November 2, 2006

Agudah Convention Takes Aim at Blogs

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, on the theme of this years' Agudah Convention, "Torah Wisdom/Torah Authority: Are We Losing the Connection?":

"In recent years, though," the Agudah leader observes, "due to a variety of factors, the authority of daas Torah has been significantly undermined, even within our own chareidi circles. Most troubling has been the proliferation of Internet 'blogs' where misguided individuals feel free to spread every bit of rechilus and loshon hora about rabbonim and roshei yeshiva, all with the intended effect of undermining any semblance of Torah authority in our community. It is most appropriate for an organization like Agudath Israel, whose very essence was built on the recognition of the authority of Torah leaders, to address this issue head on, and formulate concrete plans to reinvigorate public awareness of this essential element of the Torah way of life."

[Hat tip: Aishel]

Posted by Greg at November 2, 2006 10:54 AM in , | TrackBack
Comments

As with anything, some blogs do that and some don't. I think they are right to try to address the problem, I don't think the answer is banning blogs or whatever but I do think they need to remind people that just because it's a blog and you can say whatever you want, doesn't mean that you are allowed to speak (post) loshon hara etc. I am not referring to this blog or other blogs I frequent.

Posted by: Erica at November 2, 2006 12:19 PM

I don't get it. How do you blog if you're not allowed to go online in the first place? -- oh, it must be one of those blogs that you can post to from email.
Nevermind. mystery solved. sheesh.

Posted by: Chareidi Fanatic at November 2, 2006 12:26 PM

I don't think the Agudah is planning on starting a blog...

Posted by: Greg at November 2, 2006 2:40 PM

I don't think we should be so cynical of people who don't have the internet, I mean if they chose not to have it then that is their business. There are some really nice normal people who don't have internet, tv, moniters, etc. and they don't judge people or force it on others, it is possible to survive without those things and not be some "crazy fanatic."

Posted by: Erica at November 2, 2006 3:10 PM