Forbidden device. Smartphone (archives)
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Haredim declare war on smartphones
Eda Haredit rabbis claim high-end mobile phones deteriorate children's education 'to bottomless pit'
Rabbis of the extreme Eda Haredit faction have waged war against a new technological enemy: Smartphones in general, and Apple products in particular.
Pashkevilim (religious ads) published in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods last weekend, claim the iPod, iPad, Blackberry and iPhone may deteriorate children's education to "bottomless pits".
Technological Ban
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According to the ads, the rabbis are lashing out at the devices as they allow people to connect to the Internet, which they believe contains "a great amount of destruction".
An Eda Haredit source told Ynet's local portal, Mynet, that the new battle was launched due to the smartphones' growing popularity in the haredi sector.
"We have a problem," he admits. "The different iPhones are no longer just phones, but computers for all intents and purposes, and some of the people have become accustomed to buying them.
"Therefore, we decided to issue ads against their possession, call on the public to avoid using them and warn against the spiritual danger they conceal," he explained.
This isn't the first time Eda Haredit leaders rise up against technological innovations. In the past, they have called on their public not to purchase MP4 and other portable media players.
Faction members even launched an all-out war against stores selling the "forbidden" devices within the Mea Shearim neighborhood.
