[[Image:Kosher internet.png|thumb|[[Hareidi.org's Kosher Internet#Free Download|Free download]] ]]
 
This page is under construction.
First of all, let us say that "Kosher internet" does not exit, yet. There is no known solution to the various problems that internet poses to a ''hareidi'' family. There are partial solutions and this article discusses them.
In addition, hareidi.org recognizes that pornography and sexually abusive content on the internet is a significant problem that affects both families who do not follow the rulings of the ''hareidi'' rabbinical authorities, as well as those ''hareidim'' who are required and permitted to use the internet.
The reports on the quantity and popularity of this material on the internet<ref>[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=%22availability+of+pornography%22&btnG=Search Availability of pornography]</ref> (reaching, according to some estimates, 20%-30% of non-commercial internet usage) are astounding. The medical reports on the health and psychological aspects of this problem<ref>[http://www.google.com/search?as_q=%22internet+addiction%22&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images Internet addiction]</ref> reflect a medical problem which is attracting the attention of both Jewish and non-Jewish medical experts worldwide.
This article is devoted to explain the issues involved, and recommend possible solutions. There is a complete software Internet Filter system based on the PRIVOXY available for download on this page.
==Rabbinic response==
There have been several Rabbinic admonitions against the use of the internet.<ref>In the late 1990s, when the world wide web was exploding with new websites, a brief, informational site on Satmar Hasidism, apparently published by an independent-minded Satmarer, issued a warning in Yiddish at the top of its home page which said, “if you can read this, you should not be using the internet. It is muktse.” - [http://modiya.nyu.edu/handle/1964/265 Topic: Haredim and the internet]</ref><ref>In early 2000, a group of prominent Haredi rabbis in Israel representing Hasidic, Lithuanian, Sefardic and Mizrahi precincts, issued a ban on use of the internet. They argued, "The Internet is a danger 1,000 times greater [than television, which was banned 30 years ago], and is liable to bring ruin and destruction upon all of Israel." - ibid.</ref><ref>In November of 2003, the official English language journal of Agudat Israel, The Jewish Observer, dedicated an issue to the dangers of the internet. The article offers excerpts from the Novominsker Rebbe’s address given at the Torah Umesorah convention on the problems of the Internet, in which he alleged that “The internet, with a flick of a button, invades a Jewish home, a Jewish soul, and makes moral disaster.” The Rebbe added that “if your business cannot get along without it, you must create the strictest controls around its use. Do not give it free rein! Remember that you are dealing with a force that contains spiritual and moral poison.” - ibid.</ref><ref>In the same issue, Rabbi Leyb Keleman writes that, “the internet has penetrated our community, but with the same strength [with which we avoided television], we shall uproot it…. Our gedolim have advised us to remove internet from our homes, and so we will do.” - ibid.</ref> In 5765 (2005), after examining internet filtering technology, various ISP's offering "kosher" service, and reviewing the number of case where individuals in religious households were affected by this problem, the halachic authorities of several important hareidi communities ruled that current technology does not provide adequate safeguards to prevent these problems. It was ruled that internet usage must be reduced or minimized and in most cases eliminated, and for the first time the ''Gedolei Hador'' took the unusual step of requiring physical security of any internet appliance, and externally verifiable compliance by religious households.
* '''Reducing usage''' means "casual" internet usage is forbidden. This means that using the internet for entertainment, online shopping or even education is not allowed. In general the only two permitted reasons for using the internet were ''parnasa'' (making a living) and ''kiruv'' (jewish outreach).
# Computers with internet access must be physically protected from use (in a locked room, etc), as current software filtering technology is not sufficient to protect their use.
# Computers even without internet access will be required to have software installed which will prevent them from being configured to connect to the internet by the use of external modems, WIFI etc.
 
==Halachic Issues==
 
:''Main page [[Kosher Internet Halachic Issues]]''
 
"Kosher internet" is often compared to "Kosher food". Both rabbinic authorities and religious families expect a solution which is similar to the system of certification which has been developed for food production. The expectation is that some organization will go around checking websites for objectionable content and issue certification for compliant websites. Religious jews who surf the internet would limit themselves to certified content and the matter would be settled. In reality, there are many significant differences between food and websites. First and foremost is quantity and variety. Second, the halachic issues involved with food are very different than internet content. Thirdly, there is a psychological and addictive factor which is not normally present with food products. Lastly, imagery plays a large role on the internet.
==Technical Issues==
 
:''Main page [[Kosher Internet Technical Issues]]''
 
Several methods have been tried to remove objectionable content from the internet. They have had various degrees of success depending on the two audiences that have been targeted.
The first audience has been "family use". The second audience has been "professional use".
Most modern internet filters combine schemes to provide an integrated approach. Some are PC based, with enhanced security to prevent tampering, and some are ISP based with a 24 hour hotline. Even though security has been enhanced, due to the increased question whether hareidi families, particularly children, really benefit from the internet - there has been no change in Rabbinical ruling forbidding the internet for casual use. Theoretically individuals who are required and permitted to use the internet for parnasa reasons could make use of these services, however they are often too cumbersome to be practically used in the workplace. These service can help a lot with people working in areas of Jewish outreach, who are producing (not consuming) internet content and look for some kind of solution against unwanted advertisements and objectionable material.
==Permitted Use==
 
Basically, internet use is forbidden. However there are some exceptions. If internet use is needed to earn a living, and other options are not available, it is permitted to use the internet. It is also permitted for case of Jewish outreach, research and in certain cases for educational purposes.<ref>There are some (non-Hareidi) rabbinical authorities who permit the use of internet for news and activism, given the generally anti-religious nature of the Israeli media.</ref> If already permitted for one of the above reasons, then it is also permitted to do "internet shopping" for oneself or others.
 
