Haredi Leaders Want To Ban Knowledge More Than Porn

Haredi religious leaders must provide honest answers to modern questions that are in line with what can be demonstrated empirically. Judaism itself expects and demands nothing less. It would be a real tragedy if a lack of courage and political will by haredi rabbis to confront these hard issues causes Judaism as a whole to loose credibility in the eyes of an Internet generation who correctly view anti-Internet gatherings for what they really are.

Knowledge is power: The haredi internet problem
Real threat is not the internet, but inconsistencies that have crept into our religion over the ages
Rabbi Levi Brackman • Ynet

It seems that after many years of ignoring the issue the Jewish world--at least the American haredi (ultra-Orthodox) wing of it--has realized that we live in the internet age. They have also noticed that the internet and its associated technologies can be disruptive. The internet offers easy access to pornography and to relationships that can be destructive to family life and community values. This much is true for all communities, groups and people. But there is one element that is particularly destructive to communities of faith and that’s how easy it is for people to access ideas that counter their beliefs.

The community is collectively addressing this issue in a special conference that is to take place later this month in New York’s Citi Field stadium. Tens of thousands are expected to be at the event and some of the communities most prominent religious leaders are slated to speak.

It is widely expected that certain pronouncements and edicts by rabbinic and spiritual leaders will result from this event. These are likely to include an acknowledgment that the internet is here to stay and cannot be avoided completely. At the same time the rabbis are likely to rule that the internet may only be used together if it is censored by a Kosher internet filter.

The Kosher filter is no different than other filters that exist--it blocks x-rated sites as well as chat applications, social media sites, blogs etc. However, it will have a more difficult time blocking sites that contains ideas that the community may consider heretical. Statistics show that the vast majority of internet users do not access web pornography. Only four percent of the top one million sites on the internet are porn sites. Thus, whilst addiction to internet pornography is clearly an issue for some people and needs to be addressed, it is only something that afflicts a small minority of internet users.

The bigger issue, for a religious community at least, is the information and ideas that the internet makes accessible. Any community or society that asks its people to deny an empirical reality or to double think--to use the Orwellian term--must be wary of the power of the internet. This is something that dictators all over the Middle East have learned the hard way.

The only real way of overcoming this issue is by being honest. It is my contention that one of the fundamental strengths of Judaism is that it never asks its adherents to rely on blind faith. In other words, Judaism will never ask people to ignore what they see as true and believe in a dogma instead. In fact, it seems to me that, only inauthentic Jewish teachers will ask their followers to replace facts with doctrine.

Where Judaism has gone wrong, and where it becomes unsustainable, are the places where it has backed itself into an ideological corner where stated beliefs contradict clear reality. An especially egregious example of this was when some in the haredi community dismissed the fact that man ever walked on the moon. Citing a verse in Psalms which states that the heavens are the domain of God and only the earth was given to mankind (Psalms 115:16) they claimed that God would never allow man to land on the moon. This led to an absurd situation where a cryptic verse in the Book of Psalms took precedent over demonstrable reality. There are, unfortunately, numerous other examples of this that have developed over the ages.

Judaism in its authentic form, it seems to me, never demands this type of blind belief. Whenever scripture seems to contradict clear empirical facts, traditional Judaism has always assumed that we are not reading the verse correctly, rather than the other way around. Judaism very clearly delineates the difference between what we know and what we believe.

If the religious and rabbinic leaders who are to gather in Citi Field later this month want to effectively deal with the challenge posed by the internet, they must first understand that the real threat is not the internet--rather it is knowledge itself. They must further recognize that this is not something that any filter will ever be able to control or suppress.

Instead they must confront the inconsistencies that have crept into our religion over the ages and be truthful about those problems. No matter how strong the filter, it is the height of naivety to assume that students of today will just accept the things they are told without doing a Google search to double check facts.

Clearly therefore, instead of asking young people to just believe blindly, religious leaders must provide honest answers that are in line with what can be demonstrated empirically. Judaism itself expects and demands nothing less. In the final analysis, Judaism has an incredible amount to offer, especially today and specifically to youth of our generation. It would be a real tragedy if a lack of courage and political will to confront hard issues causes Judaism as a whole to loose credibility in the eyes the internet generation.

Comments

[Garnel Ironheart]

The problem is that you can't expect leaders who were trained to rule by decree and who are constantly told by their handlers that they're infallible to suddenly turn around and become cooperative democrats.

[thelion]

ban the banners

[Not Surprised]

This article was pretty much well written, however it is mistakenly devoid of the fact that for many years these 'rabbis' have tried to still and ban questions from students. When that didn't work, they gave them a horrific Label, 'Teens At Risk'. In reality it's these mofo 'rabbis' who are at Risk to everyone else. They Ban this and that, but they are the ones who are involved in all types of Scandals. The 'Lipa' ban was a major joke and they have lost credibility.

[YouPorn]

The internet offers easy access to pornography

YES!

Don't you try to take that away from me!

