Haredi Rabbi calls to divest from email
A Hasidic community announced that it will stop sending updates via email to its followers as part of its struggle against technology.
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| The Slonim Rebbe |
The Slonim Hasidic community announced on the eve of Passover the cessation of its weekly email service that had operated for about a decade.
The move was made under the direct instruction of the Rebbe and as part of a broader struggle against the dangers of technology.
The last email sent to hundreds of followers on the eve of the holiday contained the following message: "At the request of several individuals, from the Shabbat before the weekly Torah portion 'Vayigash' of 5774, and weeklyever since, we have provided pdates every Shabbat about good news, community announcements, the 'Chayenu' organization, and charity funds; we did not hold back from emphasizing the importance of donations to the Land of Israel."
"We have received guidance from our esteemed Rebbe, and we did not refrain from executing his holy words immediately. From now on, this weekly announcement will no longer be sent," the last message stated. "As we received reward for doing it, we will be rewarded for stopping, and we will lack for nothing."
This is an unusual step even within the Haredi framework, as the email service is seen as a 'clean' communication channel that does not require internet browsing.
In many Haredi communities, dozens of public computer points provide access to email only, and it serves as a central communication tool for transmitting community information, happy events, and announcements..
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