Dump Your Smartphones Or Get A New Rebbe

The Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel has laid down an ultimatum for his hasidim – to rid themselves of their smartphones within a month of look for a new rebbe.

Satmar Rebbe’s Ultimatum: Turn in Smartphone or Get Out
Yeshiva World

Following the unprecedented event at CitiField led by gedolei yisrael shlita, the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, has laid down an ultimatum for his chassidim; to rid themselves of their smartphones within a month of look for a new rebbe.

As the chassidim gathered towards the end of Shavuos for the tradition ‘baglitein dir yomtov’ the rebbe addressed the tzibur in the beis medrash. After giving his chassidim a bracha the rebbe surprised the tzibur by coming out in a very strong tone against the smartphones, making his position on the matter crystal clear.

The rebbe reminded chassidim that one may not have a computer in one’s home, as has been the takana for some time. There are exceptions regarding a computer with internet access pertaining to making a living, but only with filtered internet.

The rebbe went on to address the smartphones, stating that all “klei kodesh”, referring to avreichim, talmidim, magidei shiur, mashgichim, shochtim, bodkim, and sofrim may not have such a device – no exceptions. The rebbe called on directors of mosdos Satmar worldwide to begin enforcing this in four weeks, permitting chassidim an interim period to readjust their lives and acquire an acceptable phone. Anyone who does not comply will no longer be permitted to continue in his position, whether this involves an avreich or any of the others mentioned.

The conversation then turned to the women, with the rebbe explaining they too may not have a smartphone under any circumstances. For men, it is permitted towards earning a livelihood, but only with internet filtering.

[Hat Tip: Seymour.]

Comments

[joe shmoe]

The article is about R' Aron and the pic is from R' Zalmen, what a tragic mixup

[pee brain]

wrong pic

[ds]

but won't they set them on fire if they leave?

[Joe]

Dump Your Smartphones Or Get A New Rebbe

I'll take the new rebbe

[flat earth]

Is he pulling the kid under the table?

[ger]

And why exactly are the women not permitted a smartphone (surely some of them earn a living) - what of the ipad?

[WorkingHaredim]

There are exceptions regarding a computer with internet access pertaining to making a living, but only with filtered internet.

*Making a living* them powerful words!

[JK2]

How is this rule to be enforced?

Or is it considered simply a matter of conscience?

[New Yorker]

Picture wasn't a mix up, that is the new Rebbie if U can't comply.

[Rocky]

Does that mean that non-compliers will lose their patronage jobs in the community? What do all the fancy titles actually mean?

[jancsibacsi]

This is the 21 st century and theese rebbes wants to dictate to his followers to live like it is the 19 th century what a waste of human intellect.

[mmm]

its not the wrong pic. the pic is from Aron Tittelbaum. he did not attend the asifa, so now he has to out-do everyone else. i hope that this campaign ends soon. they are going to far. i might move. people in islamic countries have way more freedom that chasidim

[effie]

A $9 buck Tracfone has internet access. Are there any phones that do not have internet these days?

[Sarek]

Call his bluff. No way would he quit that cushy job where everyone licks his tuchus.

[Yaakov]

Sarek:

He doesn't mean he would leave, he means the refusenik would be defrocked.

[Jodi]

Hareidim feel threatened by anything that has 'smart' in it.

[Moe]

A "smart phone" without a data plan is not so smart, would that be permissible?

[Glitter]

Who actually makes a living in that community? *smirks*

I see an "asifa" where people turn their phones in to this guy and he sells them for cash. *suckers*

[Appalled]

New rebbe. For sure

Why is he touching that kid. Shiver

[torah police]

Every single one of the satmar offices worlwide have internet access. Let the rebbes show us by example by getting rid of it themselves. Also he should make a public announcement that satmar will no longer accept any donations from anyone who has internet access. Untill they show us that they are no longer hypocrites no one will listen to these bufoons.

[Korbendallas72]

The iron fist is all he has left. What a sad sack of shit.

[Bench Kvetcher]

Seeee yaaaa!!!!!!!!

[seymour]

This is the 21 st century and theese rebbes wants to dictate to his followers to live like it is the 19 th century what a waste of human intellect.

Posted by: jancsibacsi | May 30, 2012 at 03:19 PM

that a step up since they dress like people from 1600s

[Litvish]

Give 'em enough rope and they'll hang themselves.

Good riddance, alle men.

[David]

"Or Get A New Rebbe"

No brainer.

[Garnel Ironheart]

Rebbe or cell phone. Not a hard choice

[Hadasah]

I guess that I will see more Hasidim using the computers at the Apple Store. :Sigh:

[SkepticalYid]

A quad core smart phone with a siri like interface could probably replace a rebbe anyway .

[David]

A quad core smart phone with a siri like interface could probably replace a rebbe anyway .

