Senior
haredi Rabbi Nissim Karelitz ruled that smart phones and other similar
devices that have been banned by haredi rabbis are not objects which
according to halakha have to be returned to their rightful owners if
found – meaning haredim who find lost smartphones or similar devices
should destroy them.
Do Not Return Lost Smartphones To Their Haredi Owners, Haredi Rabbi Rules
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A saleswoman in a bakery in the haredi city of Bnei Brak refused to return a lost smartphone to its rightful haredi owner – a clear violation of halakha (Jewish law).
Or is it?
In a new halakhic ruling based on this case, Ynet reports that senior haredi Rabbi Nissim Karelitz ruled that smart phones and other similar devices that have been banned by haredi rabbis are not objects which according to halakha have to be returned to their rightful owners if found – meaning haredim who find lost smartphones or similar devices should destroy them.
Under halakha, lost property, like a smartphone belonging to a Jew or property that is lost in a predominantly Jewish area, must be returned to its rightful owner. If that is impossible, it must be kept in good condition in perpetuity until its rightful owner is found.
But that would not apply to a lost idol or other means of idol worship, which are items that should not be returned and instead must be destroyed. Karelitz has apparently ruled that a smartphone is in this latter category of items.
Also, a new haredi beit din (religious court) on communication affairs backed by senior haredi leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky has been formed. The court will reportedly lead by five prominent haredi rabbis, who will issue halakhic rulings on smartphone and Internet use.
This new beit din will also run a public relations and information campaign against haredi websites which haredi rabbis ordered to be boycotted. Some of those websites closed as a result of that boycott while others did not. New websites were also opened after the boycott was issued.
Haredi leaders view the Internet with its free flow of information to be the greatest threat the haredi community now faces.