Hello,

I have written another anonymous letter, this time to four Rabbanim in my community, one of whom is President of the Vaad HaRabbonim.  It is, b'li neder, going out in today's mail.  Below is the letter, slightly edited:

[Note: I am substituting two other letters, which I believe make the point better.  The second of these letters was sent by the the Vaad HaRabbonim to every Rav in my community].


Dear Rav *******, Shlita,

A wonderful friend of mine has dedicated his life to helping Acheinu B'nei Yisrael who have fallen prey to the Nisyonos of the Internet.  His "Guard Your Eyes" program, www.guardyoureyes.org, has helped countless people in this sensitive area.

Rav Yosef Veiner of Monsey has made a remarkable statement: that the Nisyonos of the Internet are, without exception, the most serious issue facing Klal Yisrael.  The Shiur can be heard at this link (this topic is addressed from about 21:00-47:00).
www.torahanytime.com/scripts/media.php?file=media/Rabbi/Yossi_Viener/2009-07-30/Tisha_BAv_Our_Responsibility_Toward_Others/Rabbi__Yosef_Veiner__Tisha_BAv_Our_Responsibility_Toward_Others__2009-07-30.wmv

Yet, unfortunately, Klal Yisrael is, for the most part, in denial.  For example, Family First Magazine, which is published by Mishpacha, is currently running a serial called "Shattered Glass," which deals with a Kollel Yungerman who suffers from Internet addiction.  Mishpacha has received so many complaints that the author was forced to change the story line to something less threatening.

Just this week, Rav Aharon Feldman, Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, wrote a groundbreaking letter.  The letter is groundbreaking, in that it is probably the first by someone of the Rosh Yeshiva's stature to fully acknowledge the extent of the problem, and to further acknowledge that we're dealing with an addiction/illness, not with people who are evil and simply need to exercise better self control.  The Rosh Yeshiva gave a strong endorsement of the "Guard Your Eyes" program, including the website, as an effective way to help people escape from this painful addiction.  The Rosh Yeshiva’s letter can be found here.  www.guardureyes.com/GUE/Misc/Rav-Aharon-Feldman--GYE-Letter.gif.

Furthermore, due to the vital importance of the cause, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski recently wrote a letter in support of Guard Your Eyes, making a very rare exception to his policy of not giving endorsements.  Rabbi Twerski’s letter can be found here.  www.guardureyes.com/GUE/Misc/Rabbi%20Twerski%27s%20Haskama%20med.jpg

I trust that you will find this information useful.  Please share the Rosh Yeshiva's and Rabbi Twerski's letters with other Rabbanim, and please recommend the Guard Your Eyes program for anyone who needs it.

Sincerely,

********
 



Dear Rav *******, Shlita,

As you are certainly aware, addiction to Internet pornography is a very serious problem in the Orthodox world today.  It affects all spectrums of Orthodoxy, from Modern Orthodox to Chassidish.  It is unknown how many Orthodox Jews (men especially) feel that they are leading double lives, and are crying out for help, with nowhere to turn.  Imagine the pain of a father attending his child’s Siddur party or Chumash Siyum.  It should be a moment of great Nachas.  Instead, the father is ridden with guilt because of where he was on the Internet the previous night.  And the night before.

I was in this unfortunate position until recently.  Then, two things happened that have changed my life immeasurably.  First, Rav ********* urged all of his congregants at last year's Shabbos Shuva Drasha to install an Internet filter, and to entrust the password to someone else.  He went a step further, providing every member with information on how to obtain a free Internet filter for home use ("K9" - see below), and how to set it up.  I had reached the point where pornography had caused me untold pain and frustration, and I was more than ready to listen.  I installed the filter, and had my wife choose the password (in case the password is lost, it will be sent to my wife’s e-mail account, to which I have no access).  While not a total solution, having an Internet filter has been extremely helpful.

Second, I discovered a remarkable website that has numerous resources to give Chizuk to those struggling in this area - www.guardyoureyes.org.  This site is a life preserver for those who are drowning in a sea of Tumah (I know this from personal experience – it has kept me clean, and gives me the opportunity to both receive encouragement and to encourage others).

