A Modern Day Book Burning In Israel?

Yemenites smash TVs for the 'sake of God and Torah.'

Here's how one English-language haredi source describes the event:

On Shavuos Israel received the Torah – Unfortunately, Israel also sinned with the golden calf.
Tomorrow at 3:30pm (8:30am EST) people will gather at the square in Rosh Haayin (center of Town) with their TV sets and hammers…
The people who decide to join… will now destroy the “golden calf” in public to make a kidush Hashem. [Sanctification of G-ds name]
(i.e. by smashing their TV sets in public)
Few things about TVs
1. Often brings strife to the home.
2. Causes people to ignore other family members.
3. It displays murder, promiscuity, violence and cursing right in your living room.
The list goes on… I think it is known that TVs are unhealthy to the Jewish soul and for the Jewish Family…it’s possibly a big challenge to get rid of it too…. Therefore the reward is even greater for those who do.
I think we should organize this type of thing for Jews all over the world…
Before Shavuos this is Great News for Israel.
And especially for those tzadikim who are going to bust their TVs in public – What a big merit for them.
Ashreichem Yisrael!

He finishes off the post by noting the event ended "successfully." Maybe next week they'll burn copies of Ha'aretz, Encyclopedia Judaica, and printouts from blogs. Maybe they already have. After all, it's easier not to know.

Video of the TV smashing.

[Hat Tip: Aharon Varady.]

Comments

[maven]

They can get goofy up there. I'll bet alot of those folks were part of the Rav Uzi Meshullam mania a few years ago, I'll have to look closely at the pictures (I used to spend a lot of time there).

[face]

Shmarya are you a chardal?

[maven]

oh, I was right! Go to the Hebrew site, Shmarya, you missed an important point! This was an Amnon Yitzchak event!

[Yochanan Lavie]

This reminds me of the opening credits to Second City TV, when sets were defenstrated throughout the world, including the tiny republic of Togo. Life imitates art; the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce (paraphrase).

[SJ]

Inventing television has advanced humanity's understanding of the way the world works. It was also a precursor to computers - vital to 21st century business.

The television also created jobs, provided a platform for telling great stories, and something for the family to do together.

Despite any imperfection, television has been a benefit to humanity.

[steve]

They're made as hell and they're not gonna take it anymore! They must have seen Peter Finch in "Network".

[steve]

...or maybe Trini Alvarado in "Times Square".

[FirstGenerationBavarianAmerican]

ROFL....I noted two things:
1. No one was wearing proper clothing and eye protection. Imploding TV picture tubes have caused many eye injuries in the past.
2. Not one flat screen TV in the lot. Some were old and dusty. Possibly not even operational?

[Shmarya]

It's a poor community.

[Ahavah]

Of course TV also lets you study history, anthropology, archaeology, biology, science, economics, current events, social and cultural issues, and of course, other philosophies and religions. There are GED shows on TV to help kids get a secular education. There are shows on art, music, dance, photography, painting, quilting, gardening, household maintenance - need I go on? TV is a tool like any other tool. You can misuse a hammer - or you can build a masterpiece with it. Whatever is evil or good is not in the machine, it's in the hand that wields it.

[maven]

You can rest assured that they smashed old broken down TVs, no one took their actual TV out of the house. Its Rosh Haayin, much like redneck country, old broken down cars and appliances all over the place, it would be easy to round up the old models and have fun smashing them up for Amnon Yitzchak.

[mkarpas]

They are probably getting rid of their old TVs to make way for HDTV.

Remember June 12th is conversion day.

[radical feminist]

Not an environmentally sound way to dispose of your television set; you should send it to a electronics waste disposal company instead.

[modecai]

A TV is a tool, an appliance. Like a knife, you can use it for good or bad.

[none]

They have a right to do whatever they want with their own tv sets. If you are offended by this, you have insecurity issues.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

This may surprise some people coming from me, but I believe getting rid of TV was one of the best decisions we ever made in our house - although the Internet become a competing problem over time. It is a hypnotic disaster of a time waste. It's fascinating to listen to adults and children alike having long conversations about inane TV series. While true there is good content available, it is still a minority of programming available, and it is still difficult to control the content available to children (unless you Tivo/DVR everything). We do rent films on DVD, which allows us to have access to the more worthy examples of the medium without being seduced by the vast majority of crap broadcast over the cable services.

