Jewish Scene
'Shabbat phones' for Netanyahu aides
Itamar Eichner
Published: 08.07.11, 14:54
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
37 Talkbacks for this article
1. silly
jj ,   usa   (07.08.11)
This is just ridiculous. This orthodox definition of "work" is just absurd and the insane gymnastics people go through to get around it, all the more so. Let's start by revising our definition of work to mean actual work, not the use of devices that make our lives more convenient (and hence less work); refrain from doing the actual work on shabbat, and get on with life. The spawning of cottage industries devising tech for defeating silly non-work definitions of "work" is a waste of creativity that could be applied solving real problems.
2. Let Goyim run the country on Saturdays.They will bring peace
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.08.11)
3. Absolutely ridiculous
Eliyahu Konn ,   Powell, OH   (07.08.11)
I as an observant Jew can figure out that the Rosh HaMemshalah and those that report to him have responsibility for piquach nefesh of the entire State. How much melakha is done by using a phone? Only if you discuss business are you breaking Shabbat. The rabbis are afraid the religious will?
4. And what about the electronic sparks from the Mic?
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (07.08.11)
More money wasted. More religious coercion. That;s our Bibi! No money for doctors. No money for education. No money to buy the stuff the fire services need but plenty of for the Haredim and the religious! Have the Chief Rabbis, the High Ashkenazi Archrabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv and the Pope Ovadiah Yosef OK'd this invention? Microphones and speaker generate electric current when you speak and when you listen. How can this be Kosher? Sounds like some is making money on the backs of the taxpayers.
5. Censorsed again by YnetNet!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (07.08.11)
I questions the religious validity of these Shabbat phones but YnetNet blocked my Talkback! So much for Freedom of Speech in YnetNet's police state!
6. # angels dancing on head of pin is so out of date
Intelligent Jew ,   Israel   (07.08.11)
7. What a con...
Sean ,   London, UK   (07.08.11)
It's amazing the amount of sophistry that goes on. It's still a phone and they are still using it despite whatever hokus pokus excuses they made... Reform the Shabbat, make it a true day of rest not a chore with ridiculous rules to follow that are easily contravened by moves like this.
8. Fantastic technology
Shalom Hartman   (07.08.11)
Kol ha kavod
9. Bibi Netanyahu makes me proud to be a Jew!
Jake ,   USA   (07.08.11)
10. I love the way he tries so hard to be a Jew
Abdalla   (07.08.11)
Then does everything a athesist does
11. Excellent work!
John ,   Alaska   (07.08.11)
If it helps you to follow the word of HaShem, then this is a very good thing. If you think it's rediculous, that's okay - you don't have to use it. But please allow people who want to, have an option that helps them keep the Torah.
12. How true!
Ester ,   Canada   (07.08.11)
Only if you discuss business are you breaking Shabbat. Sabbath is to cut off earthly business , be quiet before the Lord. To read HIS Words , repent, so one would be renewed in his spirit, could see all from the Lord's perspective and make the right decisions on jom rishon
13. shame on you cynics
Steven ,   Toronto   (07.08.11)
There's nothing wrong with inclusion and allowing people who believe in something different from you to still be able to work with you.
14. I do shabbat on Tuesdays.What's wrong with Tue, or Wed or ?
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.08.11)
15. To the Editor : Thank you for uncensoring me!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (07.08.11)
16. are you a self hating jew?
Michael from Cali   (07.09.11)
enough already with your comments
17. #10, dear troll, do you care to elaborate on your comment?
Jake ,   USA   (07.08.11)
18. #1, your preface is incorrect. Melacha is "creative action"
Jake ,   USA   (07.08.11)
Not "work". The prohibition pertains to direct action, with a creative result. Hence you are not allowed to open a fridge door that directly turns on a light, but you can drink from a water fountain that has an air conditioner because the air conditioner turns on indirectly, when the water temperature drops.
19. i love bibi and his faith in religion :)
Ester   (07.09.11)
20. #16, Cultural Jew shabbat on Tuesday.
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.09.11)
We are easy going, cultural Jews, scientific Jews, secular Jews. We are hating nobody, considering everybody born equal, accepting the Declaration of Independence, respecting Civil Rights, are confident in ourselves. It matters not that t says shabbat is on Saturday, but maybe it is on Tuesday or any other day of the week? I even tolerate reading a comment from you some time. But you don't like me, don't like my comments and my clear, healthy thinking. You only like Jews like yourself, the failing kind. Accept it, the religious kind is not as fit to survive as I am, by the Theory of Evolution.
21. Thank You BiBi
Eli ,   USA   (07.09.11)
I am not an observant Jew but thank God that Israel has a leader who keeps and represents the land of Israel as Jewish!! Thank You, we Jews are known for the TORAH lets keep our Traditions, lets keep our Identity that so many Jews willingly sacrificed their lives to keep. Dammit you Liberals, don't you realize that without our Torah Traditions we lose our Identity, we are no longer.
22. Electricity on Shabbat
Eli ,   London, UK   (07.09.11)
"Microphones and speaker generate electric current when you speak and when you listen. How can this be Kosher?" It should not be taken for granted that use of electricity is prohibited on shabbat, there is some debate amongst halachik authorities and as far as I know R. Shlomo Zalman Aurbach does not prohibit it and certainly not biblically. Certainly in situations of vital importance it may be used. The question is how the specific appliance works. Turning on a regular light bulb certainly is a biblical prohibition.
23. Typical Haredi hypocrisy!
Dan   (07.09.11)
The Haredim like to impose their absurd rules on everyone but squeeze out of them whenever possible themselves. Not allowed to push prams on Shabbat? Bring in an 'eruv'! Not happy with the restrictions of daylight saving? Change daylight saving! Not allowed to use a phone on Shabat? Design 'special' phones! What hollow religiosity, what chutzpah, what dishonesty.
24. Gideon darling...
Joy"s   (07.09.11)
i think i have already one of this phones lol :-)
25. Creative parshanut?
David ,   Negev, Israel   (07.09.11)
Another way to pull the wool over God's eyes.
26. go get a life , what ever next ?
Haim ,   Tel aviv   (07.10.11)
Once again the heights people have to go to , to accomodate religious superstition.
27. Who needs a phone around this place?
Ypip ,   Canada   (07.10.11)
28. #22 What!!!!!??????
(07.10.11)
"Turning on a regular light bulb certainly is a biblical prohibition." Where the hell did you hear that? Where the hell is "light bulb" in the bible? You were doing very well until that last line which is only parroting illogical rabbis.
29. Stupid, stupid, stupid...
Sarah B. ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (07.10.11)
Are we trying to fool G-d here? Shame on you Netanyahu....
30. Rules
David Segal ,   Philadelphia USA   (07.10.11)
As my father used to tell me, "If you can learn to play poker, you can learn to play pinochle. It's just rules."
Next talkbacks
Back to article