However in all these cases, a hareidi religious Jew cannot decide for himself that that their use qualifies as "permitted use", but must ask a ''shailat Rav'' and receive a letter in writing authorizing the use.
==Visual and addictive aspects==
 
This paragraph discusses the issues that face a hareidi Jew who has been authorized to use the internet.
 
It is recommended that a hareidi Jew use a content and URL filter, and most importantly an image filter that will still provide access to the majority of material required for the workplace, or other professional purposes. Hareidi.org's Kosher Internet add-on software is one such filter.
==Free Download==
===Closed list version===
 
* Download and install Privoxy for your computer
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118&package_id=23580&release_id=465128 Microsoft Windows]
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118&package_id=29783&release_id=465434 Mac OSX]
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118 other operating system]
* Replace the ''Main Configuration'' file by [[Privoxy Main Configuration Closed|clicking here]]
* Replace the ''User Actions'' file by [[Privoxy User Actions Closed|clicking here]]
* Replace the ''Trust List''' file by [[Privoxy Trust List Closed|clicking here]]
* Click Start->Settings->Internet Options->Connection->LAN Settings and check "Use a proxy server" Address 127.0.0.1 Port 8080. Click OK
* Restart your computer
===Open list version===
 
* Download and install Privoxy for your computer
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118&package_id=23580&release_id=465128 Microsoft Windows]
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118&package_id=29783&release_id=465434 Mac OSX]
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118 other operating system]
* Replace the ''Main Configuration'' file by [[Privoxy Main Configuration Open|clicking here]]
* Replace the ''User Actions'' file by [[Privoxy User Actions Open|clicking here]]
* Replace the ''Trust List''' file by [[Privoxy Trust List Open|clicking here]]
* Click Start->Settings->Internet Options->Connection->LAN Settings and check "Use a proxy server" Address 127.0.0.1 Port 8080. Click OK
* Restart your computer
===Warning version===
 
* Download and install Privoxy for your computer
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118&package_id=23580&release_id=465128 Microsoft Windows]
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118&package_id=29783&release_id=465434 Mac OSX]
:[http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118 other operating system]
* Replace the ''Main Configuration'' file by [[Privoxy Main Configuration Warning|clicking here]]
* Replace the ''User Actions'' file by [[Privoxy User Actions Warning|clicking here]]
* Replace the ''Trust List''' file by [[Privoxy Trust List Warning|clicking here]]
* Click Start->Settings->Internet Options->Connection->LAN Settings and check "Use a proxy server" Address 127.0.0.1 Port 8080. Click OK
* Restart your computer
===Security considerations===
==Other resources==
 
* [http://www.guardureyes.com Guard Ur Eyes: A website for religious Jews struggling to maintain their moral purity in today's world]
'''Filtering ISPs'''
* [http://www.thejnet.com The Jnet], a company that offers filtering with its own dial-up and DSL service in New York area. * [http://www.ayinroah.com Ayinroah], meaning a watchful eye, and is based on the hevrusa system of Talmud study. As their website states, "עין רואה Rabunim say a computer is user byichud" or prohibited to use alone. It is a service wherein clients have a hevrusa, or an internet "accountibility partner," who receives an email report of all sites you have visited. * [http://www.yeshivanet.com YeshivaNet] Developed initially to provide yeshivas with limited access to the internet in order to purchase books and supplies, YeshivaNet’s services are also available to businesses and individuals. YeshivaNet provides what is called a "whitelisted web," or access only to sites approved by the company's internet mashgikhim. * [http://www.neto.net.il/ Internet Rimon] - Available in Israel, this organization developed a content filter that filters objectional content from within a website, and permits viewing of the rest of the website. Sites can be added or reported through use of a 24 hour support telephone number. Filtering is done at the ISP level, so theoretically there is no way to bypass it. Four levels of filtering are offered, and it is priced comparable to other Israeli ISPs. It is has the approval<ref>It is not known whether these rabbonim give their approval for general use, or only in pressing situations.</ref> and encouragement of leading Rabbonim, including: Harav Mordechai Eliyahu, Harav Yig'al Kaminetski, Harav Yehoshua Shapira, Harav Yaakov Ariel, Harav Elyakim Levanon.
* [http://moreshet.co.il Moroshet] - Available in Israel. מורשת רשת האינטרנט הבטוחה. http://moreshet.co.il. "מורשת - רשת האינטרנט הבטוחה", קהילה שהיא סביבה חינוכית ערכית.
'''Commercial filters'''

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Hareidi.org's Kosher Internet

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