Government Defends Plan to Eliminate Kosher Cell Phones: ‘Israel Not a Shtetl’
An explosive meeting took in Jerusalem place between Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel and Charedi representatives, to discuss the potentially devastating plan to eliminate kosher cell phones in the coming weeks • Full Story
During the meeting, Hendel sharply attacked the Charedi community, saying “Israel is not a shtetl”, and the state cannot exist if Charedim have autonomy.
Hendel convened the briefing on Sunday for the Charedi media, to discuss his upcoming “kosher telephone reforms”, in an attempt to explain several decisions which have triggered outrage among Charedim.
In addition to other reforms, the one that has angered the community most is that “kosher phone” numbers will be capable of working on non-kosher phones. Since those numbers will no longer be exclusively reserved for kosher phones, it will be nearly impossible for the Communications Vaad to ensure a hechsher on cell phones. This will essentially eliminate the koma hacsheira or “kosher floor”, which enables numbers to be monitored and vetted for kashrus.
As reported in B’Chadrei Charedim, some Charedi journalists criticized Hendel at the briefing, saying that even if he wants to weaken the Vaad or take away their exclusive control, there is no need or justification to eliminate the “Koma Hakseira.” They argued that there are other effective ways to increase competition and offer alternatives to enable kosher phones and weaken the Vaad.
In response, Hendel viciously attacked the community, saying “This is the State of Israel and not a shtetl. The position of the Charedim does not matter. In my opinion, this is what is beneficial for [phone] companies at the foundational level.”
He went on, “The state cannot exist if Charedim have autonomy. And specifically Gur [Chasiddus], which currently controls the Communications Vaad, which is also criticized internally by many from the Charedi sector.
“Regarding the question of whether I want to educate the Charedi public to abolish autonomy. I do not believe that there should be autonomy in the State of Israel, and furthermore, you can not hold the stick at both ends. You can not be part of the state government, and regarding issues concerning the Charedi sector you will decide otherwise. Since you are included in government regulations, you are the government, and cannot still have autonomy.”
Hendel did not explain why he would not first try to allow competition among different Vaad groups, and then if that does not work, he could break up the “Koma Hacsheira.”
(Vin News)
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The kosher phone vaad is awash in corruption. In the last couple of months, the “Vaad” cut off the phones of hundreds of subscribers because the “Vaad” didn’t agree with their politics. you know one of the askanim who is sitting on this vaad is a chusid of the real estate Gerer Rebbe. And they blocked phones of followers of Shaul Alter. They blocked phones to many Cheredi hot lines. Cherdi business for personal vendettas and petty politics.
Don’t be surprised but “Cheredim” are behind the push to break this monstrous coercive monopoly
This article is very misleading. A person can still have a kosher phone! It simply gives people the option of moving their number that they have been using for years to a non-kosher phone if they want.
The CHOICE to use kosher phones will still be available.
My comments never get posted so I doubt this one will but here it goes.
I have direct dealings with the vaad. It is ran like the mob. Let me correct myself they are a mob. If you want to work in the Charedi sector you need to pay them. Your phone numbers are not Kosher unless you cut them a check. No phones are allowed to be sold as Kosher and filtered unless they are purchased from them at a premium. This has been going on for years and needs to end. I understand the Frum community wants Kosher phones and I can respect that. If the va’ad was leshmoh they should have thought about it before they turned to mob like tactics. Good riddance.
This won’t “eliminate kosher phones” and it’s already possible to get a kosher number on a smartphone (just ask in any cell phone store).
o if I don’t want a smart phone I can’t have it? I thought the market place controls this But in truth most yeshiva persons all gave I phones as well they just don’t use them when in yeshiva