Internet – The Spiritual Holocaust [#14885]

August 24, 2021

QUESTION:

The Rav had said that the heter (leniency) of using Internet for parnassah purposes was the heter that destroyed this generation. Did the heter to use Internet come from the Gedolim or did it just come from Rabbonim who allowed it individually for their congregants? If the heter to use internet for parnassah indeed came from Gedolim, how can it be called a heter that destroyed the generation - how’s it possible that destruction to the generation can come about through the Gedolim chas v’shalom?

ANSWER:

That is how Hashem is running the world, in order to destroy it [refer to Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 97b: The world will last for 6000 years and then be destroyed]. The spiritual destruction of the generation already took place!
QUESTION
Are we supposed to be making a big deal about getting others to stay away from the Internet? Are we supposed to be waging a war against it, or is this just making everyone look bad for using it and it’s arousing accusations in Heaven against the generation chas v’shalom? Is separating from the Internet only something that individuals in our generations can do, the individuals of this generation who are choosing to dedicate their lives to doing what Hashem wants – or is it the avodah of everyone today? Do we need to keep being loud about how bad the Internet is and to keep publishing the Rav’s words on how it is the 50th level of tumah, etc.?
ANSWER
Separating from internet is equally applicable to everyone. At the same time, people also need to become connected with the highest level of holiness (shaar HaNun d’kedushah). Always explain to others both sides of the coin – don’t only explain how they need to separate themselves from this evil, explain to them also the good in store for them when they separate from it. Zeh l’umas zeh, for everything evil Hashem created, there is an equally strong amount of holiness and good that exists.