Reply To: Unfiltered Access to the Internet allowed?

Aries,

There is a biblical prohibition called Yichud which basically means it is prohibited for one man and one woman to be secluded together.

The severity of this prohibition is such that there is considerable debate amonst Poskim as to whether it is Y’hurag V’al Yavor. (See Tzitz Eliezer, kuntrus on hilchos yichud)

Now basically all agree that Yichud is not an issur atzmi meaning it is not an issur because it inteslf is prohibited rather because it is prohibited because it may lead to actual Gilui Ervah (See Sefer Dvar Halach Perek Aleph.

The question then is why is Arayos different then all other issurim which do not have Biblical prohibition son that which may lead to it?

The most simple ansewer given is because Gilui Ervah is different it is something which Nafshoi Shel Odum Michemed OSam (Gemora Makos) the very essence of a persons being desires it SEfer Chassidim an Rav Tzodok as weel as the Ohr Hachaim take this to mean that when someone is faced with the oppurtunity to sin in this manner it is virtually impossible to overcome accordingly it was this issur and this alone which the Torah made a prohibition stating one is not allowed to even be in such a situation that may cause him to have the temptation to sin.

The Gemora in Sukka (HaChulil) says further Rabbah (if I remember correctly) saw a situation where one simple person actually overcame such a temptation. He began to cry stating if it would have been him he would not have been able to. A zaken ( perhaps Eliyahu HaNuvi) came and told him Don’t worry the reason you would have sinned is because Kol Hagodol M’Chavero Yitzro Gadol Himenu he who is greater then his friend has a greater yetzer hora.

The Gemora at the end of Kiddushin states the Rebi Akiva ( a Tanna compared to Moshe Rabbeinu!) would have sinned if not for a Bas Kol warning the Yetzer Hora “Hizharu B’rabi Akiva V’toraso”.

In light of all that Chazal have taught us of the dangers of this particular Yetzer Hora in my view it is particularly foolish for someone to say that ” I can Have it and I will not Sin” are they Greater the Rabi Akiva?

How can one say on the one hand it is prohibited to be alone with a strange woman for ten minutes because we are afraid he may sin. Even if he is the Gadol HaDor ( who usually has “learnt” a great deal but on the other hand is permitted to allow access to the worse temptations in his house in his very own living room.

One who feels that is akin to what the Mesilas Yeshorim says is a blind man walking on the edge of a cliff. For despite the numerous warnings of Chazal he has no idea what the Yetzer Hora is.

At the very least I would beg that person go ask Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky or Rav Aron Shechter or Rav Feivel Cohen or Rav Chaim Stein or any Gadol what is causing the single biggest churban in Klal Yisroel today unfettered access to the internet or Drinking on Purim? How much do you wish to bet on the ansewer?