'A 'calling voice' in the Torah of Aaron about 'kosher': "Remove this vessel"'

April 12, 2014   

The struggle of the Hasidic community of Toldot Aharon over the kosher smartphone: On Friday, the eve of Shabbat HaGadol, a 'call to arms' was published, signed by all the Hasidic rabbis, including the dayan of the 'Ultra-Orthodox Community', Rabbi Yaakov Mendel Yaravitch, about kosher smartphones. The announcement stated that "it is forbidden to buy or possess them and they are treated like other forbidden tools, and one must stay away from people who possess such tools." The Hasidic community's struggle over the kosher smartphone began on the 'Tish Yahrzeit' of the late Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Rata, when the Rebbe of Toldot Aharon demanded that the Hasidic community not possess even a kosher device. The Rebbe even ordered the community's 'Holy Preservation Committee' to collect the devices from the Hasidic community - and anyone who wants one can get their money back. A special committee that was established is authorized to approve each request and case individually. However, if a young man or woman is found with a smartphone in their hands, without having passed the committee's approval, then the treatment towards them will be the same as a regular iPhone owner, "with all that this implies." The sanctions in such a case are: denial of all community services provided to those who belong to Hasidism, including the expulsion of children from Hasidic schools.