Letters: "Kosher device - only for necessity"

After about a week ago the Beis Din of Av Beis Din of Bnei Brak Hgr"n Kerlitz assembled to discuss the terms of the permit for holders of the approved Smartphone, numerous clarifications were published over weekend including the Beis Din of Hgr"n himself - that it is designed for business people who need it only. In addition, letters of clarification were sent by several Chasidus circles to community members and avreichim about it, and it was emphasized in them that the only valid devices are those which have been approved by the Rabbinical Committee.

However, all clarifications emphasized – in this formulation or another - that businessmen will be able to appeal to a special committee which will instruct them how to act, and which devices could be used. As recalled, last week a letter was issued by R' Chaim Kanievsky's son, Hagaon R' Yitzchak Shaul Kanievsky, that the kosher device of Nativ is "a great amendment for those who need it for work, which received the approval of the rabbis."

Newspaper Yated Ne'eman published a letter from the Dayanim Hagaon R' Yosef Silman and Hgr"s Rosenberg which acknowledges that "the above device is not intended for the general public, but only those who consume them for the most necessary under the provisions of a special permit for business use only, and each case will be considered on its own by a committee competent to do so."

"The general public who need to use a cellular phone", rabbis once again strengthen the power of Rabbis communications committee, "will use only a device approved by the Rabbis communications committee, and as determined by Maranan Gedolei Yisroel zt"l and yibadlu lechayim".

Seret Vizhnitz published a clarification by Dayanim which was sent to members of the community. The clarification, which is sharper than the Litvishe letter, opens by stating that since recently various portable devices are marketed, we wish to announce our Torah opinion on this subject "The mobile devices which are permitted for use are only by the Rabbinical Committee for communication which have numbers from the kosher floors."

The Dayanim added that businessmen who need communications solutions "should turn to the Communications Committee members appointed by us." The letter is signed by Dayanim of Seret Vizhnitz Hagaon R' Shlomo Zoldan, Hagaon R' Eliezer Yaakov Grossman and Hagaon R' Yaakov Deutsch.

Tzanz Hasidus published a clarification to educational institutions which was also sent to all the Hasidim. The clarification opens with the fact that recently it was published about the Smartphones designed for businessmen and it was understood that as if the device is certified as kosher for the general public.

"We therefore once again make it clear that this device includes contents which are not agreed upon and approved so far by all Gedolei Yisroel shlita, and are very close to the barrier. And this is only a lesser evil and are as the devices which were banned, and one should not keep them at all without permission in writing (emphasis in original) from the rabbis in charge."

The letter also makes it clear that those who need a device for their livelihood should contact the Secretariat of the Committee. " We hereby strengthen the known," the committee concludes its call, "that a kosher phone (which already has become a trademark for the Haredi audience who are G-d fearing) means a number of kosher phone - stamped "Approved by the Rabbinical Commission for Communication".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!