[Mike]

I absolutely love this article. It has some interesting concepts that I think are lost on the Haredim. Maybe it is them that need to change- becasue society is progressing forward and a bunch of chumras are not going to stop it.

[netflix]

Posted by: YouPorn | May 14, 2012 at 08:13 AM

brought to you by you porn? or is that your name.

[Steve]

The article is very true and well written. The problem here is that these so called leaders do not understand the Internet. The largest donor to this event (BH Photo) has a huge Internet business. Is ther going to be a banner saying sponsored by "B&H photo.com"? I mean let's be honest. Today we have online banking, used by almost everyone in the business world. From a practical point we even have the daf yomi on line as well as many other classes etc. People can do online school, and get a degree. So for those apposed to a college degree ie these same Internet banning rabbies the Internet does give certain options that are priceless.

Reality is like he writes, the Internet is here to stay. Learn to use it. Additionally this is the dumbest thing to force schools to come. If anything have the parents there. They are the ones that can help implement the positive side of the Internet. This will only cause kids to be more curious to check out the Internet. It's the worst form of reverse psychology. This will backfire terribly.

[Lubavitchers are Christians]

http://thelakewoodview.com/Local%20News/prominent-yeshiva-in-lakewood-speaks-out-against-the-citfield-asifa-with-the-backing-of-the-gedolei-hador/#comment-158245

[YouPorn]

Posted by: YouPorn | May 14, 2012 at 08:13 AM

brought to you by you porn? or is that your name.

Posted by: netflix | May 14, 2012 at 08:16 AM

I assume you work for *Netflix* or is that your name :)

[Reb Mendel]

This article was written to impress mo types and goyim. Let the goyim ask questions and let the goyim have their 'knowlege'. We Yidden have our Torah.

[Jeff]

It is my contention that one of the fundamental strengths of Judaism is that it never asks its adherents to rely on blind faith. In other words, Judaism will never ask people to ignore what they see as true and believe in a dogma instead.

Oh, come now.

[Smilie]

It is my contention that one of the fundamental strengths of Judaism is that it never asks its adherents to rely on blind faith.

Clearly this guy has his head up his ass.

[Smilie]

Judaism (kinda) allows you to ask the questions but then you gotta accept the "answers" or fuck off!!!

[Smilie]

It would be a real tragedy if a lack of courage and political will to confront hard issues causes Judaism as a whole to loose credibility in the eyes the internet generation.

Major case of too little tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo late.

[Tam]

LOSE credibility not Loose credibilty. Urggh

[Barry]

The solution is simple.

There is hardly any internet in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

This asifa just exposes the Hareidim for the hypocrites they are. For the cost of hiring Citifield they would could charter a fleet of large ships.

The just need to give up their US citizenship and move on mass to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan or the Congo where their children will no longer be 'at risk'.

[Bas Melech]

Good article.

If a charedi yid will change his beliefs because of what was read online, then leaders should look at their failing education system.

[Horatio]

I would live blog from the asifa except for 3 reasons:

1. I'm busy that day watching the Mets and Yankees.

2. I don't speak Yiddish

3. I'm afraid I would get lynched for texting on my iphone.

Otherwise, it sounds like fun!

[Zack]

>>>Judaism in its authentic form, it seems to me, never demands this type of blind belief. Whenever scripture seems to contradict clear empirical facts, traditional Judaism has always assumed that we are not reading the verse correctly, rather than the other way around. Judaism very clearly delineates the difference between what we know and what we believe.>>>>

AND THIS GUY IS A SHLIACH??? where is fatso kotlarsky and his big fat puss???

How do they allow a heretic in their ranks??? Eliezrie and all the rest of you big machers reading this blog WHERE ARE YOU??

[Yoel Mechanic]

incredible article.

a relevant maxim: who will guard the guardians?

[seymour]

Oh, come now.

Posted by: Jeff | May 14, 2012 at 08:46 AM

yep

ultimately blind faith has to enter the equations otherwise it would not be religion but fact or science.

That is why people say I believe in god and do not say I believe there is a web site or blog failed messiah

[JK2]

The author shouldn't refer to "Judaism" in this piece without qualifying with "orthodox" and/or "haredi," as he doesn't speak for the 90% who are not.

[123]

"Statistics show that the vast majority of internet users do not access web pornography"

Brackman is clueless

http://www.geekosystem.com/internet-porn-statistics/

[just the truth]

Do some research before you write an articular "Brackman" you dumb Fuck!!

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

"Statistics show that the vast majority of internet users do not access web pornography"

89% of the time people just invent statistics when they write in order to prove a point.

[dh]

"...it never asks its adherents to rely on blind faith. In other words, Judaism will never ask people to ignore what they see as true and believe in a dogma instead."

Is this guy breathing the same air? Blind faith, ignoring personal truth and belief is all Judaism is these days from what I've seen.

[LikeItIs]

http://www.geekosystem.com/internet-porn-statistics/

Posted by: 123 | May 14, 2012 at 10:56 AM

Sex and money - that's what its all about!

