Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Men Rally Against Internet Evils

NEW YORK — More than 40,000 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men rallied together at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, last Sunday night to slam the evils of the Internet.

Organized by a rabbinical group called Ichud Hakehillos Letohar Hamachane, which means Union of Communities for the Purity of the Camp, the jammed event’s purpose was to harness the Internet to protect Orthodox Jews against porn, gambling and the risks of social media.

Nearly all of the rally’s black-garbed speakers cited the evils of online porn and its tendency to directly cause molestation, rape, addiction, abduction, infidelity, and virtually every other moral perversion, according to Gizmodo that spoke to zealots who attended.

“When we asked one young man, who had shown up to the rally because his rabbi had ordered him to, if he'd ever looked at porn online, he smiled and said nothing. ‘You have, haven't you?’ His face firmed up and he assured us he had never, but did use the open Internet to help manage a catering business,” Gizmodo reported.

Eytan Kobre, a lawyer and spokesman said during a speech, “The siren song of the Internet entices us. It brings out the worst of us.”

"There is a very significant downside to the Internet," he said. "It does pose a challenge to us in various aspects of our lives."

He further maintained that the web undermines "our ability to pray uninterruptedly, to focus and to concentrate."

An overflow crowd of 20,000 also filled nearby Arthur Ashe Stadium. The seven hour event was also streamed live to six sites across the tri-state area allowing the men-only gathering to be viewed by women.

Shlomo Cohen of Toronto told The New York Times that he uses the Internet for shopping, business and staying in touch with friends, but that "desires are out there" especially for men.

"We have to learn how to control ourselves," Cohen said.

But the seemingly moral religious gathering included a hint of commercialism behind its drive.

According to the Times, the organizing group is linked to a software company that sells Internet filtering software to Orthodox Jews and fliers were being handed out hawking a “kosher GPS App” for iPhone and Android phones that locates synagogues and kosher restaurants.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

TeamSkeet, MYLF to Launch New Website FamilyStrokes.com

Sister studios TeamSkeet and MYLF are launching a new website, FamilyStrokes.com.

AV Bulletin: Age Verification Hits the Mainstream, Ofcom Sets a Date

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the country. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, AV tech providers continue to tout their services, and legal challenges continue to play out in the courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

Segpay Names Kristi Greer VP of Sales

Segpay has promoted long-time employee Kristi Greer to the position of vice president of sales.

BranditScan Names Subgirl Newest Brand Ambassador

BranditScan has named content creator Subgirl its newest brand ambassador.

Arcom Reports Age Verification Enforcement Actions Against 5 Adult Sites

French media regulator Arcom released a statement Tuesday detailing recent actions to enforce age verification rules as set forth under France’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

Pineapple Support, Clips4Sale to Host Performers' Partners Support Group

Pineapple Support and Clips4Sale are hosting a free online support group for partners and family members of adult industry professionals.

FSC Mourns the Loss of Board Director Emeritus Mark Kernes

Free Speech Coalition has released a statement regarding the passing of Board Director Emeritus Mark Kernes.

Alexa Creed Launches New Paysite

Creator Alexa Creed has launched a new membership site through MyMember.site.

Choice Talent Management Launches Fan Platform 'ChoiceFilmz'

Choice Talent Management CEO Chris Crisco has launched a new fan platform called ChoiceFilmz.

Dredd to Launch Official Site

Dredd has announced his new website OfficialDreddXXX.com, launching April 20.

Show More