Many positive repercussions and a pronounced arousal reverberate throughout the ranks of Torah-true Jewry following the motzei Shabbos rally attended by tens of thousands of women via live broadcast from the Armonot Chein hall in Bnei Brak to over 100 locations throughout Eretz Yisroel. The massive turnout was a response to the call of gedolei Yisroel, headed by HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, to rally unto Hashem, as with the historic cry of `Mi laShem eilai' in fighting the disastrous inroads to the Torah camp caused by the dangers of modern technological devices. This, they declared, was a holy war for the soul at this difficult hour of devastating spiritual destruction.
At the end of the rally, guidelines and directives were announced, as established by our gedolim. An explicit letter of daas Torah was similarly publicized, written by HaRav Wosner and joined by HaRav Chaim Kanievsky regarding the obligation to desist from use of the Internet, with practical advice.
The rally was opened with a moving address by chairman HaRav Chaim Lang, who said that "precisely because the `glory of a [Jewish] princess is from within,' our Torah leadership today has focused on this aspect of pnima, not only from the evil winds blowing in from the outside, but also from the alien winds wafting from within to each one, with her daily challenge."
HaRav Yehoshua Fink, administrator of the Belz educational institutions, delivered a fiery address, quoting awesome things from the Chazon Ish, who said, "One needs Heavenly assistance in raising Jewish children, and there can be none, nor a residing of the Shechina in a home that has a radio!"
"This holds all the more true for a home connected to Internet, which spouts idolatry, adultery and murder! No one would take a gun to his child! The same applies to work places, for if there is impurity, how can one accept wages therefrom and use it to support a home? Anyone possessing a device with access to Internet, such as an iPhone etc., is severing himself from Klal Yisroel!"
HaRav Yaakov Meir Sonnenfeld, rabbi of Rechasim and Rosh Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyohu, spoke movingly, saying, "`Remember the days of yore; comprehend the years of past generations.' Each generation has its distinctive mission and unique trials, but those who are qualified to define them are only our Torah leaders, as is written, `Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will inform you.' Tens of thousands of women have gathered from all over the country to save their lives in light of the call of gedolei Yisroel who determined that the terrible trials of this generation are the pitfalls of technology which sow havoc and devastation in the vineyard of our people, ch'v.
"HaRav Eliashiv ztvk"l, who was known to be very circumspect in his statements, came out explicitly and said, `Since Creation, there has not appeared anything as spiritually destructive as the Internet.' And when we reflect on it, it seems that his definition was precisely accurate and screams out to the heavens.
"Through heavenly mercy, we have merited establishing upright Jewish homes loyal to Hashem and His Torah, with sons in yeshivos and daughters in Bais Yaakov [schools]. We have buttressed strong walls to protect us from infiltration from the outside. But to our dismay, these walls have lately been breached, with the Satan succeeding in introducing the greatest hazard of all times right into our homes and yeshivos.
"In order to fathom the extent of this holocaust perpetrated by this pest, let me present one example of so many chilling incidents. A certain talmid chochom, author of several seforim, was sitting in his study, typing his Torah innovations, when, out of innocent curiosity, he once surfed onto the Internet — and plummeted very rapidly to the lowest level, to the degree that he is abandoning his family and altogether turning his back on Torah and Hashem, Rachmono Litzlan.
"The Rosh Yeshiva told of one boy who brought a device into a yeshiva and messed up thirty-five other boys. Most frightening is the fact that women, who grew up and built families with unlimited mesiras nefesh, were exposed at their place of work to the Internet and slipped down to the depths and as a result left their young children and families. Such a thing cries out to High Heaven! `Will a women forget her infant?'
"We must fight with mesiras nefesh with all our powers. But we must understand the battlefield. HaRav Eliahu Lopian zt"l said that we nations wage a long war they dedicate limited resources to each clash. But when the final, crucial battle is fought they bring out all the weapons at their command. Before the Geula there will be a decisive battle between the Soton and the forces of Kedushoh, and each side will bring out all its weapons.
"It seems that the Soton has brought to the decisive battle the most dangerous weapon in his possession, which is the Internet, and through which the Soton hopes to postpone the Geulah. So we must understand the importance of the task which is upon us.
"In closing I would like to mention what I heard from More Verabbi Maran HaMashgiach HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein zt"l. Just like in yetzias Mitzrayim only a fifth of Bnei Yisroel merited to be redeemed, so in the future Redemption, only those who withstand the tests of Ikvesa Demeshicha will be redeemed. The many women who have gathered throughout the land, recalling that in the merit of Righteous Women our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt, are hereby called upon to fight with all their powers with mesiras nefesh against the evil plans of the Soton. In this merit they and their families will be redeemed, soon, with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, speedily in our days."
Rav Chananya Cholek, founder and head of Ezer MiZion, said that in our time, the time of Ikvesa Demeshicha, there are so many tzoros and tragedies. In the time of the Tanoim they already asked: How can one be saved from the troubles that come in the time of Moshiach (in Ikvesa Demeshicha)? And Rebbe answered: "He should engage in Torah and gemilas chassodim."
We say in davening, "Ahavas olam ohavtonu Hashem Elokeinu." How can we reciprocate to Hashem for His love to us? We are commanded to love Hashem our G-d. How do we come to love Him? By learning Torah — "we will discuss Your laws."
The Tur says that in the time of Dovid Hamelech 100 boys died each day. They thought about what to do, and Dovid Hamelech said that everyone should say 100 brochos a day and immediately they stopped dying.
"Over the last year 39,000 people in Eretz Yisroel died from the awful disease, Rachmono litzlan. If we figure it out, we see that it comes to about 100 people a day. Dovid Hamelech enacted a new takonoh when so many people died. Now we all have homes but HaKodosh Boruch Hu Himself has no home.
"So where does he rest the Shechinah? In our homes. But it must be a clean and pure home. If we clean and purify our homes we can make blessings in purity and we will thereby merit good decrees."
Read the remarks of HaRav Rubin.
