FailedMessiah.com

Haredim Use Secular City’s Public Library Computers To Surf Porn Sites, Patrons Complain

Because the men are “out of [Bnei Brak] they lose all shame and take advantage of a situation in which librarians hardly come into this [public computer] room."

If You're Lost In The Desert And Your Only Way Out Is To Use An iPhone, Don't Do It, Haredi Cartoon Says

A haredi yeshiva student is lost in the desert and almost dead from thirst and heat when he comes across a working iPhone in the sand in front of him. But before he can use it to call for help, he remembers that his rabbis have ruled that you have to give your life rather than transgress their rulings against using "Satanic" smartphones and other similar devices. What should he do? What does he do?

Internet Is "Satan Of This Generation" And Can Never Be Used, Top Haredi Rabbi Rules

In an announcement printed in today's Yated Ne'eman, the largest haredi newspaper in Israel, the #2 non-hasidic Ashkenazi haredi rabbinic leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (pictured at right) rules the Internet is "Satan of this generation" and rules there is no reason in the world to ever permit using it.

Haredi Rabbinical Committee Wants To Hire Inspectors To Inspect “Kosher” Cellphone Stores

The demand to employ inspectors was made after several incidents in which cellular stores in haredi neighborhoods that claim to sell only kosher devices were caught selling unauthorized devices or were caught tampering with so-called kosher devices to remove Internet and camera blocking code. Those stores had rabbinic supervision but circumvented it – in part because there is no active inspection protocol from the rabbis, the Rabbinical Committee for Communication Affairs claims.

Internet And Smartphones Bring Cancer, Cause Terror, Sefardi Haredi Kabbalist Says

“The Internet brings cancer. The smartphones and the Internet are among the more difficult issues of this generation. A person must remove them from his life and his home.”

Massive JPMorgan Chase Computer Hacking Sees Expanded Criminal Charges For The Israel-Linked Alleged Hackers

Gery Shalon – a US citizen who has lived in Moscow and Tel Aviv – Joshua Samuel Aaron and Ziv Orenstein were reportedly charged in a 23-count indictment with computer hacking, securities fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, illegal Internet gambling, and conspiring to commit money laundering.

Jerusalem Diary: One ‘Impure’ Smartphone Dampens Hasidic Rebbe’s Sukkah Celebration

The rebbe’s assistants began shouting at the hasid to stop photographing and take the smartphone (which is ‘impure’) out of the sukkah (which is ‘pure’ and ‘holy’). At issue was not the photo-taking itself as much as it was the ‘impure’ instrument used to take the photos. But the hasid did not listen and in response the rebbe’s assistants grabbed his smartphone and erased the photos he took.

New Haredi Anti-Technology Al Cheit Prayer

This new "al chiet" ("for the sin") prayer was distributed as a leaflet in some haredi synagogues in Monsey during Yom Kippur.

New Chief Rabbi Of Kfar Chabad Launches Modesty Campaign

Skirt too short? Stockings inadequate? Wrong type of head covering worn? Neck exposed? Ladies, it's time to correct these 'problems.'

Chabad’s Iconic Yeshiva At 770 Eastern Parkway Bans Unfiltered Cellphones, Tablets

"Whoever does not do one of the two above mentioned options is removing himself immediately from the Yeshiva without any warning or additional notice."

Top Haredi Rabbis Ban New Generation ‘Almost Kosher’ Smartphones

The top Bnei Brak rabbis of the non-hasidic Ashkenazi haredi Degel HaTorah faction of the haredi United Torah Judaism Party (UTJ) have lashed out against new “non-kosher” smartphones that are advertised as being compatible with “kosher” SIM cards.

Don’t Let Men Who Own TVs Or Smartphones Lead Prayers, Chief Rabbi Says

“One must find a prayer leader who fears Heaven. If you know that the prayer leader has a TV at home and watches videos of abomination or [has] a TV in his pocket [i.e., a smartphone] and watches these types of abomination videos, how is it possible that they will lead the prayers in front of God? It would be like someone sending their children to a non-religious school and teaching them abomination. It’s forbidden for someone like this to lead prayers, and if he did [so], then you need to organize a new [prayer] service.”

