It’s the new calling plan sweeping the ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, or Haredi, in Jerusalem–the kosher cellphone number. BBC News reports that the latest means “religious adaptation to modern technology” for those of the strictly adherent group, involves cellphones that “cannot send or receive text messages, browse the internet or take photos–all activities that could potentially involve behavior considered ‘immodest.’”
But that’s not the phone’s only added-feature–Verizon eat your heart out!–this phone has a rabbinical stamp of approval, similar to kosher foods, and Israeli carriers have created distinct kosher cellphone code prefixes. Not only have these phone numbers “become a badge of religious observance,” but certain plans only allow calls to and from other kosher cells.
The idea is that the kosher plans can keep teens and others away from the temptations of modern communications, such as pornography or illicit chatting and texting amongst the sexes. Whatever happened to the notion of testing one’s faith? Wouldn’t it be a better overall lesson to overcome temptation rather than to avoid it all together?
One tourist industry worker interviewed for the piece, speaking about internet use, said, “I’m not afraid of the negative aspects because I grew up with internet and I feel I can control myself not to use the bad features.” However, two sentences later he seemingly contradicts himself, noting that he probably won’t let his own children use the internet when they are old enough.
While it could be argued that having a secular Sprint plan might be a better spiritual lesson, the idea of kosher cellphones arguably opens up entire new market niches AT&T might want to look into–like Marion Mobiles, Hindu Handsfree or maybe even Pagan Pay-As-You-Go. I can only imagine the features…
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posted October 19, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Just as long as it automatically shuts off on Shabbat. THEN IT’S KOSHER.
posted October 19, 2008 at 8:37 pm
hey there always is a new way to make a buck! wonder if the cell is unuseable on Shabbat except for emergencies???????
After all people can not police themselves and know not to answer phones.
Its called a circle of friend and is used by many phone companies so big deal!
Hugs
Laura
posted October 19, 2008 at 8:41 pm
So Lucy-what about an emergency on Shabbat and who is to say what a emergency is anyway?
Like I said if you can make a buck out of something there always will be a ___________ to buy it.
Hugs
Laura
posted October 20, 2008 at 10:20 am
What a silly way to publisize a mockery of Judism
posted October 20, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Thus we see the danger of ANY set of religious beliefs intruding into the secular world. Would those who think this is so cute if it were the results of Muslim or Evangelical Christians?
posted October 29, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Being Reform my entire life, I have never understood the lengths to which the Orthodox community will go. The idea of kosher soap is what I thougt was the last straw (for me). Now the Ultra- Orthodox of Israel have come up with THE most ridiculous kosher item I have ever heard of. The kosher cellphone is totally idiotic. What’s next? kosher toilets?