[Larry]

o some research before you write an articular "Brackman" you dumb Fuck!!

Posted by: just the truth | May 14, 2012 at 11:12 AM

you got that right - a boteach wannabe

[Shlomo]

porn_accounts_for_30_percent_of_all_internet_traffic

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2012/04/22/report_porn_accounts_for_30_percent_of_all_internet_traffic

[joseph]

Hi I am curios as to why there is no mention that the skevere rebbe is behind the asifa?

[casinojack]

http://www.kikarhashabat.co.il/%D7%A0%D7%A2%D7%A8-%D7%9E%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%A4%D7%97%D7%94-%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%A9%D7%9D-%D7%A7%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%95-%D7%94.html

[western jew]

This is completely ridiculous. Rabbis today are forbidding their congregants from having a computer in the home now. I hope that the media gets wind of this audaciouis group and posts a few stories next week.

[George Walker]

Meanwhile some smart kid will ask, "Tottie, what else do they do here at this big field besides this asifa and can we go to that too?"

[Porn4All]

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/123929-just-how-big-are-porn-sites

Just how big are porn sites?

...
we know for a fact that porn sites are some of the most trafficked parts of the internet. According to Google’s DoubleClick Ad Planner, which tracks users across the web with a cookie, dozens of adult destinations populate the top 500 websites. Xvideos, the largest porn site on the web with 4.4 billion page views per month, is three times the size of CNN or ESPN ...

[SkepticalYid]

The percentage of internet traffic that's porn related is irrelevant. All that matters is whether or not one chooses to view pornography.

[MoishieCohen]

Only four percent of the top one million sites on the internet are porn sites. Thus, whilst addiction to internet pornography is clearly an issue for some people and needs to be addressed, it is only something that afflicts a small minority of internet users.

The bigger issue, for a religious community at least, is the information and ideas that the internet makes accessible.

Absolute Shtusim.

The Asifah is predominantly about porn.

It's just that it's taboo for the Heimishers to use that word in public.

[MoishieCohen]

BTW, does anyone on this blog not agree that unfiltered internet+porn is not healthy material for a godfearing Jew (charedi or otherwise), or for that matter, any married man of any religious persuasion?

If this was all the Asifa was about, what objection would any of you have to it? Playing Devil's advocate, I would argue that there is no need for a stadium performance where no doubt someone will exhort all present to sign up to an expensive filter system - just download K9 for free!

[jancsipista]

MoishieCohen -what goes around comes around,metzitza=porn ,the rebbes havent a clue.

[Media]

Only four percent of the top one million sites on the internet are porn sites. ...it is only something that afflicts a small minority of internet users.

The number of sites does not translate into number of users. Most sites remain dormant with very, very few views. What counts are page views and time spent on site.

[Judas]

http://thelakewoodview.com//fighting-the-bad-influences-of-the-internet-starts-at-home/

[Korbendallas72]

You don't need an asifa to discuss Internet porn, which has been a problem for a decade. Neither do you need one to install filtering software. Remember all those AOL CDs? This is about the control of information in the People's Republic of Haredistan.

[Porn4All]

You don't need an asifa to discuss Internet porn, which has been a problem for a decade.

Problem? What problem?

[adams]

I have concerns as to the cost this waste, does anyone know what it costs to rent this field? they are only charging $10 a ticket and less in bulk, and busses also. Food vendors will also be there, DVD and CD's probably will be made.

There are more important issues to worry bout if theywere spending all this money and energy on molestations and advocate for change in the system of going to the Rabbi first.

THis event is a collasal farce and will be seen as such by most people. Nothing will comes out of it.

The internet main function for people struggling financially is tremendous networking, use of contacts, forums for getting answsers needed for helping on the job.

So it is very foolish to promote less use. and filters are just a business for a few companies, a new shtick.

They would be better off tackling real problems and get out of people's business.

[Korbendallas72]

No, this isn't about porn addiction. They're going to spend the entire asifa justifying its necessity. Of course it's a farce, it's all about the power collective banding together to gaze at each other. It's the world's biggest circle jerk. The emperor is not wearing clothes.

[Yoel Mechanic]

Correct: Judaism does not demand blind faith; and Rambam is on example of a rationalist perspective. Just because *you* happen to be hanging out with a crowd that wants blind faith does not negate this basic idea.

[Jeff]

Yoel, that's ridiculous. The Rambam laid out his thirteen articles, and anyone who didn't accept them was eternally lost.

Judaism most certainly does demand blind faith. People of faith always want to believe their religion is somehow different. I spent 35 years wading through those waters. They're all the same. There isn't one exception.

[jack]

The fact is there was divine revelation on mt. sinai. That's the problem not the solution. Because it means that all the lies are put to the light of this. And when lies become the Jewish thing youre going to suffer.And you are suffering but youre paid not to notice and youre children will pass through Moloch but its done now for yidishkeit the new idolatry.There are thousands of children being given powerful harmful psychiatric drugs without proper supervision here in jerusalem just to keep them within the fold - could there be a greater sin that this?