[Ben]

I'm against public smashing. However TV does not unite family and 99% of free programming is toxic garbage. If you want to get anything usefull you need to pay. Better to switch to on-demand internet instead. Time to dispose of TVs, they served their purpose.

[Dr. Dave]

Is it just me or do you smell a new high ratings hit reality program - Jewish Rubes smashing Boob Tubes ?

[shoshi]

What if you don't have a TV?

Will you buy one in order to smash it, so that you could also be considered a Zaddik?

[Yochanan Lavie]

What about the new Chareidi Channel? Here's a sample:

Gilgulim's Island: Wacky island of reincarnation.
I Dream of Jihad: Bring it on!
Welcome back, Kotler: A rosh yeshiva returns to the Hood.
All in the Mishpacha: Archie's favorite.
So, You Think You Can Learn: Amateurs do divrei torah.
Gevaldig Times: Ethiopian Jews in the PJ's.
Star Dreck: A chassidic captain argues with a Litvak Vulcan, who is also a Cohen.
Davening With the Stars: Another reality show.
The Sephardos: Moroccan gangsters.
Moshiach Impossible: Rav Schach goes to work against Chabad.
The Simpsteins: A wacky frum family.
Sponge Bob Squaretallit: cartoon.
Little Chabad House on the Prarie: Name says it all.
Beavis and Reb Butman: A delinquent and a meschist cause trouble.
CSI: Postville
Law and Chumrah: Police and rabbis debate the merits of the latest chumrot.
Celebrity Chevrusa: New Jew Ivanka Trump judges.
American Avodah Zarah: Amateur deities compete.
Ice Road Schucklers: About a shul in Alaska.
Hell's Kollel: A demanding Rosh Yeshiva vets wannabe learners.

[R]

Yochanan you forgot Heimishe Housewives.

I did the no TV and no internet for a month and it did nothing for the family at all. We didn't spend more time together either...i thought we would do more, but we didn't.
TV and internet become a problem if you make it a problem and as long as you limit your usage it is fine.
Some people find it harder to do that and for them not having a distraction of that kind is probably better for them.

[Ben]

Smashing TVs is not analogous to book burning. The proper analog is paper burning and ink spilling.

TV is just a medium which, unlike a book does not contain any specific information.

[Ha]

Dont see no plasma screens or LCDs here. Out with the old and in with the new!

[Deborah Shaya]

REMOVAL OF SOURCES OF TUMAH, and AVODAH ZARAH (spiritual ‘uncleanliness’, which is extremely damaging) FROM YOUR HOME/LIFE:

COMMANDMENT AGAINST IDOLATRY:

We are specifically commanded against idolatry, in the Second Commandment:

‘Do not have any other gods before Me.’

‘Lo yiheyeh lecha elohim acherim al Panai.’

And: ‘Do not represent (such gods) by any carved statue or picture of anything in the heaven above, or the earth below, or in the water below the land. Do not bow down to (such gods) or worship them. I am G-d your Lord, a jealous G-d, who demands exclusive worship. Where My enemies are concerned, I keep in mind the sin of the fathers for (their) descendants, to the third and fourth (generation). But for those who love Me and keep My commandments, I show love for thousands (of generations.)

‘Lo ta’aseh lecha pesel, vechol temunah asher bashamayim, mima’al va’asher ba’aretz, mitachat va’asher ba’mayim, mitachat la’aretz. Lo tishtachaveh lahem, ve’lo ta’avdem, ki Ani Hashem Elokecha, Kel Kanah, poked avon avot al banim, al shileshim, ve’al ribe’im, le’sonay. Ve’osseh chessed la’alafim, le’ohavai, u’leshomrei mitzvotai.’ (Parshat Yitro, Chapter 20, verses 3-6)

1. PLACES OF IDOLATRY

Do not go into any of the following, as they are all places of idolatry, and Avodah Zarah (literally ‘strange worship’). They deny the Sovereignty of Hashem, the One G-d, and Creator of the World.

- Churches
- Buddist temples
- Hindu temples
- Greek temples
- Temples/buildings of any other kind of foreign worship.

There is a lot of Tumah in them (spiritual ‘uncleanliness’ which can affect a person has veshalom, physically in different ways). Always walk to the opposite side of the road rather than walk directly past one of these buildings e.g. a church.