Playing Smartphone Game Tetris Reduces Cravings For Drugs, Food And Sex, Study Finds

Playing the Tetris game on a smartphone for as little as three minutes at a time can weaken cravings for drugs, food and activities such as sex and sleeping by approximately one fifth, according to new research.

Perhaps The Most Awful Haredi Anti-Smartphone Ad Ever Published

The only term I can think of to describe the following haredi anti-smartphone ad is "appalling." 

Hasidic Village Of New Square, NY Issues New Draconian Smartphone Ban

Religious authorities of the Skvere hasidic Village of New Square, New York issue new, even more draconian bans on smartphones and WhatsApp.

Satmar Hasidic Village Of Kiryas Joel, NY Issues New Smartphone Modesty Rules

"…Since the very use of a smartphone is extremely dangerous, therefore whoever doesn’t isn’t extremely reliant for business purposes should never use it even with a filter.…Women aren’t allowed to use a smartphone, only a basic phone. (In an exceptional case one should contact the Vaad of the filters)…" "Remember: We will not provide [school] acceptance-cards if you are not in compliance with the…rules."

Hasidic Rebbe Bans MP3 Players

This year the Boyaner rebbe spoke about MP3 players, which for the for the past two years have been prohibited by his decree to be used to listen to haredi radio stations. This year, the rebbe added to that ban. Now all Boyaner yeshiva students are prohibited from owning an mp3 player because they allegedly lead to yeshiva students wasting time that should be spent in Torah study.

Hasidic Rebbe Issues Draconian New Smartphone Regulations

In another draconian attempt at censorship, a hasidic rebbe has ordered his followers to to give him complete control over whether or not they can have a smartphone and, if he allows them to, which specific websites they are allowed to visit.

Google Puts Auschwitz And Other Nazi Death Camps In Mobile Phone Game, Drawing Condemnation

Google put Nazi death camps and concentration camps in Ingress, a multiplayer augmented reality game in which people fight for control of virtual portals in a larger battle for control of the entire Earth.

Top Hasidic Rabbis In Israel Meet, Order Children Whose Parents Have Smartphones Expelled From School

"…The rebbes discussed fears surrounding smartphone technology and other technological devices brought into chareidi homes, which they believe present a spiritual hazard to the entire family. They spoke of the prohibition of using any model phone that is not approved as ‘kosher’ phone. They are calling on schools not to accept talmidim if the talmid’s parents use prohibited phones or have internet in their homes. The admorim call on school principals to enforce these regulations without exceptions.…"

Vizhnitzer Rebbe: WhatsApp Destroys Families, Should Never be Used

“The family is destroyed not just because of an iPhone but due to the use of these programs, WhatsApp and Telegram,” the Vizhnitzer Rebbe reportedly said as he told his hasidim not to use them ever again.

London Haredi School Issues New Regulations Regarding Internet Use, Technology

The haredi Yesodey HaTorah school in the Stamford Hill neighborhood of London has issued new rules for its students regarding technology and the Internet.

Haredi Help Wanted: Internet Mashgiach

A man seeks fellow haredim to say Psalms and learn Torah out loud next to him as he uses the Internet for his business.

Belz Bans WhatsApp

The Belz hasidic sect in Israel has banned the popular WhatsApp mobile messaging app.

Haredi Father Of 7 Kids Killed In Horrific Brooklyn House Fire Says The Lesson To Be Learned From The Fire – Which Was Caused By A Shabbat Hotplate – Is…Jews Should Not Use The Internet Or Cellphones

"…Our generation is tested with many types of trials, but the greatest of which, as declared by our great leaders to be the greatest trial that ever existed since the beginning of time, the trial of technology and the internet. With awesome hidden and veiled heavenly hand, the internet is burning and destroying the souls of many Jews while keeping their bodies intact. When our heavenly father returns us to our home and redeems us, how great will be the pain of the heavenly presence be, over the souls lost for all eternity, due to the internet, heaven forbid.…"

Reliance On Smartphones Linked To Lazy Thinking

"Our research provides support for an association between heavy smartphone use and lowered intelligence. Whether smartphones actually decrease intelligence is still an open question that requires future research."

