A huge rally took place this past Sunday evening, 22 Elul, encompassing all the Jewish Torah population centers throughout Eretz Yisroel. It was addressed by gedolei Yisroel, rabbonim and educators, and dealt with vigilance over our homes and the souls of our children against the threat of modern technology while particularly focusing on proper blockage of Internet access in work places.
Tens of thousands attended this rally and heard the message of HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman: "It is forbidden to access open Internet even for the sake of livelihood."
It is to be noted that in rare cases in which work places did not have proper blockage, the Rosh Yeshiva ruled that people should quit that office. In a video presentation shown, an avreich told how in wake of this directive, his wife announced her intention to leave, upon which the head of the company decided to make an unprecedented exception to allow her to arrange for an adequate screening of her computer.
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky relayed his message through his daughter, Rebbetzin Kolodetzky, who said in his name, "Heavenly assistance in parnossa is impossible if one is working with unmonitored access to Internet, while those who guard themselves will surely be privy to siyata deShmaya in their livelihood. And through watchfulness in the Torah's warning of `and He will remove Himself from you,' they will merit His return so that `on the wake of Shevi'is, the son of Dovid [Moshiach] will come.' "
The huge audience of tens of thousands were shown poignant presentations with powerful messages presenting spine-chilling cases of homes which were torn asunder through the improper use of Internet. Great emphasis was placed on watchfulness and alertness over children from exposure to Internet through friends etc. Rabbonim and educators elaborated on the subject and provided guidelines on imbuing our children with revulsion to such things.