2. STONE/WOOD SCULPTURES OF THE HUMAN FORM; THE HUMAN FACE; STATUES

These are graven images. They should immediately be removed from your home and discarded, no matter how much they might have cost, or the sentimental value attached to them. They are a strong source of Tumah.

2a. Tefillah/Prayer – at home

When praying at home, a person should endeavour to pray in a room which does not contain any portraits of people or statues.

3. BOOKS

These are a strong source of Tumah, and bring in a lot of negativity into the home. These books negatively affect those who live in that home.

Go through every book in your home very carefully, and check for the following. If it falls into one of these categories, or you have doubt about it – sort them out into a pile, and then dispose of these books as soon as possible from your home. Or at least take them out of your home and put them in a shed if you can.

It is a very great mitzvah to remove such sources of Tumah from your home. If some of these books were expensive – discard them anyway, and put aside how much they cost. They are a form of Avodah Zarah, and should be removed immediately.

• Instead, place your EMUNAH (faith) in Hashem, that He will bless all your endeavours, and new, good things, will now be able to come into your life. You might start to feel better in yourself.
The following are some examples:

(a) ‘New Age’ books – (e.g. Indian authors, ‘Shambhala’ publications)

(b) Philosophical books (e.g. by Indian writers such as Deepak Chopra etc etc)

(c) Yoga/Tai Chi books – these physical exercises are based upon Avodah Zarah, and come from a source of Tumah. Practicing yoga or tai chi is therefore harmful to a Jewish person – spiritually, and therefore physically. Have Emunah in Hashem to find another alternative form of exercise.

(d) Meditation books - by non-Jewish or unorthodox Jewish writers.

Buddism abounds with “meditation.”

Meditation is only for Prophets – it is not for the ordinary man or woman.

(e) Books that appear ok – but contain many idolatrous images and drawings e.g. mathematical or philosophical books interspersed with pictures of dragons; snakes; mandalas; crosses; ‘third eyes’; hindu gods; hindu goddesses; buddas; tibetan gods; egyptian gods; greek gods; stone/gold idols etc etc – these should all be removed immediately from your home.

4. PHOTOGRAPHS

If you have taken holiday photographs of e.g. Buddist temples, whether on the outside or inside, these are a source of Tumah, and should be discarded. Similarly for buddist celebrations. These places of Avodah Zarah completely deny the Sovereignty of Hashem, the One and Only G-d, and Creator of the World. They should not be in your home.

The same applies to photographs of:
- Churches
- Hindu temples
- Greek temples
- Temples/buildings of any other kind of foreign worship.

Sort through your photographs, and discard those that relate to Avodah Zarah.

However attached you may feel to these photographs, they should be discarded, as they completely deny the Sovereignty of Hashem.

• Instead, place your EMUNAH (faith) in Hashem, that He will bless all your endeavours, and new, good things, will now be able to come into your life. You might start to feel better in yourself.

5. Discard any other items related in any way to Avodah Zarah. No matter how small and insignificant, or however large e.g. bookmarks with pictures of churches; jewellery and accessories.

SUMMARY:

1. Do not go into any places of idolatry.

2. Discard and remove from your home all stone/wood sculptures e.g. sculptures of:
(a) the human form (“nudes.”)
(b) the human face
(c ) statues – of the human form in particular.

3. Books – discard and destroy all books relating to Avodah Zarah.

4. Photographs – discard and destroy all photographs of Avodah Zarah.

5. Discard any other items you have relating to Avodah Zarah e.g.jewellery.

[Deborah Shaya]

HOW TO DO TESHUVAH FOR AVODAH ZARAH – once you have removed all sources of Tumah, and Avodah Zarah from your home/life.

CHECKLIST.

1. Say the KETORET twice a week at least (Tefillah, prayer).

The Ketoret has great Kedushah, (holiness) and power to transform all negatives into positives. Say the full text of the Ketoret in the full “Sefarad” version.

If you can say it every day, including Shabbat, this is even better. You can say it as many times as you like during the day.

The Ketoret is said formally 3 times a day in total: twice in the Shacharit, and once during the Minchah prayer.

2. Decide on an amount to give to TZEDAKAH, (charity) in Israel, so that it ‘hurts you’ a little bit. Give to a proper registered charity, such as a hospital or emergency services.

