Just heard about this yesterday:

Rosh Yeshiva {head of Jewish seminary} Pasuls {invalidates} Witness at Chupah {wedding ceremony} Because of iPhone The preparations for the chupah were proceeding without incident. The rabbonim {rabbis} were meeting with the chosson {groom} and family members in preparation for the event on Monday night the eve of 17 Elul 5772 in Jerusalem’s Armonot Hall. As the kesuva {marriage contract} was being written, Rabbi Yosef Ze’ev Feinstein, Rosh Yeshivas ‘עמלה של תורה’, the mesader kedushin {person presiding over the wedding}, asked to meet the Eidim (witnesses). He asked them to see their cell phones. One pulled out a kosher phone {i.e. without internet access}. The second an iPhone. The latter was disqualified as a witness. Needless to say the witness was shocked but the rabbi was not about to enter into a discussion over his ruling.

There are {at least} two levels of craziness to this: Firstly, the witnesses at the weddings are typically very close friends of the family. For the rabbi to invalidate him as a witness is already very insulting to the person himself, but it’s also insulting to the bride and groom’s family - at their own wedding! And over what? Internet access on a phone?

Secondly, is this supposed to set a precedent that internet access invalidates someone as a witness, and more generally, makes someone untrustworthy? That’s a bold step - and one which is likely to create a great schism in the Jewish world, truly dividing the modern orthodox from the amish-esque charedim. {And as I like to point out to people: The amish didn’t begin as being out of date. They were probably quite modern when they began. But they didn’t evolve. And now they’re the amish we know. Looks like fundamentalist Judaism is heading in the same direction, especially as the internet becomes increasingly ubiquitous and essential.}

And let’s not forget the context: Last month was a HUGE jewish anti-internet rally which sold out stadiums - primarily attended by the ultra-orthodox {x, x}. Similarly, the UK had its own version of the gathering yesterday {x}.

So it seems this is a very deliberate and concerted effort by the charedi {ultra-orthodox} leadership to make their views on the internet the new standards for the Jewish community. I don’t know if it’ll catch-on, but I’m expecting more trouble/insanity as they continue to try. On the other hand, with the rates of people leaving the fold as a result of the internet {x}, I can’t say I’m all that surprised by their actions. And btw, I think I was being a bit naive before in thinking the issue with the internet is merely porn. Sure, that’s probably a bigger issue for average jewish folk, but for the leadership, I suspect it has more to do with apikorsus {heresy} - like this blog! =] - and how it’s providing a light and escape hatch for many charedi jews. And thus, a loss of members, money, and power to the leadership.

Also, take note: This is how religions evolve. A bunch of people in leadership just steer the flock in the direction they think/feel makes sense.