Comments on: Gerrer Chassidim launch computer war

By: shul

shul — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:25:56 +0000

What relevance does the fact that the Hamodia is run by Gerer Chasidim have to do with this news article?

This blog seems to be affiliated with the Yated. It quotes it’s editor often enough and the blogger is an admitted contributor to the Yated. Was the comment meant as a “shtuch” to the Hamodia?

By: HonestAbe

HonestAbe — Wed, 30 May 2007 02:01:50 +0000

I don’t understand what the issue is about. We all know people who have gone “Off”. If a chashuva Rebbe says that this is something that will improve our spiritual life, how can one even think of going against it? Unless of course, the person is worried about their own world and having their life infringed upon. But, as religious jews, our life is governed by laws. Perhaps this is a new one that we have to learn how to work with (like using yeshivanet). (BTW, when electricity was discovered there were discusions as to the laws pertaing to Shabbos, imagine how this panel would have looked, pretty similar!)

By: Joseph

Joseph — Wed, 30 May 2007 00:45:14 +0000

stan, the internet is far worse than television.

If you oppose having “some” TV access, what is the justification for supporting “some” internet access?

By: stan the man

stan the man — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:34:21 +0000

Jos
The connection bt computers and TV is quite nil.
Instead of building breakable walls, our mesorah is strong enough to be used for educating and preventing.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:23:41 +0000

What an intelligent comment, the last one was.

Next up: Televisions are okay for its education value for children. Just don’t turn to the wrong channel and everything will be honkey dorey.

By: telegrok

telegrok — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:32:42 +0000

bicycles should be banned because on them children can ride to the movies

By: Aishes Chayil

Aishes Chayil — Tue, 29 May 2007 05:29:43 +0000

Ragachover,

A hearty YOSHAR KOACH! your post is the only one worth repeating!

By: Joseph

Joseph — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:27:41 +0000

Many of these pro-internet arguments would logically extend to as a pro-television argument.

You can have and use a computer without any internet access.

Children should NOT have any internet access at all. The benefits for children are FAR outweighed by the terrible risks.

Those risks apply to adults as well. They too should limit their usage of it to the bare necessary, i.e. parnassah. And even then, they should make it so someone else can track their internet activity without limitation.

By: RagachoversAssistant

RagachoversAssistant — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:25:56 +0000

Argument One:
The Internet. Is it bad or good? It’s neither; it’s how you use it. The Internet is a ‘DOMEM.’ Is a knife bad or good? It depends; if you use a knife to cut bread and feed the hungry, then it’s good. If you use a knife to stab people, then, it’s bad. But what is bad, the person, not the knife.

Argument Two:
The Internet has provided for incredible Torah Databases and resources, which saves months, if not years, of research.

Argument Three:
If someone can not control himself and seeks out forbidden sites, then this fellow will most certainly find other methods of following his ‘Yetzer Harah.’ There are a number of filtering mechanisms available to block undesirable sites.

Argument Four:
The entire computer field has allowed many ‘Yungeleit’ who otherwise would be earning minimum wage, to provide a respectful livelihood for their families. The prohibition of computers will ultimately cause many more families to have to ‘beg’ for a living.

Argument Five:
Furthermore, the Internet has allowed for instantaneous news feeds, such as yours to disseminate vital information globally. The biggest proof; the anti-computer campaign spread like wild fire only through the Internet.

Should we keep a close eye on our children? Certainly. And, the Internet itself allows the monitoring of a home remotely via the Internet.

Finally, extreme caution should be exercised before throwing out the baby along with the bath water.

Der Ragachover’s Assistant

By: cherryhillbilly

cherryhillbilly — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:22:18 +0000

As a staunch litvak I can not seem to to understand why we have to attack the Gerrer Chasidim. The Holy Gerrer Rebbe, The Bais Yisrael, Zichrono Levracha taught his chasidim that the only real way of growing spiritually is with kedusha and tahara. Although we recognize the tremendous amount of gain one can have from the computer, if the focus of ones life is to be an Oved Hashem (which it should be) then we should all strive for kedusha and tahara! Instead of maligning the Gerrer Chasidim we should recognize that there are special people who are willing to put their values and ideals before EVEN their parnassah and applaud them.