3. MEZUZOT – (Positive Mitzvah, commandment in the Shema – affirming that G-d is One, and warning against idolatry.)

Check that:

(a) You have properly affixed a mezuzah on every doorway which needs a mezuzah. This includes archways, patio doors, folding doors, side doors to garden, garden doors.

(b) If any places in your home are lacking a mezuzah, purchase one as soon as possible from a qualilfied Sofer (Scribe), and put it up as soon as possible.

(c) Check that all your mezuzot are kosher, as soon as you can. These should be given to a qualified Sofer (scribe) for checking.

(d) Mezuzot should ideally be checked once a year.

4. Travel to the KOTEL in Israel. If you can travel with a group of people who are going for the purposes of Teshuvah, this is even better. The purpose will be to pray, (Tefila and Teshuva), and ask Hashem, Hakadosh Baruch Hu, for His forgiveness, for mechilah. If a group can be arranged, this will be a greater mitzvah for everyone who joins. If you can go individually to the Kotel, in the meantime, before the group travel, this is also very good.

5. When you have done 1-3 and/or 4 above, (summarised below as well), you should obtain the special BERACHA, (blessing) of someone who is known to be a TRUE KOHEN/COHEN. This will bring Hashem’s brachot of the material and spiritual blessings directly into your life.

SUMMARY:

1. Say the Ketoret – at least twice a week.
Say the full text of the Ketoret in the full “Sefarad” version.

2. Give Tzedakah to recognised charity in Israel

3. Mezuzot - Have you affixed a mezuzah on every doorway?
- Have you checked that all your mezuzot are kosher?

4. Kotel in Israel – in a group (and individually, if possible)

5. Bracha of a true Kohen/Cohen.

[Deborah Shaya]

1. A Jewish Person (whether of Sephardi or Eastern European origin) is not allowed to go into ANY church. Every church, is quite simply, a place of idolatry. A church is a place of Avodah Zarah.

If a person has gone into a church, he/she must do Teshuva to Hashem quickly.
A person must similarly do Teshuva to Hashem if he/she has been inside any other place of idolatry e.g. a Buddist temple/Hindu temple/Greek temple/buildings of any other kind of foreign worship.

These are all places of Avodah Zarah.

If any Jew is a “Freemason,” this too is based upon Avodah Zarah. He/she must stop going to such a place, and associating with “freemasons.”

Hashem, our G-d, is a very “JEALOUS G-D” who demands “EXCLUSIVE WORSHIP.” (2ND Commandment of the Asseret Hadibrot.)

Teshuvah is very great and regarded very highly in Shamayim. A person should seize the opportunity to do Teshuva to Hashem right now, while "the Gates of Teshuva are open". By doing a true and sincere Teshuva to Hashem, the brachot (blessings) from Hashem will come into a person's life, and obstacles will begin to shift.

2. The written requests listed below should all be destroyed - as part of removing items connected with Avodah Zarah:

However “nice” or “comforting” or “accurate” the “reply you received” was; or whatever “beracha you received;” or “whatever the date of the letter was;” –these writings should be destroyed. They are Avodah Zarah.

There should be NO MEDIATOR between a person’s tefillot (prayers) and Hashem.
If a person chooses to use intercession instead of praying directly to Hashem, this is completely Assur, and forbidden.

(a) Written “Requests” of the Igrot/Igros (letters of advice written to other people by Rabbi M. Schneerson tz”l during his lifetime);

(b) FAXES AND LETTERS “SENT TO” Rabbi M. Schneersohn tz”l after he passed away in 1994 – at the Bet HaChaim (incorrectly referred to as the, “Ohel” by Lubavitch)

(c ) Any other communications (written) with tzaddikim at the Bet HaChaim (cemetery), who are not physically alive.

[Deborah Shaya]

1. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn tz”l, known as, ‘The Rebbe,’ was NOT the Mashiach.

Those who erroneously believe him to be the Mashiach that Am Yisrael is waiting for today, are bordering on Christianity, and committing the grave sin of Avodah Zarah, Idolatry.

Idolatry is forbidden in the Torah, and is the Second of the Asseret Hadibrot.
Similarly in the case of Breslov with Rav Nachman tz”l.

2. There should be NO MEDIATOR between a person’s tefillot and Hashem.

If a person chooses to use intercession instead of praying directly to Hashem, this is completely Assur.