Haredi Matzoh Bakery Threatens To Fire, Fine Any Workers Who Have Smartphones

Get caught with a "non-kosher" smartphone or cellphone and your job baking high-end Passover matzoh may be over.

Israeli Chief Rabbi Proudly Destroys Smartphone Of Unwilling Yeshiva Student

Israel’s Sefardi haredi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef lashed out at smartphones Saturday night and told a story about personally destroying an unwilling yeshiva student’s smartphone.

Internet Mashgiachs Wanted

Haredi classified ad for two Internet mashgiachs - men paid to sit in a person's office to help make sure that person does not use his Internet access for pornography or other forbidden things like blogs.

They Banned The Internet But Now Have An Official Website

Many of Agudath Israel's top rabbis banned the Internet, smartphones and home computers (some allow these but only for very restricted use by adults who have pressing business needs, and only when haredi-rabbi-approved modesty filers are installed). But now for the first time a division of Agudath Israel of America has its own official website.

Haredi Hi-Tech Incubator Opens In Israel

"Haredim are just as creative and imaginative, and as willing to succeed, as are secular Israelis – in fact, from what I have seen among those in the high-tech world, they are even more ambitious. The problem is that they don’t have role models to show them how to navigate the business world and get to the point where they can build their own businesses.”

Video: Hasidim Protest Outside Verizon Store In Satmar Hasidic Village

Members of a local modesty squad protest outside a Verizon Wireless store in the upstate New York Satmar hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel. Why? Cellphones destroy children and ruin their Yiddishe neshamas (Jewish souls).

"iSof" – The Biblical Villain Esav –Equals The iPhone, Haredi Paskvil Says

"iSof" – i.e., Esav or (Esau), the biblical villain who, according to rabbinic texts hated his brother Yitzhak (Isaac) – is equivalent to the (evil) iPhone, haredi poster says.

Haredi Synagogue Hit By Terror Attack Had Cellphone-Blocking Device, Slowing Down Police Response

A reason it took police so long to respond to the attack – 11 minutes, by some accounts – and likely a reason the death toll was as high as it was is because haredi rabbis had installed a device in the synagogue to block cellphone transmissions. And the synagogue did not have an easily accessible public phone.

 

The Internet, Religion, Transparency, And Battling Tyranny

“Blogs like UOJ and Failed Messiah, along with the Awareness Center, were instrumental in fostering the anti-abuse movement in the Orthodox community, publicizing stories of abuse and exposing those (often powerful and until then, untouchable) people, who enabled it and connecting survivors and advocates who went on to effect real change in the world.”

Main Bobov Hasidic Faction Bans Every Jew Who Has An Internet-Enabled Cellphone From Its "Holy" Sukkah

Any Jew with an Internet-enabled cellphone is banned from entering the  sukkah of the Bobov 48 hasidic sect – even if the phone is turned off. Meanwhile, the rival Bobov faction banned all women from entering its sukkah – just as it did last year.

God Might Kill You Over Your "Impure" Cellphone, Leading Haredi Rabbi Says

Without any doubt, holding an impure cellphone in your hands – behold, this is a great danger [for your soul when] the Day of Judgement [Rosh Hashana comes], #2 Ashkenazi haredi Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky says.

Haredi Poster: Lets Agree To A Cellphone "Cease-Fire"

A haredi poster and newspaper insert see in synagogues and homes across the haredi bastion of Lakewood, New Jersey says haredim need a "cease-fire" with their cellphones.

