By COLlive reporter
Photos: Hillel Engel / Yeshiva World & Chaim Greenbaum, JDN
It was indeed a huge event, held in a huge stadium, with a huge crowd gathered from far and near to tackle a huge crisis.
The only problem: they forgot to mention the huge solution that organizers promised would be the outcome.
Over 40,000 frum Jews filled Citi Field Stadium in Queens Sunday afternoon for an “emergency meeting” aimed to fight influences of Western society and shmutz that modern technology has made more accessible.
The Internet is “changing who we are,” declared Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman, Rosh Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok of Monsey, according to a report in the Forward.
“You can see it in the ebbing eyes of the younger generation, of the jittery inattentiveness of our children, in the flippant and callous language and attitude, the cynicism … the unbelievable breaches of [modesty],” in Orthodox communities.
The rally was sponsored by a group called “Ichud Hakehillos Letohar Hamachane”, which the Times said is linked to a software company that sells Internet filtering software to Orthodox Jews.
(Attending from Crown Heights were the Badatz member Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba and dayan Rabbi Shlomo Segal who were almost unseen in the 2-level 3-part dais shared between the rabbonim and their gabboim. Most Lubavitchers shied away from attending, as the Rebbe advocated the use of modern technology for the good – obviously within limits.)
“This is a battle being waged against dark negative forces,” said the elder Skulen Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Avrohom Portugal, one of the conveners of the event who delivered emotional remarks in Yiddish.
But there is only so much one can ignore the world, as was evident with the huge display advertisements around the Mets home base which included Budweiser beer (a new hit at Sholom Zachars?), Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, and Cholula hot sauce (the middle aged Mexican woman on the bottle was covered).
Smartphones were whipped out to be used as a siddur for Mincha, fliers advertising a “kosher app” for iPhone and Android phones were handed out and the New York Times reported that on the Subway, heading to the stadium, frum Jews were seen “poking at e-mail in-boxes and checking voice mail messages.”
The event itself was broadcast live over the web (the organizers provided video feeds to gatherings in Lakewood and Monsey for women – who were not invited) and one of the jokes mentioned in the many Twitter messages during the event was: “What did one rabbi tweet to the other rabbi at the asifa? Wi-Fi here is a bummer.”
Still, the display of the frum community from around New York and New Jersey – albeit without their wives or children – was an image-worthy testament to the vibrancy of observant Jewish life, customs and respect for rabbonim, amid the dark tales of machlokes, child abuse and corruption constantly being highlighted in the secular media.
Even without a clear solution or message, there was something to be said about such a large convergence of Jews in a most unifying and orderly manner, days before Shavuos, reciting together the Shma Yisroel and Tefillat HaShlah, the prayer composed by the Shelah haKadosh for the sake of one’s children and grandchildren on Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
If only the rabbonim and the frum community could accomplish this kind of unity more often and with more effective results…
VIDEO:
this whole thing is just nonsense- people make choices in life- and people CHOOSE to go to certain cites that are not kosher- if its a child we are talking about “PARENTS, PLEASE TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR KIDS!!”- and if its an adult, well it is a choice they made
rav elya ber wachtfogel from yeshiva south fallsburg blasted malkiel kotler for wat he said on chabad
all of the people who said they attended that event and you agree with anti internet protests why are you on collive i thought the internet was trafe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rav Malkiel Kotlers Uncle Gavriel Finkel runs a very unpopular Bais Din in Lakewood he is famous for throwing jews in jail who stand in the way of any of his relitives
Mr. 33, I vote you for Rosh Hakohol (when Zaki retires.)
Mr. 6, you saved me ten minutes, I was gonna write the same thing. The author of this article should apologize to the Rebbe for making up a bubbeh maase that the Rebbe’s position on technology somehow means that we should have unfettered internet in our homes. Absolutely rediculous and sad.
why weren’t women invited? they could have made “separate seating”! and, it was broadcasted-ON THE INTERNET- for the women. isn’t the point to stop using internet?
if you’re trying to bring out a point, to convince others to accept what you are saying, make sure you aren’t doing the same and aren’t causing OTHERS to do what you’re campaigning against-there are knots in this project.
