Hundreds of Lakewood Melamdim will gather this week for an Asifa addressing smartphones and technology.
The Asifa will be Mechazek the topic of smartphones, and reportedly request that all Melamdim and Menahalim use only Kosher phones.
The event will be addressed Rosh Yeshivah Reb Malkiel, the Mashigiach Reb Matisyahu, Rav Osher Chaim Lieberman, and Rav Uren Reich.
Where and when?
While it is wonderful to see the achdus of our Melamdim getting together they should be made aware that the major phone suppliers – verizon, tmobile, sprint etc are all no longer manufacturing flip phones (kosher phones) and will not really service or replace the ones you currently have. These companies are phasing out all of their phones and moving to only smart phones. Therefore, if this is the plan of the Asifa to request the Melamdim to abide by a certain policy then the Asifa organizers should be sure to advise the Melamdim what their options are (not just for the next few months but for down the road as well).
It would also be helpful to provide the Melamdim with suggestions and options for apps like waze or google maps or the like. It will save them each so much precious time if they can get to where they want to go without the fastest way possible and these apps help you deal with traffic. Chaval al Hazman if they don’t have the advantage of getting places quicker.
is there a phone with SMS which has a Hechsher?
Rami Levy reportedly had/has a modified smart phone that has SMS only, no Internet. Nativ announced the “Mugan”, also a modified smart phone. Thwy were announced 4 years ago, but are nowhere to be found. You can get a used The Samsung Rugby III which is dustproof, shock resistant, and water resistant– it can be completely submerged for up to 30 minutes. It has a three megapixel camera to take photos onsite and a 2.4-inch QVGA display for easy viewing, It supports AT&T’s 3G services so you can text and also has Push to Talk like a walkie talkie. You can find them unlocked and used or refurb on Amazon or Ebay for around $30 dollars, then get an AT&T plan. There’s an international version for around $120. They both do text, but Whatsapp is whats not.
the Nativ Mugan which can be found at NativCell or a similar name cannot be purchased without a thorough application and approval process which requires proof of the need for such a device and that it will be used properly and the background check takes days
Is it really that difficult to modify a smartphones internet capability; but still allow texting? I know it can be done because ive seen them in lakewood
With a kosher sticker.
Allows weather ,waze etc.
are they under a reliable Hechsher?
Please address this. I told my son he can get a smart phone when I get one, (I have no plans to) He finally ordered one himself and when I confronted him and told him I refuse to pay service for a smart phone, His response floored me. “Most of the Rebbeim have smart phones!!” He is right. Most of them do have smart phones.
Rebbes, you are an example, the boys are looking at you and seeing what you are doing. Please consider getting a kosher phone and Yeshiva should offer their Rebbeim kosher phones to use and purchase, especially if they want to be employed in that Yeshiva!