Going kosher? Illustration
Photo: Visual/Photos
Wanted: A kosher mouse
The recent Judaism, Society and the Internet Conference raised many questions and even offered a few concrete solutions
There were plenty of rabbis, educators, concerned parents, webmasters, and even curiosity seekers at the Judaism, Society and the Internet Conference in Jerusalem. However, the younger generation – comprising the home team in this arena – was noticeably absent.
Boaz Nachtshtern, editor of the Kipa website, wasn’t surprised. “The question isn’t ‘what are teenagers doing on the Internet?’” he declared at the conference’s opening. “Rather, ‘what are we doing there?’ and ‘where did my neighbor from shul surf to?’”
When Nachtshtern tested several Internet filters, he acquired several user names and spent a few days roaming around the Web. The results were clear. “I couldn’t surf without getting to things that I didn’t want to see,” he noted.
Nachtshtern believes that the solution is education. “We need a new approach, where we view the Internet as an amazing and wonderful tool and not just as a threatening and destructive battleground,” he explained.
“Once we recognize this, we must internalize that ‘If I am not for myself – who is for me?’ Because with one click, one can reach Kipa (an Orthodox website) but also pornography and violence.”
During the six-hour-long conference, the observant, secular and haredi speakers – including rabbis, educators, journalists, and webmasters – attempted to find a precise formula for proper use of the Internet for the Orthodox population.
A black flag
Any discussion of Judaism and the Internet inevitably turns to the numerous rabbinical responsa floating around the Web. Na’ama Elimelech, a BA in psychology from Bar Ilan University, presented her research on the subject and managed to draw the ire of Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau.
According to Elimelech, the average Web user sees no difference between virtual consultations with a rabbi and the more traditional approach of meeting with a rabbi in person. These findings touch upon a sensitive nerve, because many rabbis indeed feared that the new media would further alienate their congregants.
Lau said that he was disturbed by Elimelech’s conclusions, which he characterized as a “black flag” hovering over the rabbis’ heads. While not denying the facts, Lau observed a number of unfortunate trends among the so-called Internet generation, including unfaithfulness, the constant need to make new friends and contacts, and a never-ending cycle of frustration and depression.
Lau claimed that today’s rabbis and psychologists have their work cut out for them and that families and couples require real – as opposed to virtual – counseling. His experience with online responsa has shown that they don’t allow for true treatment or discussions.
“In recent years, I’ve had one major rabbi. I ask him many questions and consult with him on a nearly daily basis. His name is Rabbi Google, and I don’t move an inch without him,” Lau deadpanned.
The Internet has much to offer, Lau insisted, but one can rely on “Rabbi Google”, who is always on-call, in order to access the relevant information.
Rabbi Eliezer Altschuler, rabbi of Susiya and a responder at the Puah Institute, distinguished between a response and a ruling. He believes that there is a tacit agreement between the Web user and the responding rabbi.
According to Altschuler, both parties understand that neither the initial question nor the answer is complete and that the response is therefore not a true halachic ruling. Altschuler added that tens of thousands access the online responsa, thus indicating a great need for this type of service.
Legislation or filtering?
Other speakers addressed the issue of dealing with inappropriate Internet content.
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Union – NRP) asserted that legislation isn’t the answer. “The legislative struggle against pornographic broadcast programming didn’t pass the High Court,” Orlev said. “And today, every citizen can pay and watch Playboy.”
Furthermore, since the Internet has neither an address nor borders, enacting restraining laws is particularly difficult. In addition, enforcement is a problem, because Israel employs only 50 policemen nationwide who deal with these matters.
“The educational-cultural-ethical aspect has more weight,” Orlev stated and called upon parents to take responsibility for their children’s surfing habits.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, head of the Tzomet Institute, stressed the importance of filtering programs. Why does everyone have anti-virus programs on their computers, he questioned, but oppose Internet filters?
“It’s criminal not to install programs that block porno,” Rosen intoned. He challenged high-tech graduates to develop warning programs that would activate an alarm or otherwise obstruct users from entering profane sites.
A necessary evil
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, head of Petach Tikva’s Hesder Yeshiva, pointed out that many frameworks were dismantled in the wake of the Internet, but this is not necessarily a negative development. He specifically referred to phenomena such as lack of shame, impersonation, evil speech, offensiveness, slander, and the fact that on the Internet “everyone is equal.”
“Even the question of a separate society versus a mixed one is no longer relevant, because connections are formed via the Internet and not within human society,” Cherlow added.
The haredi viewpoint was represented by Moshe, manager of the popular BiChadrei Charedim Web forum. “Our site began as a limited chat room for friends and became a leading media tool,” he said.
“I think that the Internet is a terrible and horrible thing, but we can’t live without it,” Moshe concluded. “It’s just a matter of time until the kosher version comes out.”