The bigest organized Chilul Hashem
…is vayichan haam … “the people encamped at Sinai like one man with one heart”. If they just put a mountain in the middle of the stadium, you would really get the feeling – no?
THE DANISHES WERE DELICIOUS!!!
BUT WHERE WAS THE GAME!
In fact, there were plenty of live simulcasts for the women in various locations. Many women attended.
beuatiful show of people. hashem loves when yiddin are together.
BS”D This event seems noble, Boruch Hashem. I think a middle path should be taken, and very carefully. It would be worthy to have a psak din issued, (which I think lubavitch would agree with) requiring ANYONE with internet to have a filter, period. Special circumstances where it won’t allow business sites can always be arranged anyway, and that usually doesn’t happen. Second of all, I think having a Kinnus for the sake of Achdus is worthy, and instead of complaining, next time sharing individual ideas of how we can all improve. Chizzuk is good, solutions are better. Thats my… Read more »
Just like #62 responded to #8, I will say to you – Lubavitch is JUST the right group of people to talk about Bitul Torah and Biutl Zman! Hah!
From your words, you have shown the fulfillment of the words of Chazal which you quoted from Pirkei Avos – that envy removes a person from this world.
Lubavitch is just the right group of people to talk about Bitul Zman! Hah!
People, wake up. This whole asifa was a brilliant business marketing stunt to get us to use the “kosher filter” company
$1.5 million (which what the event cost) was a worthwhile investment for this company, considering that will be pocketing the entrance fees of 60,000 people and the many who signed up for their product.
1. The Rebbe would not support this because the Rebbe was not into banning as is so prevelent these days by rabbonim and “gedolim”
2. Enlighten me when did the Rebbe ever call on chassidim to attend a protest, demonstration or an event that’s all about being anti
It was considered dvorim bteilim as one of the earlier Gerrer Rebbe’s said that words that do not have an effect (and as this asifa had no practical structure) it is biutl zman and bitul Torah. Regarding kotler – it seems that he is married to 2 women, because the get of 100 rabbonim was turned down by his original wife. Rebbi Schneur Kotler OBM when hearing a comment in his home against chassidim – said “we know that ahavas yisroel is passed on to the younger generation ober sin’as yisroel also” ?! but it seems that this malkiel character… Read more »
to #48 link not working
You hit the nail on the head. Told it like it is. Shame on any “chosid” who dared attend the gathering led by jew haters! SHAME ON YOU!!!
I am also Lubavitch and I also took my son for mostly all the same reasons though I couldn’t have articulated them better! Thank you!
Why did you write such a negative article filled with jabs throughout? At least they are doing SOMETHING!!! The positive spin at the end does not take away the rechilus.
And what makes you think the Rebbe would not support this? The Rebbe banned television from the houses of Lubavitchers, how do you know he would not have required Chassidim to use filters, etc.? How do you know the Rebbe would not consider being in the room alone with the internet Yichud?
The internet simply did not exist in any practical form before chof zayin adar 1992.
This article is absolutely pathetic. (Oh well I prob. lost my chance to be posted already.) The event was an amazing show of Achdus, and ppl. that deal with reality and are not above the nisyonos that every other family is faced with b/c of internet. And THE WERE SOLUTIONS. There were eactually a list of Takonos supported by all the biggest Poskim in our times, directing everyone what to do. I know, I watched it too.
Number 10 is such a misnaged…
And well taken. It’s about time we become less defensive and see the beauty in other frumme Yidden.
We tell the not yet religious Yid how precious every mitzva is, and then we see other Yidden who fulfill so many mitzvos, and we disparage. Just a sign of our own immaturity and insecurity.
Enough already.
