When you think of radical religious leaders trying to maintain absolute control of their followers you normally think of the Muslims and certain fanatical imams.
–How about thinking instead about Israel’s Haredi rabbis.
These ultra-Orthodox rabbis, who’s followers live in walled enclaves, isolated from the rest of society, yearn for a return to the dark ages where religion ruled everything and outside influence was forbidden.
These religious leaders have ranted and raved about the dangers of the internet for years and want kosher filters on cellphones so no one may read or see anything that they haven’t pre-approved.
In one infamous incident, the family of Israel’s Sephardic chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, had a 17-year-old boy kidnapped and beaten at knifepoint after he became acquainted with the rabbi’s daughter through an Internet chat room and later met her unchaperoned – an ultra-Orthodox taboo. Amar was not charged in the case.
Now according to the Washington Post a number of Haredi rabbis are calling for a boycott of web sites built and run by Haredi Jews. Saying the sites, which allow free discussion, with irreverent and unmonitored reader responses – including direct criticism of rabbis’ authority, are disseminating “gossip, slander … filth and abominations.” –None of these sites offer porn, profanity or other material that has traditionally raised the ire of these rabbis. They simply allow freedom tho discuss topics that make the rabbis uncomfortable and challenge their authority..
It’s impossible for a stone age mentality to compete with the freedom of the internet so they fear it.
Johnathan Swift: “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”
