the State has decided that the people administering the kosher cell phone arrangements have basically been abusing their powers and blocking lines, even emergency lines and other important lines willy nilly, in addition to overcharging and basically using it as a source of income and control over the Haredi community. The State therefore has decided to cancel the entire arrangement.
The Haredi askanim are fighting this tooth and nail. They say it is vital for the community.
I have no problem with kosher phones. If that is what enough people want, the service should be provided (assuming a mobile provider wants to provide it). There is a problem that allowing these kosher phones to stay on the market is holding back technology, due to the need to keep the old cell towers up, but if the companies are willing to do it to get the business, that is their decision. And if they can find a way to push the kosher phones to newer technologies, even without Internet access, they should be doing that and phasing out the old over a period of time.
Basically, I see nothing wrong with companies offering a kosher phone service. I think it is perfectly reasonable to put this in the hands of the consumer and the mobile provider, and take it out of the hands of the askanim. I dont think the kosher service needs to be done away with, but it can be administered just like any other phone line. Someone who wants a kosher phone line should be able to sign up through Golan or Hot or Partner or any other company willing to sell kosher lines.
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I don't exactly get the compromise you're offering. What you are describing is basically the current situation. Whoever wants a kosher line goes to his local Golan or Hot and signs up for one.
ReplyDeletewell, yes, sort of. you buy the line through your mobile carrier, but the lines, the entire system, is administered by a group of askanim (called the loma ksheira).
Deletea kosher phone is a phone with no internet (and in Israel no sms) - just phone and nothing else. It has nothing to do with not being able to call in to MDA or to a suicide hotline or whatever else they block sometimes due to organizations not being willing to pay to be opened. Just sell the kosher lines with no internet/sms, and that's it. anyone who feels a kosher line is important will buy it and not get internet. no need for that backend