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Jan 4, 2017
do what you want, just don't let them see
Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva, recently spoke at a national conference of heads of institutions (Haredi schools) about the need for them to hide their [kosher] smartphones form their students, as the students don't understand that they need to send emails and be in contact with others...
briefly, you can basically do what you want, as long as you make sure other people don't see...
I have heard similar explanations of how this society works from other rabbonim...
briefly, you can basically do what you want, as long as you make sure other people don't see...
I have heard similar explanations of how this society works from other rabbonim...
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Yay. Another anecdote depicting the complete lack of integrity inherent in the Charedi world.
ReplyDeleteIf you read a quote of what Rav Cohen actually said it doesn't sound so hypocritical. He made it clear that the reason was because children wouldn't understand that the teacher's have kosher phones and asked an objective third party (their own Rav) whether they actually need to use it. So because kids won't understand the difference between the teachers use and the students own indiscriminate use, avoid the misunderstanding by hiding the phone.
Deletehow about teach the kids? if the use is one that is acceptable, teach the kids what is ok and what is not ok. Surely they would trust their rebbes and roshei yeshiva to be using it in the right way if they know there is an acceptable way! and if it is not ok, it shouldnt be even in private. administrators and rebbes survived thousands of years without smartphones, and if it is really not acceptable, they can continue to communicate without them even today
DeleteIt is acceptable in many cases. He wasn't arguing with that. He's just not confident in assuming that everyone will be able successfully teach the distinction to kids (why it's ok for some people but not others) especially when there is such a powerful desire by the children to have a smartphone. It's a judgement call. While perhaps most kids will understand, some may not. He considered it somewhat akin to maaris ayin.
DeleteI wish there was a "Like" button for Rafi's comment. Talmidim can and should be taught about responsible use of technology - and who can be better role models than their Rabbeim. Too bad it cannot happen in the current system, where we demonize the smart phones, not the wrong ways to use them.
ReplyDeleteNot all Talmidim especially in the black & white age group can discern nuances of grey.
ReplyDeleteCaren, "the black & white age group" needs to eventually become discerning adults. Why not use it as a teachable moment?
Delete"Surely they would trust their rebbes and roshei yeshiva to be using it in the right way if they know there is an acceptable way!"
ReplyDeleteThis would negate the entire principle of maris ayin. Since there really is a halacha of maris ayin, it must be that halacha does not see things that way - if there's something that is permitted but appears similar to something that's not, steps should be taken to clarify the situation.
(Please don't start quoting things like chadrei chadorim)
SB, first of all, smart phone use is not forbidden per se - using it for forbidden purposes is. It's quite a stretch to call using a smart phone maris ayin. Furthermore, there are much more straightforward and ehrlich "steps that should be taken to clarify the situation" than using the device in secret.
Delete