Sorry Rabbi, your nimukim (arguments) are not correct. Computers are no more dangerous than anything else in society, new or old. The Orthodox leave fire on their shabbat plata/blech, but sadly this had killed many religious Jews. So maybe the Karaites are right, that no fire should be left on shabbat? The Trojan virus was simply a hi tech fraud. Ther is low tech fraud in Israel, and this is committed by secular and religious alike. The Torah tells us not to steal - whether it is stealig sheep; corn; gold; or computer information, or subsidies from the govenrment, making fals claims about yeshiva students. If computers are bad, so are yeshivas, since both have the potential to commit theft.

Rabbi With respect, I disagree Computers, like most things in this world, have the ability to be used for good and for bad The object, the computer, in and of itself, is not good or bad. Of course, some things are in and of themselves negitive. I'm not disputing that. People, as you are aware have a large degree of free will (behirah) So surely it is encumbent on people to exercise that free will for positive purposes? The blame, falls squarely on the people exercising their free will incorrectly, not on the computer.

Rabbi, Thanks to this publication i finally managed to get your computer coordinates. Don't try to figure how, even if ou don't have a computer. the first computer you'll use 5 days from now willl do it it to you. You'll be spiritually destroyed from the inside. Also, don't try to use cellular phone. And lastly, bezeq is in our hands too. pshhhhhhhhh

I wonder if the sages are wrong, as some people claim, then what then is the reason for the increase in brutal sexual violence in all ages of society? and why is education in Israel lately failing? whats occupying the students minds? so OK we shouldn't go backwards but lets go forward in a correct way. I think we should listen to what the sages have to say.

The most severe computer accident I have undergone, to date, is reading Eichler's nonsense by means of my computer

Rabbi Eichler in his infinite stupidity wants to prove that everything modern is bad. Let him stop using his cellphone before someone taps into his personal code or better, let him stop using his bank card. What an idiot!

My Rabbi AND my Rosh Yeshiva, no less Orthodox than Eichler's, both have Palm Pilots and computers, and use them for good things. MANY of my neighbors, all religious, work in high tech, and EVERYONE knows how to use a computer. My ultra-Orthodox brother, who spends hours a day working as a professional on his laptop (in ADDITION to learning in yeshiva) uses the Internet for vital information to help his business too. As do MANY others in his milieu. Just as money can be used for good or for evil and OUR sages didn't outlaw money, so too with technology. OUR sages don't "suspect" technology. They use it for good and encourage the same in the rest of us.

Dear Yisroel Would you suggest that someone who shots and kills another is not responsible for their actions but the actual Gun which was used ! Your concern should be focused on the human character and those who lead the societies in which they live.

I don't know why these ultra-Orthodox rabbis bother making these pronouncements. Israel is a technologically advanced country and the majority of Israelis couldn't care less what rabbis, who sound suspiciously like Iranian mullahs, have to say. These rabbis can't even get those Israelis to observe the Sabbath. Now, they think they're going to get them to give up their cell phones and computers?

The sages shold take care not to open any attachments from e-mails sent by people they do not know. They should also take care to turn on their firewalls, update their virus scanners regularly and run an anti-spyware softeware. Take these things into considerations and the Tora sages will be safe. Avoiding anything that's dangerous isn't Jewish, how would you cross the street if it was? Internet is a problem because nutcases can join forces and realize they are not alone. This has lead to a revival of anti-semitism and conspirational thinking. The only way to fight this is to argue and that's why Tora websites are one of many kinds of websites that can help.

The good Rabbi writes... Now is the time to return to caution with regard to computer dangers, and to hope that the damage caused by the Trojan Horse scandal will encourage technicians and experts to develop ways to protect and guidelines for protection in the face of an existant danger. Maybe now they will understand that it is impossible to race forward without securing what you’ve already got. It is impossible to leave exposed electricity in the street and to leave an electric current available to the touch of young people, or old people for that matter. ---- So, it seems that some of you are opposed to safety and consolidating gains. Well, I wonder what you would be saying if it was your company that was raped by these computer criminals? Personally, I think that the sages' idea of proceeding, but with caution is the smartest way to go. Look both ways befor you cross the street kiddies, even though you are intellectually opposed to caution... Barry

The rabbi needs an Apple Macintosh and he can forget about the Trojan horses and viruses that attack the woeful PC computers. I used the net to find lodging in Tzfat and found a wonderful woman who showed me tzedaka opportunities in Tzfat and in Kiryat Arba/Hebron. At article on Aish.com led me to The Chicken Lady in Jerusalem who at 95 years old distributes thousands of dollars a month to the needy. I send money to her every month as well as Tzfat and KA/H. The tzedaka I send to Israel every month came from meeting people using the internet or articles on the internet. Most anything can be abused, but the impoverished people who receive support from net users all over the world are quite probably happy that they have money to care for their families and the people who send it benefit in many ways.