"The Internet is the prime inciter and agitator of our generation, in the same way and scope that the accursed Haskalah movement wreaked havoc in the vineyard of Jewry in its time." These were the forceful words of HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman in a meeting with the Novominsker Rebbe, Rosh of the American Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel. This took place in a special visit at HaRav Shteinman's home where he expressed his deep pain regarding the scourge of Internet and the spiritual holocaust which it was creating throughout the U.S.
The Novominsker Rebbe replied that after the First World War, America was a spiritual wasteland. Shabbos observance was close to impossible for the immigrants who had to support their families. There was no body responsible for Kashrus supervision nor were there schools for Jewish children in the spirit of Torah-true tradition and thus were entire generations lost to our people. Today, baruch Hashem, there is no threat to Shabbos observance. There are excellent Torah schools and Kashrus is under excellent regulation. But Satan does not rest idle and sends technological plagues to bring upon us ruin and devastation regarding everything dear and pure to Jewry.
The Rosh Hayeshiva expressed his feelings very sharply and said, "The Internet is the greatest inciter and destroyer of our generation, and whoever falls prey to it finds himself hurtling to a point of no return. All means and measures must be taken to rouse us from our lethargy so as to hearken to the cry of the weak and susceptible ones."
During these very days, specific guidelines and directives are being publicized in the name of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky in special chizuk gatherings to prevent further inroads of the Internet. He acerbically stated, "The afflictions [we are privy to] come from these plagues and one must be very wary in thwarting them."
His guidelines included severe criticism against those who use unscreened Internet. He said, "These are verily destroying the world."