New Smartphone App Allows Users To Form A Minyan By Hooking Up With Nearby Users

"…Often, it is hard to find or 'get' a minyan when traveling or while out at social events. This app solves that problem by pinging and notifying Jewish males in your immediate area that you are in need of a minyan. The app then facilitates the process of confirming the ten males, at a specific location, at a specific time. Once the minyan is confirmed and everyone is in attendance, the minyan confirmation will be sent out and the group prayer can then begin.…"

Satmar Shuls Launch Patrols To Check For Unfiltered Smartphones, Expel Owners

Satmar synagogues in Brooklyn have launched a coordinated effort to launch modesty patrols to check smart phones belonging to hasidim. If the phones are not properly filtered, the hasidim will be expelled from the synagogue. Participation from hasidim coming to study or pray is not meant to be voluntary.

Video: Haredi Rabbi Burns iPhones, Tablet Computers In Lag Ba'Omer Bonfire As A "Korban"

A haredi rabbi burned iPhones and tablet computers in a Lag Ba'Omer bonfire as a cheering haredi crowd watched.

Video: Haredi Rabbi Holds Smartphone Smashing Ceremony

Rabbi Lior Glazer smashes a smartphone and sings Yemach shemo!, may its name be wiped out, in front of a group of women in a haredi synagogue in Israel.

Cellphone Company’s Security Breach Could Out Haredim Using Smartphones In Defiance Of Rabbinic Ban

A system developed by the popular Israeli cellular phone company Orange and left unsecured can be exploited to ferret out haredim who are using smartphones in defiance of the near-universal rabbinic ban against them.

Williamsburg Modesty Committee Launched To Save Teenage Yeshiva Students From The Hell Caused By…Smartphones

"Due to the fact that during bein ha-zemanim [the yeshiva vacation period that begins before Passover], the Satan is very active in spreading cellphones to bucherim [male teens], and through this he can destroy them for the rest of their life, in particular with the internet-phones and smartphones, and because the sooner this is dealt with the easier it is to rescue their souls from hell, a new message line has therefore been established where the community can assist in rescuing the bucherim by handing over vital information to the heads of yeshivahs.…"

Matzoh Factory Bans Smartphone Users

A haredi matzoh bakery, Aronshtein Matzohs, bans smartphone users from baking matzoh.

Williamsburg Shul Holds iPhone Smashing Ceremony To Blot Out Amalek

A synagogue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn held an iPhone smashing ceremony to "blot out the memory of Amalek," the villain of the biblical Book of Esther.

New Haredi Poster Shows Lapid, Bennett Destroying Haredim From Without, Smartphones Destroying Them From Within

A new haredi pashkvil (wall poster) features a large cartoon depicting Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Religious Services Minister Naftali Bennett destroying the "Dwelling of Haredim" from without and haredim using smartphones destroying it from within.

iPhones Make Mikvas Unkosher, Invalidate Weddings And Divorces, Leading Haredi Rabbi Rules

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky says anyone who owns an iPhone or similar phone or device that has full internet capabilities is halakhicly considered damaged and is therefore forbidden to serve as a witness at a wedding or a divorce. If an iPhone user with such a smartphone had already served as a witness at a wedding or a divorce, then the wedding or divorce is invalid and must be done over again, and this holds true not only a priori, but also as a secondary position (i.e., even b’diavad). And this holds true for many other things, including the validity of women's mikvas.

New Hasidic Anti-Smartphone Ads Compare iPhones To The Evil Syrian-Greek Villains Of The Hanukkah Story

Two new anti-smartphone ads: 1) The supposed slippery slope from an iPod to being "iSov," Esav, the evil brother of the biblical Jacob and 2) iphones are like the Greeks we fight against every Hanukkah.

Kosher Cellphone Companies Block Rape Crisis And Domestic Abuse Hotlines

Sources in two of the large mobile providers note that the decision to block these numbers was made exclusively by the haredi Rabbinical Committee for Communications, which is responsible for certifying the so-called kosher phones as kosher.