It’s time to relearn Perek Lev in Tanya, and Mitvas Ahavas Yisroel in Derech Mitzvoisecho, and practising it.
כאיש אחד בלב אחד
Wow wow. BrillIant comment. Something about your comment just hit it on the head. I would love to sit and be a guest at your Shabbos table. Hashem should bless you to have adele chassidishe children who are shining examples to those around them.
Here’s something: http://www.milechai.com/judaism/kosher-beer.html
Herscel Tzig in his blog “circus tent ” writes that last week Rav Malkiel Kotler at a BMG fundraiser in Toronto said to someone” he doesnt understand what the whole Tummel is about his comment about Lubavitch in Monroe everyone knows the Rebbe Was a Sonei Torah”
I am making a ‘Hachloto’ right here & right now to do everything within my power to do more (alone!) then what 40000 people tried (and failed) to do yesterday (@internetasifa).
Here goes: http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
Works on computers, iPhones, androids and most other smart phones.
There is no excuse not to use it. Its free.
See what I did there?!
I just did more to block shmutz on the internet in 1 post then 40000 peopled tried to do in a few hours with TV publication, advertising and renting out one of the largest stadiums in NY.
#33 you said it best!!!!!!!!!!! I sometimes wonder with all this Machlokes Lshaim Shamayim if we are reliving the days of Rabbi Akiva. Each talmid believed that his way was the best instead of excepting their Torah. We are not acting as chassidim when we put down something that truly only had positive goals. I feel that we have lowered the words of the Rebbe. The Rebbe spoke so strongly about not bringing TVs into our homes as it is a box of avodah zara, bringing interent is the same thing (as tv can eazily be watched off you computer… Read more »
Do you have a source to this “KNOWN fact”? Until very recently, no beer had a hechsher. Never seemed to be a problem. True or not, please provide sources for “KNOWN facts”.
Since when is Budweiser KOSHER?!
It is a KNOWN fact that beer NEEDS a reliable hechsher due to the fact that brewers routinely use pepsin and casein which comes from treifa animals!
BUDWEISER DOES NOT HAVE A HECHSHER AND SHOULD NOT BE USED!
most of the pics are of people on their phones
It seems like a very 1 sided article. Why say the lubavitcher rabonnim could not be seen. And make as if they had no rite to attend. Who gives u the rite to mock.
Agreed
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL1E8GK3TU20120520?irpc=932
The Asifa was headed by an open soyneh yisroel – one who unabatedly expresses hatred against Jews, more so, hatred against OUR REBBES!! Kotler (and I cannot call him with any title of respect since he) spoke against Chabad and the Rebbe Rayatz openly – in davkah relation to this Asifa! Attending such an Asifa simply adds chayos and strength to this so called leader, who is composed of klippah and tumah.. I am shocked that some Lubav attended without using better judgement! Better that such people should learn on Nittel night! At least they are not giving encouragement to… Read more »
how can we proud lubavitcher chassidim throw cynicism and a cold blanket on a gathering of Jews who davened and said shma together?
“waste of money”, “meaningless”, and all the other comments above can very easily be said (with some justification) about the kinnus hashluchim, lag b’omer parades, etc.
There’s plenty of rightful criticism to be thrown at this asifa. the main thing that comes to mind is sadness. a blown opportunity to unite klal yisroel around an issue that everyone is concerned about. Yet they tacked hard right and lost the crowd in 10 minutes.
what a shame
All you people are pathetic. Stop trying to gain acceptance by others. Lubavitch was not part of this asifa, its just not our way. And they didn’t want you there. Accept that and stop trying so hard to gain their approval. They still don’t like you or want you there. Be proud of who we are, we have our Rebbe to follow. That’s all that matters.
I believe the point was to bring AWARENESS of the dangers the internet poses, and yes, they accomplished that.
They INTENTIONALLY did not give solutions, as this is something that all schools/parents/communities are responsible enough to come up with by themselves.
