Net-Out is the name for the National Headquarters for Internet Cutoff. The ninety plus volunteers who man the offices all over the country attended an internal rally which took place in Bnei Brak this week. The majority of them are kollel members who take precious time off to provide this tremendous chessed which is a virtual life saving service.
The organization, established a year-and-a-half ago, enables computer users to sever themselves from access to Internet through laptops. Torah leaders issued a letter during Aseres Yemei Teshuva of 5772, in which HaRav Eliashiv, and HaRav Wosner and HaRav Karelitz determined that all laptops must dissolve possible access to the Internet from home based and laptop computers and thus avoid pitfalls and evil.
HaRav Shteinman, it will be remembered, offered words of encouragement to the rabbonim and heads of the control center, noting that no one can be trusted to rely on himself, which is why it is mandatory to cut off the Internet unless one has a hetter on the grounds of financial loss. Of this aspect it is said, "A person is concerned over the loss of money, but is not concerned over the loss of days."
The heads of the organization also heard an address from HaRav Chaim Kanievsky where he stated that one who writes chidushei Torah on a computer which is not filtered is performing a mitzvah by way of a sin. HaRav Binyomin Finkel, HaRav Chaim Wosner, HaRav Yosef Meir Altman and HaRav Menachem Stein.
HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, could not attend, but he sent a letter that can be read if you click here. In addition, HaRav Zilberstein noted that he had been sent, that very day, a fax by a woman who asked him a serious shaila about breaking up her household. She is a mother of nine who had been married 19 years, but her husband, who had been an avreich choshuv, fell through contact with the Internet. "How did this fall begin?" asked HaRav Zilberstein. "Through use of the Internet for parnossoh without a proper filter. Today her husband does not go to daven on weekdays or on Shabbos, Rachmono litzlan."
The final speaker was the founder of the organization, HaRav Aharon Adari. He thanked HaRav Binyomin Finkel for is ongoing assistance, the Vaad HaRabbonim for Tikshoret, the organizers of the kenes and the representatives for performing some 10,000 cutoffs so far. He also noted the fruitful cooperation with G.A.T. the world organization for use of technology according to the Torah that was founded by gedolei haTorah of America, that has already set up 19 centers in the US and Europe.
The headquarters can supply callers with the phone number of the representative nearest his home. The disconnection is carried out on two levels of protection: through a WIFI card and the installation of a blockage through the Netiv company for free, by compliments of the company in order to increase sanctity within our camp. The phone center is open from 08:00 until 24:00 and it can be reached at 1599-50-22-00.
