QUESTION:
A group of women get a lot of chizuk from joining together once a week over Zoom, where they say Perek Shirah and give chizuk to each other. They feel like it’s kiruv for them, and that they need it in order to survive in their Yiddishkeit, and that it’s holding them together. Just like the Rav said that there’s a heter for people unaffiliated with Judaism to use Internet to go on Torah websites, can this group also use Zoom for Torah and their ruchniyus needs, since they get so much chizuk from it and they feel that they, too, are in the category of kiruv rechokim? Don’t we all need some kiruv? Would the Rav hold that even in such a case they should separate from using Zoom…? 2) And, if yes, then how will they replace their chiyus? What if by giving their Zoom they will be left with no source of chiyus and chizuk in their life…?
ANSWER:
It is impossible to permit this. Because it is clear that through using Zoom, other people are drawn into it using it as well. It can only be used for those who are anyhow connected with Internet – and that is the reason behind the heter [to use for Internet for Torah purposes], of using it for kiruv purposes. The reason for the heter [to use Internet for Torah purposes] is not because it’s permitted for kiruv - but only because they are connected to Internet anyhow.
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