If I were a man, I would have surely attended, I would have been turned off by solutions but I would have appreciated the knowledge. All the next commenters – Please don’t mock this event.
that we are going through “shvere shvere nisyonos” and we need to beg Hashem to help us…
I think we Lubavitchers can learn from this.
im appalled how u can say this was a waste of time and money! jewish poeple coming together to bring out a piont- and if you dont agree with it there is no reason why you need to say it publicly, keep quiet!
Though I am a lubab – I took my son last night to Citifield The reasons I felt it was important to go was to Show my son that we ARE part of the “frumme Kreizen” -Yes we may have different Shitos and more progressive attitudes sometimes much more accepting ( which I wonder today with the sad reality of how our community looks like -weather we really shouldn’t rethink some of those ideas-and friends even if there are some haters that don’t want us there- SO WHAT -will we allow them to shut us out of the largest gathering… Read more »
As lubavitchers, we didn’t go, only because our rabonim and mashpiim weren’t advocating for it, otherwise there would have been a couple thousand chabadniks there,
Now was the event a waste of time? I think not, it showed the very same achdus we lubavitchers pointed out through the whole rubashkin ordeal, so please be respectfull, and say good for them, but our leaders didn’t think any tachlis would come of it, so they saved our community the time and money, not that they disagree with a controlled internet in a jewish home.
Probably excellent comments…didn’t read one…no name.
No self-esteem?
‘The Rebbe, MH”M’ wants LEADERS not FOLLOWERS.
They should have had a ‘shiur’ in ‘Tanya’ at the ‘asifa.’
Can do wonders.
Also, many of the ‘Yidden’ there should grow beards…help their ‘kedusha.’
Take off their hat and ‘yarmulka’…can you tell their Jews?
(Don’t take of the nose, please.)
Where are the famous, holy, distinguishing signs that our forefathers had that enabled them to be liberated from ‘Mitzrayim?’
Of course…the beard.
Citifield, here we come…
do they even know the difference between a mac and pc? LOL
this whole thing is a MASSIVE EMBARRASSMENT!!
the problem with the internet everything is free they cant make money of it
their was no signs in crown heights calling for a assifa and also if they would talk to lubavitch experts like jakobson or tora caffe chabad .org they have a lot off experience in giving content so its used in a good purposeful way find out how many downloads of torah content shiurim etc maybe their is alot more good then bad and those who know they have a problem shouldn’t have it at their house a while ago fore a short period their was daf hayomi fore free they discontiniyud it it was just a tizur so they could… Read more »
Achdus! Sholom! Moshiach!!! this will come through talking positive and only positive about others. i spoke with many yungerlight from chassidishe olam who were inspired by the asifa to be more careful about shmiras einayim. the fact that you have a different approach or even find the motives of the organizers to be undesirable is not a reason to criticize. We dont need to jump on every wagon or feel let down for not being invited. fact is a large percentage of yidden who attended are not associated with machlokes and went l’shaim shomayim….hevey don es kol odom…v’al todin es… Read more »
What´s the point of this article?
If you don´t agree with them, don´t. But why speak bad?!
Bitul zman? waste of money?
40000 Jews getting together for a good purpose is no waste.
It shows tremendous Achdus, wether you agree with them or not.
So please, if you have something negative to say – KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!!!
I love the bud wiser ad in the first pic
I think the big problems with the asifah was 1) the personal issues of the certain people in charge of it. 2) the BAD timing coming right after last weeks horrible williamsburg fundraiser.
3) the whole need to do it in a stadium made it look silly.
With that said this article seems a little bit to cynical especially that we complained how we weren’t invited??
I have come across 3 articles where col is disparaging the event in a very disrespectful manner. No one forced anyone to go if they choose not to go. But bear in mind that this event was supported by very prominent rabonim, of which most of them are on very good terms with lubavitch. Just because one or 2 rotten apples were involved, does not give us the right to denigrate what other Jews do. This attitude serves us no good.
Why be so cynical? I dont agree with the event, but going on the lines of the Forward?