Please urge your members to protect, not only their children, but themselves, by installing K9 (www1.k9webprotection.com/) or another Internet filter, and by entrusting someone else to choose the password.  Please also inform your members of the Guard Your Eyes website, and encourage them to make use of it.

The main concern, of course, is whether people will listen.  "Kesheim Shemitzvah Lomar Davar Hanishma, Kach Mitzvah Shelo Lomar Davar She'eino Nishma."  I believe, however, based on my personal experience, that there are at least two groups of people that will take your words seriously.  First, those who have hit (or are rapidly approaching) "rock bottom," whose college grades, marriages, livelihoods and, indeed, entire lives are becoming unmanageable.  Second, those who are doing better than the first group, but have the foresight to recognize that they are on a very slippery slope, which is likely to cause them a great deal of trouble in the foreseeable future.  Such people may be inspired to take action, even though they have not yet hit "rock bottom."  This is what the Guard Your Eyes website calls "hitting bottom while still on top."

Please consider sharing my message with your Kehilah.  If you do so, who knows how many people (and their families) will be helped in a major way?

Thank you very much.  Kesiva v'Chasima Tova.

Sincerely,

************  

 

Yashar Koach.  This is a great idea.

Wonderful Kedusha! Zechus Harabim Talui Biyadecha!

Thank you, R. Guard.

I am hoping that the message reaches all of my city's Rabbanim and that they share it with their Kehilos.

If anyone wants to send a similar letter, the easiest way is to copy and paste my text, and make any appropriate modifications.  Who knows how many people can be reached this way?

I am very gratified to report that, one of the Rabbonim who received the above-cited letter (the Rav who is President of the Vaad HaRabbonim of my city) printed my letter, in its entirety, in his Shul bulletin this week. 

The Rav wrote these words, followed by my letter: "This is a letter that was sent to me, and that I would like to pass on to you . . ."

Ashrecha Ve'Tov Lach!

Thank you, R. Guard. 

I am also hoping that this Rav agrees to have the letter sent by e-mail to every Rav on the Vaad HaRabbonim e-mail list.  I'll keep you posted.

I am very happy to report that my Rav just forwarded this letter to the entire Shul's e-mail list.  He wrote the following:

The letter below was sent to Rabbi ****** with a copy to several Rabbanim including myself.  Rabbi ****** printed it in the ********* bi-weekly bulletin and I would like to share it with you as well.

Kol tuv.

Rabbi ****** *********

Wonderful!

Very geshmak! What were the resposes? Keep us posted!

Kollel Guy wrote on 15 Dec 2009 09:02:


Well, the letter was subsequently sent to the Vaad HaRabbanim, which sent it to every Rav in my community (over two dozen).  A few of these Rabbanim shared it with their membership.  More recently (and more significant), the letter was printed in a local Orthodox publication with about 40,000 readers.  I can only hope that at least some people are being helped.

WOW!!!

Kedusha, that's great!

You already embodied the essence of your username...and were already helping spread kedusha to others. This is another giant leap forward in that trip!

You're doing great work Kedusha. I'm working hard to get email addresses of prominent Rabbis in my community so I can send them letters like this. I sent one to Rabbi Horowitz, but never heard from him. He's not part of my community though, so that doesn't count. I am friendly with many of these Rabbis, and the general attitude is that if you keep the internet out of the home, there is no problem. Oy vey...
I suppose if email fails, there is always the good old-fashioned letter :D

For everyone in EY. Print-out one of the flyeres on for this site, and have a yerushalmi kid hang it all over yerushalayim. All it costs you is a printer, he'd do it for free. and best part is that he can't understand what it is. because it's in english!!!

Also people can anonymously mail it to their own shul. No explanation needed, just add a story or two from this site, and mybe print the aish article on addiction, that (at last check) was the 8th most read article on their site....ever!!! i wonder why... hmm?
this costs you a stamp (and a page, and toner if you're that cheap)

people can also pay to put these into community ad bokks (I don't know what they're called), that are put-out every week.

Or even easier, start one of thos bogus tehillim-xhain text messages,  just put this websites name, and a short sentece how sending this coulf save the family of an addict, and send it to everyone, because he may know sombody else... not C"V that you suspect the one who gets the message. -----ideal for bachurim who are broke, but have texting


anyohne else got any easy ideas how to save the world???