bardichev wrote on 25 Jan 2010 22:20:


Gans shein!!!

So I'm sure by now everyone has seen the powerful Haskama we got from Rabbi Twerski which can be viewed over here.

I sent it to Phillip Rosenthal, and this is what he wrote me back:

I just returned from Minneapolis where AI spent two and a half days working with the community there and educating them about technology, Internet and the addictive nature of it. During my presentation to the adults of the community, I dedicated a considerable part of my time talking about GYE. The response was quite good, and a few people in the audience actually nodded their heads in recognition of the site. That told me that they are most likely subscribers. I am pushing the word to the klal and these efforts are reaping benefits as I see.

I was interviewed by HaMishpacha magazine and HaModia recently. In both interviews, I discussed GYE. I, of course, have no say in what they will write, but I am hopeful that they will use my remarks.

Let's speak soon, so you can fill me in on all the new stuff that is happening.

In the meantime,

Hatzlacha rabbah,

Philip

Did you hear guys? Mishpacha and Modia!!  :D

Although I doubt they'll mention us. When I asked Rabbi Twerski to help us spread the word (and he writes for Hamodia a weekly column) he responded:

"I recommend GYE at every opportunity I get. I can't put it in Hamodia because they are not permitted to acknowledge that internet even exists."

That sounds like us jews. Push every problem under the rug!! Isnt that where all our problems go?? Did i miss something. No wonder were all so into persian rugs. Theyre really big so they can hide alot of problems.

Does hamodia acknoeledge the fact that theres a problem of young kids leaving the fold?? Why does this happen?? Most of the time from internet access!! But they cant acknowledge that. So does that mean all the boys and girls going off the derech are not really going off.


HASHEM YERACHEM!!!!

And they claim theyre doing a service to the klal!!!

To that i say..... BS!!!!!

Take a deep breath IT25 and think happy thoughts...

Ok, now....

I a m hoping that with the Haskamos that we have (and that you'll help us still to get  ), things will start to change...

The fact that Hamodia and Mishpacha interviewed Phillip, and the Agudah asked him to speak this year, means that things ARE slowly changing. And we'll be right in the center when they do!  :D

OK. Guard ill let you get away with the edit!! As long as YOU acknowledge that what i said is TRUE!!!

I just sent this letter to the Rosh Yeshiva by e-mail (with minor edits):

Dear Rav Feldman, Shlita,

This has been such a remarkable week for the "Guard Your Eyes" community and, by extension, for Klal Yisrael.  The Rosh Yeshiva's letter in support of GYE was nothing less than groundbreaking.  I say that because it is probably the first letter by someone of the Rosh Yeshiva's stature to fully acknowledge the scope and 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's letter is groundbreaking for another reason: it will, b'Ezras Hashem, make it so much easier for GYE to receive other Haskamos and letters of support (including the letter by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, received this week).  To borrow an idea from this week's Parsha, in writing this unprecedented letter, the Rosh Yeshiva emulated Nachshon ben Aminadav, to the great benefit of Klal Yisrael.  

The Rosh Yeshiva's strong endorsement of the "Guard Your Eyes" program, both online and offline, has provided untold Chizuk to those already involved with the program, and will, b'Ezras Hashem, help bring countless others on board who are crying out for help, but have nowhere to turn.

Below is today's Chizuk e-mail, which discusses both the Rosh Yeshiva's Haskama and that of Rabbi Twerski.  The wording of the caption is not by accident - the international GYE community looks to Rav Feldman as "The Rosh Yeshiva."

On a personal note, although just 8 weeks ago, I had never formally met the Rosh Yeshiva, I now feel privileged to consider myself his talmid.  This represents a turn of events that I never could have anticipated, and I am deeply grateful to the Ribbono Shel Olam for bringing it about.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

Sincerely,

***********

I received this response from the Rosh Yeshiva:

Dear *****,

Thank you for your very meaningful letter.

A. Feldman

The Rosh Yeshiva does email?!?! For some reason I didn't see that one coming.

LeivTahorBeraLi wrote on 31 Jan 2010 06:19:


When I spoke to him by phone and asked if he can view our site, he mentioned that he goes into the office and they can show him websites when he needs... I assume they also show him the e-mails that come in. Perhaps they print them out and he dictates to them what to answer...

Breaking News!

The Rosh Yeshiva has approved and signed an alternate version of his Haskama, which is identical to the most recent letter, except that it omits use of the "P word."  Much as it's good to tell it like it is, some venues would be discouraged from printing this letter in its previous version.  Changes are in blue and underlined.  

This version IN NO WAY replaces the previous version of the Rosh Yeshiva's letter; each can be useful, depending on the venue.  
 
[Thanks to Guard for posting the link below, which is now included above as well].

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

There is an international scourge attacking the Jewish People: this is the widespread addiction of men to viewing inappropriate material. Fueled mainly by the Internet, but no less by other means of communication such as telephone and DVDs, this scourge threatens to tear apart the fabric of Jewish life and undermine one of its major foundations, that of tzenius (moral restraint).

This addiction has spared no class of Jews: from teenagers to kollel members, from office workers to Rabbis, and from single to married men. I have seen personal lives ruined and marriages wrecked because of this relentless temptation.

