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5 Adar II 5765 - March 16, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
New "Kosher" Cell Phones Free of Content Services

By Betzalel Kahn

After several months of exhausting negotiations a solution has been found to make cellular communications available without risk to the chareidi community. MIRS has now begun to sell cell phones that allow only talk, after the Vaadat Harabbanim LeInyonei Tikshoret, founded by maranan verabonon gedolei Yisroel shlita, reached an agreement over the manufacture and sale of cell phones completely disconnected from content services, as per instructions of maranan verabonon.

This week MIRS is slated to open three special service centers for the chareidi community—in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and Ashdod. In addition dozens of specially trained religious sales representatives will be marketing directly to the public in chareidi centers around the country. Company representatives say that the more subscribers join the new program, the more the rate for communications between subscribers will decrease and the more efficient, flexible and convenient cellular service will become.

Several months ago rabbonim, led by Maran HaRav Eliashiv shlita, were consulted regarding problems created by cell phones with their array of innovations that pose spiritual threats, particularly to youth. Gedolei Yisroel heard alarming reports of spiritual and educational pitfalls resulting from the content services accessible using most cell phones. One of the worst problems was the "third-generation" phones, which allow functions even more detrimental than earlier content services.

To confront these problems the rabbonim founded a special committee headed by HaRav Asher Tannenbaum to address the situation and to seek solutions. Other committee members include HaRav Boruch Shraga, HaRav Tzvi Friedman, HaRav Yisroel Fishbein, HaRav Amrom Offman and HaRav Yosef Wosner. Rabbi Chaim Lang serves as committee secretary.

The committee members met intensively for several weeks in search of a solution to halt the spiritual deterioration resulting from content services, which have penetrated the chareidi public and come to pose a critical spiritual threat.

The committee members decided to instruct the chareidi press to stop carrying all advertising by cellular companies. Yated Ne'eman and Hamodia honored their request immediately and other chareidi publications soon followed suit.

Over the course of the subsequent months the committee continued to study the problem, consulting dozens of communications and technology experts and jurists. With the help of Attorney Yaakov Weinroth, who provided gedolei Yisroel his services pro bono, negotiations were held with all of the cellular companies, but only MIRS demonstrated a genuine readiness to meet the chareidi public's demands.

When the negotiations were finished the rabbinical committee granted approval for the company's cell phones following the signing of a binding legal agreement. According to the agreement, all kosher cell phones will be marked with a special seal and the phone numbers for these devices will all begin with the same dialing code and prefix.

After the agreement was signed with MIRS, it was also decided to issue a statement signed by gedolei Yisroel led by Maran HaRav Eliashiv shlita, directing those who must use cellular devices to choose only cell phones authorized by the rabbinical committee. Signed by a long list of rabbonim representing every stream of Torah-true Judaism, the notice reads, "The great spiritual danger inherent in the development of high-tech communications is widely known and we can no longer stand by quietly and watch the resulting spiritual decline, chas vesholom. Therefore we have appointed Vaadat HaRabbanim LeInyanei Tikshoret, which has been authorized to address this matter . . .

"Now, following concerted efforts, with chasdei Shomayim we have found a solution to the problem of cellular telephones and reached an arrangement to make possible the use of cellular devices without stumbling blocks.

"We hereby state our opinion, daas Torah, that whoever needs a cellular device (but not those who were instructed not to use any type of cellular device whatsoever, e.g. yeshiva students, Bais Yaakov students and seminary students) may possess and use only this device approved by the above committee and marked with a special imprint. The possession or use of other types of devices not approved by the rabbinical committee is strictly prohibited, as are advertisements for any unapproved company or device. And let this not be breached, and all who heed will be rewarded with pleasantness and will merit nachas from all of their offspring."

Information on the agreement signed and letters from gedolei Yisroel distributed in chareidi population centers around the country brought feelings of satisfaction over the success of the uncompromising struggle to remove the plague wrought by cell phones.

MIRS says concerted efforts are being made to make kosher cell phones available to all as quickly as possible. Since a sufficient quantity of cell phones is not yet in stock to supply all cell phone users the rabbinical committee said as soon as broad availability is arranged the public will be notified, "and from that point on no one should be found evading [the directives of gedolei Yisroel] by possessing unapproved cell phones."

Rabbonim and public figures said maranan verabonon defined the battle for kosher communications as an existential battle, a battle for the soul, and that every effort must be made to ensure its success.

According to MIRS spokesmen, the company has decided to launch special subscription offers in the near future. The company is offering three models of Motorola cell phones, all of which allow no access to content services and which have no way of ever connecting to them. The cell phones themselves will also be available at attractive prices subject to the amount of monthly airtime.

 

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