Gedolei Yisroel have insisted on the continuation of a series of rallies to thwart off the dangers of technological communication, in conjunction with the Rabbinical Committee for Fortifying the Walls of Jewry. Within this goal, massive gatherings have been held in Rechovot and Brachfeld Estates (Modi'in Illit). This past motzei Shabbos. such an assembly was also held for the general public of Ofakim, embracing all of its communities and circles, the members of which filled the auditorium to bursting.
The rally was opened with a moving recital of pirkei Tehillim, followed by a message from the Rav of Ofakim, HaRav Amram Ohayun, who elaborated on welcoming such a huge turnout of people who sought to strengthen themselves, but noting that this very fact also denoted the urgent need for such an assembly and the distressing fact thereof.
HaRav David Kadosh conveyed the words of his eminent father-in-law, HaRav Shalom Cohen, Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef, as follows: "In the past, the yetzer hora was outside the Beit Medrash, but today, the temptation is so great that one can actually carry those dangerous devices on his person and enter the Beit Medrash. The trial is a very difficult one."
HaRav Yisroel Yaakov Pincus, Rav of the community, read in his introduction, the words of chizuk sent to the assembly by the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman. "This rally, assembled here lesheim Shomayim, to protect and save the public from the great Destroyer of the Internet, is very significant. May all those present, gathered here to be fortified, be blessed with all the blessings found in the Torah."
HaRav Pincus continued by presenting two main points from the Rosh Yeshiva's message. He said that Maran expressed upon several occasions that a `kosher Internet' does not exist. He compared it to one whose life was in danger and had to eat treif (pork), but insisted that it be prepared with all of the fine intricacies of kashrus. When a question arose about the lungs of the animal, the Rav who was consulted said that he couldn't rule that they were `kosher' because this was a contradiction and an inconsistency.
The entire roster of Torah leaders concur that one who has no other recourse, should consult the experts of the Vaad HaRabbonim Consultation Headquarters for Fortifying the Walls of Jewry, who are in constant connection with rabbonim, but this applies only as a last resort for those who have no alternative. Whoever does not need it should shun and flee from it.
HaRav Eliezer Einhorn, Rosh Yeshivas Ofakim, read the outspoken letter of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, written expressly for this gathering, which stated, "It is an absolute obligation determined by these times to seek ways and means and to sacrifice oneself in order to escape this terrible modern-day plague which our ancestors never dreamed of, called the Internet, which destroys the body and obliterates the soul and catapults a person to the bottomless abyss, rendering him capable of transgressing the three Cardinal Sins. There is no possible heter to used it (without the specific permission from rabbonim), and there is nothing as liable to bind him with gentiles and sinners as that dread Internet."