If the leaders of Lubavitch/Chabad encouraged people to use the “Igrot” /(“Igros”) - including Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, tz”l - they were wrong. Using the Igrot is using intercession. Similarly the practices of

(1) "reading out the Igrot request to a PICTURE of Rabbi Schneersohn tz"l" is direct Avodah Zarah. We are only allowed to pray to Hashem.

(2) sending faxes to the Bet HaChaim should be stopped immediately.

(3) Praying directly to the Tzaddik at the Bet HaChaim is wrong. It causes tremendous tsaar to the Neshamah of the Tzaddik in Shamayim. We pray only to Hashem – directly ourselves. NO mediator is permitted.

These practices are abhorrent and against the Torah. They are assur and forbidden, and should all be stopped.

If the tzaddik advised that people do this in his lifetime – he was wrong. And this must be corrected. Speedily.

TESHUVAH to Hashem should be done speedily instead - by the whole of the Lubavitch organisation especially. The whole of the Lubavitch organisation is currently all refusing to do Teshuvah.

Similarly in the case of Breslov, with those who go Uman to pray directly to the Tzaddik – instead of directly to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. “Intercession” and “mediation” is against the Torah.

The Torah cannot be mixed with Avodah Zarah. This is twisting the Torah, and the Torah must remain straight.

[Deborah Shaya]

2a.There should be NO MEDIATOR between a person’s tefillot and Hashem.

Hashem likes to hear the prayers, tefillot, from our OWN mouths. Even if all we know is how to recite the first 3 letters of the Aleph Bet: Aleph, Bet, Gimmel... Our very own tefillot TO HASHEM, are much more precious than anything else.

By going to the Bet HaChaim (cemetery - incorrectly referred to as “the Ohel” by Lubavitch), and lighting a candle, praying, making a request, and then going home – such a person is “leaving it all to the tzaddik” who is not physically alive. You can’t leave it all “to him!”. This is completely Assur and forbidden.

We too, can be tzaddikim – and be like the tzaddik. The tzaddik has already made all his tefillot to Hashem in his lifetime. And these are very precious to Hashem. The tzaddik has now passed on.

Hashem is now waiting for US – to make our OWN tefillot to Him.

We pray to Hashem – at all times. If a person is insisting on praying to one of the creations of Hashem, instead of directly to the King Himself, Hashem will say to us, "You are meant to pray to ME!"

Remember that Hashem, our G-d, is a very "JEALOUS G-D" who demands "EXCLUSIVE WORSHIP." (2nd Commandment of the Asseret Hadibrot.)

What is your logic in going there?
The Ashkenazi tradition has encouraged people to do this, and it is very wrong. Teshuvah to Hashem must be done quickly.

3. The Jewish People is a “Holy People.” “Am Kadosh.”

We are referred to as being Hashem’s special “Treasure.” We are a “Holy Nation,” and so holy, that we are to emulate the Cohanim, who are of a much higher stature than the rest of the Jewish People. One day, we will all be on the level of a “Kingdom of Priests.”

Hashem has told us, “.…Ve’atem tiheyu li Mamlechet Kohanim ve’goi kadosh…” (Yitro, 19:5-6)

“…And you shall be to Me, a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, and a HOLY NATION….”

The Benei Yisrael must follow the example of the true Cohanim. We should emulate the Cohanim in our daily lives. The Cohanim are not allowed to go into any cemetery (Jewish or not Jewish), as they cannot come into contact with ANY meitim whatsoever. We too, should emulate the Kohanim in our daily lives, and be pure like them.

We too, should not be coming into contact with meitim where we can help it.

Hashem has told us, “.…Ve’atem tiheyu li Mamlechet Kohanim ve’goi kadosh…” (Yitro, 19:5-6)

“…And you shall be to Me, a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, and a HOLY NATION….”

A person’t tefillot, prayers, from the Kotel, or from his or her own house are truly delightful to Hashem. A person can also go to the Kotel to pray, and make the journey there, to pray to Hashem. Hashem’s Presence is always there.

[Deborah Shaya]

4. Why was the place of Moshe Rabeinu, the very greatest of all the Prophets, kept hidden from us? Precisely so that Moshe would c”v never be worshipped. So that people would never pray to Moshe, c”v, instead of directly to Hashem, themselves. The Torah states very clearly:

“…velo yada ish et kevurato ad hayom hazeh” (Vezot Haberacha 34:6) “…and no man knows the place that he was buried even to this day.”