Probably excellent comments…didn’t read one…no name.
No self-esteem?
‘The Rebbe, MH”M’ wants LEADERS not FOLLOWERS.
They should have had a ‘shiur’ in ‘Tanya’ at the ‘asifa.’
Can do wonders.
Also, many of the ‘Yidden’ there should grow beards…help their ‘kedusha.’
Take off their hat and ‘yarmulka’…can you tell their Jews?
(Don’t take of the nose, please.)
Where are the famous, holy, distinguishing signs that our forefathers had that enabled them to be liberated from ‘Mitzrayim?’
Of course…the beard.
I blame the schools where our kids spend most of their waking hrs having their creative side, talents and passions crushed out of them to the point we have a load of zombies on our hands! deal with the cause, mr who ever arranged this conference , not the effect!
In his words ‘Most Lubavitchers shied away from attending, as the Rebbe advocated the use of modern technology for the good -obviously within limits.’ This is absolutely untrue, and its not just this author, but other bloggers are repeating the same message in different words and they even claim to speak in the name of chabad. This causes a tremendous chilul hashem and plays right into the hands of our enemies. It is well known that some of the organizers even used that message as their excuse, for not inviting lubavitch. By you repeating such nonsense, you are validating their… Read more »
Many yeshiva students attended the asifa just to see the Mets new stadium. If it were held in Lakewood most people would not attend
To # 12,
Why are you referring to this event as a protest ?
That wasn’t what it was at all.
Could be it was a kinnus hisoirerus or the like.
How about a Rabbi in a Shabbos Hagodol drosho … is he ‘protesting’ chometz as well ?
The word ‘protest’ isn’t mentioned anywhere in all the material .
The reason we didn’t go was simple: Because the Rebbe didn’t support protests. The Rebbe was never afraid to come out against things – if people liked it or not. Mihu Yehudi, Shleimus Haaretz, protests for Soviet Jewry, etc. But I don’t recall the Rebbe ever encouraging chassidim to participate in protests or demonstrations! If you do remember, please enlighten me. The Rebbe was pro, not against. If there is something bad – add more light. If you did something wrong, don’t spend time talking about it – change your ways, take on a new hachlata. One thing is certain,… Read more »
extra cash in someones pocket for the 40000 attendee tickets…
All of your articles mentioning the Citifield Asifah smack of pure jealousy. You cannot control yourself from showing how jealous you are.
a pity on yiddishe gelt! $1.5 million was spent when families all over are acing under financials burdens!
they accomplished one thing,,, bitul zman….
There have been many statements within Chabad about how the Rebbe encouraged the usage of technology and how shluchim around the world embrace and utilize technology and the internet in a wonderful Kosher way, Thus said, whoever thinks for a moment that the situation within Chabad is any better than outside of Chabad in regard to this nisayon, is fooling themselves. It is perhaps worst, as their is open encouragement to utilize every modern device to it’s fullest. The inherent pitfalls are obvious to everyone, and who knows how many Lubavitchers are engaged in the darker side that the internet… Read more »
The author of this article makes a number of errors. In his words ‘Most Lubavitchers shied away from attending, as the Rebbe advocated the use of modern technology for the good – obviously within limits.’ The Rebbe did what ? Did he advocate that every Lubavitcher have 250 cable channels at home so that he / she can watch the Rebbes farbrengens broadcast live on cable three times a year ? That is nonsense. The Rebbe spoke out AGAINST having TV’s at home. He never allowed TV’s into our homes . Also, if the Rebbe wished us that technology be… Read more »
A huge fight broke out at the “Brooklyn White Sox” game in Citi Field last night. Seems everyone wanted a spot in section 8
Having an “anti Internet conference” broadcasted on the Internet world wide, photographed and video taped on “non koshe smart phones”!!!! can’t get better then that
Wow a mets game is never as full as this was
big fights at the Asifa last night…everyone wanted to sit in section 8.
lovin that tweet! very funny!