FC: Internet is a threat to Israel, rabbis say, and ban it

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

*******

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000114832908976&rtmo=VMwqMD3K&atmo=ggggg3JK
&pg=/et/00/1/8/wisr08.html

Saturday 8 January 2000

Internet threat to Israel, say rabbis
By Alan Philps in Jerusalem

ISRAEL'S leading orthodox rabbis have issued a ruling banning the 
internet from Jewish homes, arguing that it is "1,000 times more 
dangerous than television" and threatens the survival of the country.

The ruling, issued by the Council of Torah Sages, is an attempt by 
the rabbis to halt the inÞltration of "sin and abomination" from the 
internet into the homes of the ultra-orthodox, whose children have 
hitherto been shielded from the temptations of the modern world.

The rabbis recalled that they had banned television 30 years ago, and 
said that the dangers from the internet were even greater. They said 
it "puts the future generations of Israel in grave danger in a way that no
other threat has since Israel became a nation".

[...]

**********

Subject: Re: Internet Threat To Israel, Say Rabbis 
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Sat, 08 Jan 2000 04:47:17 EST."
             <v04220803b49cb72ae2ce@[198.4.94.221]> 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2000 06:13:18 -0500
From: Omri Schwarz <ocschwar () MIT EDU>

> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000114832908976&rtmo=VMwqMD3K&atmo=gg 
> ggg3JK&pg=/et/00/1/8/wisr08.html
>
> Saturday 8 January 2000
>
> Internet threat to Israel, say rabbis
> By Alan Philps in Jerusalem

Jeez! Took the media long enough to notice.

Orthodox bulletins had been posted on bulletin pillars in Jerusalem and
Bnei Brak for months now, saying this.

In the mean time, Orthodox Jews in Israel will continue to use the Internet
in 
their offices, where many have programming jobs.

************




--------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology
To subscribe: send a message to majordomo () vorlon mit edu with this text:
subscribe politech
More information is at http://www.well.com/~declan/politech/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------