
One could say the same nonsense about almost every invention. Forks; bicycles; electricity; phones; washing machines etc were all used in their beginnings by the rich. I see Sudanese near to my house calling home to the Sudan using Skype and Harideem and Bedouin chatting on their cell phones. I'm sure this Rabbi tells everyone, "Just remember I'm always available 24/6".
29. The Cult of Individualism
Adam Neira ,   Melb, Australia   (11.20.11)
Rabbi Sacks makes a good point about the problems of rampant individualism and materialism. The point about Shabbat is also correct, in that it is a time to switch off, trust G-d and be with family and friends. However I believe Steve Jobs is the wrong target. The Apple devices he helped create have brought a great deal of freedom and joy to hundreds of millions of people. The "I-phone/pad" etc. label I think was also a clever marketing strategy in the KISS mould. I don't think Steve Jobs wanted to be the High Priest of the Cult of Individualism.
30. consumerism has gone to far but thats not because of SJ
zionist forever   (11.20.11)
The consumer society as we know it today really began after WW2 when people wanted nice things and the type of consumer products have changed with time. The last 10 years or so its been hi-tec gadgets everybody wanted and Apple offered some products which people wanted but so did Sony, Microsoft, Google and many other companies. In another 10 years the consumer society will probably be alive and well still but people will be buying other things. The rabbi is thouh right about the need for Shabbat. Shabbat is probably needed more than ever in a digital age where we seem to be working longer hours and constantly connected to the outside world. Nice to take a little time out from it all for a day and you want to read a book then get the paperback version and not the iPad download.
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