ISRAEL: JEWISH HAREDI COMMUNITY BANS INTERNET

Описание: (14 Jan 2000) Hebrew/Eng/Nat

The world may be embracing the internet and new technology, but there is one community in Israel who regard it as evil and have banned their followers from logging in to cyberspace.

The ultra orthodox Jewish Haredi community believe that the Internet 'burns souls' and leads impressionable young people astray.

The merger between Time Warner and AOL may be triumphantly greeted by many as a pioneering breakthrough in modern communications - but it has passed one community by - in fact it leaves them cold.

The ultra religious Haredi community in Israel believe the Internet is not a super highway but a highway to hell.

Their leaders believe it opens the doors to all kinds of temptations and opportunities that could corrupt and undermine their faith.

This is a community which devotes itself to the study of the Torah and to a way of life that regards inventions such as the
television as sinful.

Although no Haredi family owns - or will admit to owning - a television, around 40 per cent do have personal computers.

Now they are being told they must not log into the internet.

Micha Rotsheild has been leading the campaign against the internet and has plastered the walls of the Mea Sherim district in Jerusalem with bill posters warning people of the dangers that exist.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)
"The purpose is first of all to warn the public: people, there is danger here, and you have to be careful with the children and with the adults as well. Don't get carried away and don't take part in these kind of things (meaning the Internet).
SUPERCAPTION: Micha Rotsheild, Haredi leader

The Haredi leaders have not gone so far as to say that the internet should never ever be used.

They have declared it safe for work purposes - but only in sanctioned sites which have to be accessed.

And they are trying to discover ways that the computer programmes can be monitored to prevent accidentally straying into dangerous sites which carry subjects such as pornography or racism.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)
There are many computer programmers, groups of them, that are working on this subject and looking for the way to receive some benefit from the Internet without it being a threat to the home. This is being done by special computer programmers for this subject specifically. Meanwhile, the Internet is not allowed in our homes!"
SUPERCAPTION: Micha Rotsheild, Haredi leader

Only around seven per cent of Israel belongs to the Haredi community - but that still numbers around half a million people.

Israel is a country which prides itself on its new technology and declares itself a rival to California's Silicon Valley.

Most Israelis are avid internet users and there are many websites dedicated to the Jewish faith.

One of the most popular is Virtual Jerusalem which carries many features such as Ask the Rabbi.

David Kahn is responsible for the content - but he understands the aims of the Haredi community in wishing to keep the modern world out of their lives.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The Ultra Orthodox world is a fairly insular world, and it is intended to be so. The various groups within the Ultra Orthodox community believe very strongly that there should be walls surrounding their Judaism, which are impenetrable, and that make sure as a security and as a reinforcement to what they teach their children and what they teach, should not be approached by any outside interference."
SUPERCAPTION: David Kahn, Executive Vice president of Virtual Communities


He says the internet can be educational and help people communicate with each other across the divides.


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