Moishe himself is a living example, he has a camp each summer for 150 bacherim with day long trips, learning and programs, a yeshiva year round, fundraises money for all his peulas and running everything without a SMARTPHONE!!! he is a living example and shows that you can be successful and he practices what he preaches

it’s better? it’s the only way!
I think the article was about a obviously “filtered” smartphone vs a flip phone, I wouldn’t dream of anyone getting unfiltered

it’s pashut these days for everyone

why would you think it would be over? its like saying after the holocaust that jewery is over

the eibeshter is emes, and emes can’t lose

good for you

Gentec is the best filter (and no, I don’t work for them : )

maybe this elul instead of putting a check mark on יפשפש במעשיו by getting your tefillin and mezuzos checked, check the “mezuza” on the door to the open world that is sitting in your pocket, i.e. getting it properly filtered if it is a absolute need and discuss it with a proper rav (a rav that has not fallen in the trap who will say for sure it is mutar) and for most of us who don’t really need it, throw it out now, think about what we came down on this world to do, not to send silly “kosher” jokes, and if that is what you think is the only way to connect with your family, think again, maybe try to find more meaningful ways of connecting with your family, maybe weekly zoom meetings and the like, think hard and deeply about the affect that you are having now having it in your pocket and the affect on at least yourself and hopefully your children by getting rid of it altogether, it may be that you will lose many conveniences but please consider the big picture.

בברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה לשנה טובה ומתוקה

I came in from Mesivta thinking a smartphone was a necessity, but after the third year – Shiur Daled – in Nyack , I realized it isn’t. I am now going on shlichus without one and will, B’EZ”H, stay without it.

I was involved in a few projects In the past years, some involving advertising
through Media, and managed reaching the exposure of thousands without having a device myself.

Over the summer, I made it clear to camp that if I was joining the staff, it was a package deal: I don’t have WhatsApp. It worked out fine. I got a few updates slightly later, but as long as you aren’t a batlan and keep your ears open (the way staff should be, rather than being busy on status), you stay in the loop on everything important.

It’s completely possible, and at the end of the day, people appreciate you even more for it. Try it out!

It is deeply inappropriate and disrespectful that some members of our community exhibit a condescending attitude, believing themselves superior due to their lack of a smartphone. This sends a detrimental message. Our objective should be to encourage responsible usage, and this message ought to be conveyed appropriately.

While you cannot control your children’s choices, you can empower them to make sound decisions. For some, a religious authority may advise the use of a smartphone, while for others, it may not be recommended. It is understood that responsible use is paramount if one possesses a smartphone, and religious principles must not be disregarded in the pursuit of technological convenience. This is a distinct conversation.

It appears you are concerned that your child may desire a smartphone, and you perceive it as your duty to prevent this. I do not believe this is an accurate assessment. We must acknowledge the pervasive presence of smartphones and seek rabbinical guidance in navigating their use. It seems you may lack rabbinical leadership in your life; I recommend seeking such guidance. Allow your children to witness the process of consulting a rabbi, demonstrating that this option is available to them if needed. Restrictive approaches have historically proven ineffective, as evidenced by outcomes in areas such as Crown Heights.

That’s the problem… the leaders who have smartphone don’t understand the damage being caused to the younger generation who think it’s ok because even the Mashpia has…

This was exactly my experience on Shlichus. The camaraderie that used to happen among friends now happens on a WhatsApp chat and it’s extremely socially isolating. How crazy of an idea would it be, if Talmidei Hashluchim are meant to be proper Talmidim of the Yeshiva and are under the jurisdiction of the Hanhalah, there should be rules about phones for the Shluchim as much as there are for the other Bachurim. It only takes away from the Shlichus anyway

It’s because it’s the norm look at the polisher chassidim the majority outside of the house is flip phone even by the women and girls, today 99% of Chabad has a smartphone what you expect? We don’t need technology in every aspect in our life I only have a flip phone and a filtered tablet that’s only in thr house, yet I manage if I can do it anyone can.

Take camp for example. These days, it’s all run with group chats and pdf’s and files and more.
Any bochur that doesn’t have a phone, is going to actually end up left out from knowing what’s going on, and when they do find out, it’s usually too late. (You didn’t hear the schedule change?it was on the group!).

It only gets worse once the pressure join in from the sides when your friends end up leaving you out of things because you don’t have a phone or WhatsApp.

People will by default choose the path of least resistance. If they have a choice of a bochur with a phone and one without, most times (unless the moisad is looking specifically otherwise), they will choose the bochur who has a phone and can be easily reached and be able to take care of themselves. They don’t want someone that doesn’t have Google maps, or Spotify, or WhatsApp etc, the reality is this.

The pressure will be relieved when bochurim feel they can function and be included without one. Until then, the trend will only grow.