Editor's Note: In Israel rabbonim have certified Internet-capable cell phones for use in Israel, since there are people who cannot function in their work without them. However these special, limited phones are not meant for everyone. They are only for those who must have them. Everyone else uses the simple cell phones that can only do voice communications. This letter is addressed to those who use the more powerful phones.
The Dangers of "WhatsApp"
1. We wish to clarify again that the devices under our supervision are geared primarily to save souls from the polluted devices and are intended only for those who require them for their livelihood. The public may use these cellular devices certified by the Vaadas HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tikshores only according to the directive of gedolei Yisroel past and present.
2. The use of WhatsApp, Telgram etc. in particular entails great risk of devastating addiction to things that are vacuous and void, that can lead to the loss of human dignity and to exposure to forbidden sights such as they present, which can spread with lightning speed from group to group [in these applications]. And even those who availed themselves of these phones initially for work, have ended up using them mainly for entertainment, which destroys their souls and alienates them from their homes.
Therefore, it is altogether apparent that even one who must use a protected device, must refrain and/or disconnect himself from the WhatsApp groups.
Signed for the sake of the purity of our camp
Sariel Rosenberg Yehuda Silman