Posted by: SkepticalYid | May 30, 2012 at 04:46 PM

Except they would have to give it a male voice. Otherwise they might start dancing with their smart phones.

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: David | May 30, 2012 at 05:11 PM

and you know that that might lead to!

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

This MacArthur Fellow is not impressed. He refuses to own a cellphone of any type. He is also a saint in the Church of Emacs.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

I have a tracfone that's so old not only does it not have Internet, it has a dial.

Back to Brooklyn? Will they give up on Green Acres to keep their cellphones?

[BOB]

"The conversation then turned to the women, with the rebbe explaining they too may not have a smartphone under any circumstances. For men, it is permitted towards earning a livelihood, but only with internet filtering."

This would indicate that Reb Aron is apposed to women in the workforce.

[NeverFrum]

"For men, it is permitted towards earning a livelihood, but only with internet filtering."

I don't imagine there will be many of these guys able to use that loophole.

[Decisions]

Don't rush me! I'm thinking. I'm thinking. Maybe I better text my rebbe.

[rebitzman]

Turning off the italics.

[jancsibacsi]

The rebbe is counting on his brainless zombies to adhere to his eddicy,the whole of hassidism is is a mockery of of humanities intelligence.

[failed]

new rebbe...hmmm, nowhere in the family might one find a new rebbe...?

[Yochanan Lavie]

Better a smart phone than a dumb rebbe.

[Bob Guthrie]

Posted by: SkepticalYid
A quad core smart phone with a siri like interface could probably replace a rebbe anyway.

Brother! =D

[Oy]

Let him go... there probably is a Rebbe app fro the smart phone anyway.

[Dr. Dave]

If you dump both your i-phone and your android, do you get to ignore both R. Aharon and R. Zalman?

[Bob Guthrie]

Posted by: Oy
Let him go... there probably is a Rebbe app fro the smart phone anyway.

Ask, and you shall receive:

ISRAEL365, a Rebbe app for iPhone/iPad (no joke): http://tinyurl.com/7wt3f7p

[soso]

Well, in fact they are right: What does a mashgiach, kollelnik, etc. need Internet for?

In fact, this is no worse than banning television...

[SkepticalYid]

If you dump both your i-phone and your android, do you get to ignore both R. Aharon and R. Zalman?

Posted by: Dr. Dave | May 31, 2012 at 12:33 AM

They share one point of agreement..nothing beats a Rim.

[Bob Guthrie]

Google: "The best torah app for IOS/Android."

*There's 200+ apps for iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet.
*30+ religious Jewish Podcasts available for Android/iPhone/iPad
*A Jewish iPhone app community: http://www.jewishiphonecommunity.org/
*Best rated Torah smartphone/tablet app: the iPad Torah.
*News site with suggestions for the best apps for your iPhone on the Jewish business world: http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/jewish_techs/iphone_app_jewish_organizations

Google: "Haredi smartphone app."

*"Either the Smartphone Goes or I Go, Rabbi Tells Followers" -Betabeat.com
*"Dump Your Smartphones Or Get A New Rebbe" - Failedmessiah
*"Haredim declare war on smartphones" - Ynet
*"40000 Ultra-Orthodox Jews plan to rally against the internet" - Globalpost

(Wait?):

*"Borderline Views: The Internet and the hared community". "Pragmatists are winning between opponents, proponents of Internet technology usage in ultra-Orthodox communities." - Jerusalem post (oh ho, a crack in the dike. The Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas doesn't seem to have a full grasp on all of the Haredi's throats).

[Bob Guthrie]

Posted by: SkepticalYid
They share one point of agreement..nothing beats a Rim.

*Hiss!. Hiss!* Heretic! >=)

[rational man]

i vote for dumping the rebbe....

[rational man]

i think they should offer cash rewards ...similar to the turn in your gun program.....25 maybe 50 dollars per phone...then again perhaps i should do it and resell them on ebay.......and i have a guaranteed way it can be successful.....offer the rebbe a cut of the action

[Samuel Meyer]

Anyone has Iphones that work on Verizon, I can use two of them. As this is a way to do what the Rebbe wants, you should not be making money on it, however, I will pay you a $25 convenience fee for each of the phones.

actually, come to think of it, anyone has any smart phone, Microsoft, android or I Phone, please email me Rabbibsa@aol.com and I will take it off your hands and send you a Certificate that certify's you as a true Satmar Chossid, you can hang it in your house. (phones with a value of over $200, I will send you a framed certificate)!

[Fleishike Kishke]

We have to build a fence around smart phones. No more phones of ANY kind. From now on, if you have something to say to somebody, come in and tell it to the gabbai. He'll pass the message along if he thinks it's appropriate.

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: Bob Guthrie | May 31, 2012 at 05:38 AM

I was wondering if anyone would figure out the pun :-D

[Them kvetcher]

For a limited time. Any aroni that goes over to zalis side will get a smartphone with unlimited Internet access for two years.