Dear Rabbi *****,
I want to personally thank you for urging everyone who needs Internet access in the home to install an Internet filter (to which they have no access to the password). Doing that, and getting Chizuk from
www.guardyoureyes.org, has made all the difference in the world to me.
It is amazing how many Frum people are faced with this Nisayon, and fall repeatedly. I know you don't want to sound like the proverbial "broken record," but I urge you to keep the issue in the forefront.
It has been said that Yichud with a computer [at least one with unfiltered Internet] is as forbidden as Yichud with one of the Arayos. I would add that it's much worse, in that it's far more likely to lead to forbidden behavior than are most traditional acts of Yichud. With standard Yichud, the other person would need to consent to do the Issur, which, in many cases, is not likely. Not so with the Issurim involved with the Internet.
I greatly hope that the Kinus Hisorarus at ******* in September will, not only address this issue, but will give it the proper time and emphasis that it deserves. Please do everything in your power to ensure that this happens. To that end, I would like to share an important point: Bnei Torah who constantly fall in this area eat themselves up alive, knowing that they are engaged in serious Aveiros and living double lives. The more modern crowd, however, need to be told more than that this behavior is Assur. Otherwise, their response is likely to be: "Sure, everything is Assur. TV is Assur, movies are Assur, novels are Assur, newspapers are Assur, mixed swimming is Assur, and Internet pornography is also Assur. But since I do the first five things, and have no intention of stopping, why should I worry about Internet pornography?"
These people need to hear the following: besides being forbidden, Internet pornography is a slippery slope that can easily make your life unmanageable. Countless college students are unable to get much studying done because of addiction to the Internet in general, and Internet pornography in particular. Others compromise their ability to earn a living. Perhaps most heartbreaking, countless husbands are unable to enjoy intimacy with their wives because the images they constantly look at raise their expectations and sap them of their strength (I am trying to present this b'Lashon Nekiah - Hameivin Yavin). These are just examples of how to present the issue to the more modern crowd.
If presented properly, even modern types may see the wisdom in filtered Internet, for both themselves and for their children.
Should you need assistance in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me. Please excuse me for remaining anonymous, but the sensitive nature of this topic makes this necessary.
Have a good Shabbos.
Sincerely,
**********
P.S. To the extent possible, please share this message with the other Rabbanim in town.