If people are praying to a tzaddik, who is finite – and of far lesser stature than Moshe Rabeinu – instead of to Hashem – who is Infinite – that is avodah zarah.

If people wish to go to the Kivrei Tzaddikim to pray to Hashem from there, that is their choice. Far better, is to encourage people to go instead to the most holy place in the world – the Kotel. Hashem’s Presence is always there.

The Kotel is where people should be going to pray to Hashem. Not the Bet HaChaim.

5. If people want to pray to anyone else, and make requests of any being other than Hakadosh Baruch Hu, they might as well join Christianity.

When Moshe Rabeinu prayed, he prayed to Hashem. He did not pray to any Malachim or any celestial beings. These are all the creations of Hashem.

We are not allowed to pray to the creations of Hashem.

Similarly, with regard to the Selichot, and the Neilah prayer for Yom Kippur in the Ashkenazi tradition - they include direct Tefillot and requests to Malachim.

The Malachim are the creations of Hashem.

We are not allowed to pray to any Malachim.

This is completely assur and causes very great damage and harm. I emphasise that this is something very grave which needs to be rectified as well - speedily.

The Selichot and the Neilah Tefillah for Yom Kippur should be amended speedily to remove all prayers and requests to Malachim.

[Deborah Shaya]

6. The false argument used by Lubavitch to permit intercession on a person’s behalf, is the act of Calev ben Yefuneh praying at the Cave of Machpelah in Chevron. He prayed for success in his mission of “spying out” the Land, Eretz Yisrael.

No one can use this as a precedent for asking the Tzaddikim - and specifically, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn tz"l - who are no longer alive physically on earth, to pray on a person’s behalf. This causes them tremendous suffering in Shamayim.
This is twisting the Torah, and the Torah cannot ever be twisted.

The reason Calev’s act cannot be used as a precedent, is that NO ONE, can be compared to the supreme Kedusha of the Avot, of Avraham, Yitzchak ve’Yaakov Avinu.

We pray the Amidah 3 times a day, and we always recall the great merit of the Avot in the very first Beracha. What can be greater than that when we pray to Hashem?

This does need to be corrected very quickly, to be in line with the Torah.

7. When people need help, why doesn’t Lubavitch teach people to look inside the Torah, which is Eternal and Infinite - instead of letters written to other people by Rabbi Schneersohn tz”l during his lifetime?

Why doesn't Lubavitch choose the very greatest of all prophets, Moshe Rabbeinu?

8. Moshe Rabeinu is the greatest of all prophets, and no other prophet was equal to him.

“Zichru Torat Moshe Avdi” we are told in Malachi (3:22)

There simply is no comparison between Moshe Rabbeinu and Rabbi Schneersohn tz”l, although Rabbi Schneersohn tz”l was a Tzaddik and a very righteous and good man.

Moshe Rabbeinu was the greatest of all prophets, and we do not even pray in the name of Moshe. Neither do we pray in the name of David Hamelech, whose descendent is the Mashiach.

However, in the very first Beracha of the Amidah, the silent prayer to Hashem containing our requests, we recall the merit of the Avot: “…..Elokei Avraham, Elokei Yitzhak Velokei Yaakov….” “….The G-d of Avraham, the G-d of Yitzhak and the G-d of Yaakov…”
The beracha is concluded with “Magen Avraham.

In summary:
(1) We pray to Hashem – at all times.

(2) There should be NO mediator between Hashem and a person’s tefillot – otherwise this is Assur.

Therefore the practice of using the “Igrot” /(“Igros”) for "requests" and "guidance" should be stopped. Similarly the practices of sending faxes to the Bet HaChaim, and praying to the tzaddik at the Bet HaChaim instead of directly to Hashem ourselves - should be stopped immediately. They are abhorrent and against the Torah.

The reason for this is that these practices use intercession. And the use of a “mediator” or someone to “intercede on a person’s behalf” to Hashem, is assur.

Teshuvah to Hashem must be done - very speedily.

[Yakira]

Some people really like to hear themselves talk, hint: Deborah Shaya. There are some junk on TV but there are also very informative programs on there as well. It is up to the viewer as to how he/she uses the TV.