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.