A single individual has undertaken to stem this tide of destruction, despite the personal and financial strain which this entails. This is the anonymous administrator of the program known as “Guard Your Eyes.” By utilizing methods which have proved successful in treating other addictions, and by providing constant encouragement, support and strategies to victims, “Guard Your Eyes” has successfully helped wean hundreds, if not thousands, from this addiction and has helped return them to normal life.

I have seen the materials and handbooks which this program distributes and have only praise for its methodology and approach to the problems of the addicts. Everything which I have seen conforms to the highest standards of Torah values.

I have been told by reliable people that the Internet program of the same name follows the same standards. Even though Rabbinical authorities have forbidden the use of Internet except where one’s livelihood depends on it, it is my opinion that someone who suffers from this addiction may avail himself of this program, since ridding oneself of this illness is no less vital than earning a living.

I therefore highly recommend anyone who suffers from this problem to avail himself of all aspects of this effective program.

“Guard Your Eyes” is worthy of the encouragement and financial support of every Jew.

May HKBH grant its administrator the wisdom, the strength and the means to continue this holy work, and may it help return the Jewish People to becoming a nation regarding whom it is written, והתקדשתם והייתם קדושים (“Sanctify yourselves and you shall then be holy”).

With deep respect,

Aharon Feldman

I am assuming that we have his permission to use BOTH letters, whichever is more appropriate for the venue (donors should see the more graphic one, and Hamodia can accidentaly run the 'vague' one  ;D )

shemirateinayim wrote on 02 Feb 2010 04:51:


Absolutely - use whichever one works best.  This is an alternate version of the Rosh Yeshiva's letter, but it doesn't replace the earlier version.  I modified my message above to make that 100% clear.

Kedusha wrote on 02 Feb 2010 04:21:


Here's the link to the alternate Haskama.

Important update: The Rosh Yeshiva has requested that one of these two versions of his letter (which do not mention the GYE website) be used in venues where the Internet is not being used by virtually everyone. 

I have asked Guard to post these versions on the GYE site.

Version #1 (no mention of GYE site; uses the word "pornography"):

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

There is an international scourge attacking the Jewish People: this is the widespread addiction of men to pornography. Fueled mainly by the Internet, but no less by other means of communication such as telephone and DVDs, this scourge threatens to tear apart the fabric of Jewish life and undermine one of its major foundations, that of tzenius (moral restraint).

This addiction has spared no class of Jews: from teenagers to kollel members, from office workers to Rabbis, and from single to married men. I have seen personal lives ruined and marriages wrecked because of this relentless temptation.

A single individual has undertaken to stem this tide of destruction, despite the personal and financial strain which this entails. This is the anonymous administrator of the program known as “Guard Your Eyes.” By utilizing methods which have proved successful in treating other addictions, and by providing constant encouragement, support and strategies to victims, “Guard Your Eyes” has successfully helped wean hundreds, if not thousands, from pornographic addiction and has helped return them to normal life.

I have seen the materials and handbooks which this program distributes and have only praise for its methodology and approach to the problems of the addicts. Everything which I have seen conforms to the highest standards of Torah values. I highly recommend anyone who suffers from this problem to avail himself of this effective program.

“Guard Your Eyes” is worthy of the encouragement and financial support of every Jew.
May HKBH grant its administrator the wisdom, the strength and the means to continue this holy work, and may it help return the Jewish People to becoming a nation regarding whom it is written, והתקדשתם והייתם קדושים (“Sanctify yourselves and you shall then be holy”).

With deep respect,

Aharon Feldman


Version #2 (no mention of GYE site; does not use the word "pornography"):

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

There is an international scourge attacking the Jewish People: this is the widespread addiction of men to viewing inappropriate material. Fueled mainly by the Internet, but no less by other means of communication such as telephone and DVDs, this scourge threatens to tear apart the fabric of Jewish life and undermine one of its major foundations, that of tzenius (moral restraint).

This addiction has spared no class of Jews: from teenagers to kollel members, from office workers to Rabbis, and from single to married men. I have seen personal lives ruined and marriages wrecked because of this relentless temptation.

A single individual has undertaken to stem this tide of destruction, despite the personal and financial strain which this entails. This is the anonymous administrator of the program known as “Guard Your Eyes.” By utilizing methods which have proved successful in treating other addictions, and by providing constant encouragement, support and strategies to victims, “Guard Your Eyes” has successfully helped wean hundreds, if not thousands, from this addiction and has helped return them to normal life.

I have seen the materials and handbooks which this program distributes and have only praise for its methodology and approach to the problems of the addicts. Everything which I have seen conforms to the highest standards of Torah values. I highly recommend anyone who suffers from this problem to avail himself of this effective program.

“Guard Your Eyes” is worthy of the encouragement and financial support of every Jew.
May HKBH grant its administrator the wisdom, the strength and the means to continue this holy work, and may it help return the Jewish People to becoming a nation regarding whom it is written, והתקדשתם והייתם קדושים (“Sanctify yourselves and you shall then be holy”).

With deep respect,

Aharon Feldman

Regarding the letter that the Rosh Yeshiva approved for virtually all venues, Guard should be posting it on the GYE site in the near future, and told me that he plans to include a link in today's Chizuk e-mail.

In the meantime, you can access it here.  (Save the file as a JPEG before printing). 

This is the version that does not use the word "pornography," which is probably better in many venues.