The proliferation of the Internet and the attendant challenges has come about by God as a means to put pressure on those who are Torah observant to arise with great strength to discover a paradigm that will lead to the purification of the entire nation. The oppressive filth present online is disturbing to every Jew and causes damage in every home. We cannot ignore its effects on the Jewish people. God has orchestrated this in order that observant Jews share the pain which affects other streams of the Jewish Nation and find a cure for the entire generation. A person should not be content with saving himself and his family alone, while the rest of his brethren suffer from this choking filth.
As we contemplate this further, it is clear that even though there is a responsibility to place filters and other safeguards on Internet access, and this should be done with great alacrity in every home and every other location, this is still insufficient protection. Even if a person protects himself and his family by living in a protected environment, if his child desires he can easily find ways to access the filth next door. Therefore, the only cure is one which will result in the entire generation rejecting this filth until it is unwelcome in all places. We need to be a holy people. Not just our families and our neighborhoods, but the entire nation. We need to fight for this goal in ways that exude love. We need to take every Jew into our hearts and share that purity which we wish for our children with every Jewish child. We should not be indifferent to the sight of Jewish children wallowing in immorality which doesn't match the purity of their hearts.
The bottom line is that the Tzaddik needs to be a partner in the burdens of the rest of the people and to feel their pain. He shouldn't assume that isolation will save him. That is not what God assumes. He wants the entire Nation to be complete and sees the righteous as a part of the entire Nation.
Yes, our sages taught, "Distance yourself from an evil neighbor and do not have a relationship with the wicked." However, the first thing to keep in mind is that Jews aren't wicked. Most of them were not raised Torah observant, and in our times the thirst for Torah knowledge is great. Secondly, there is a Mitzvah to encourage every Jews to get closer to God. The admonition to stay away from people are are wicked is only if you are intending to learn from their wickedness. But associating with them in order to positively influence them is a great Mitzvah. And when one is busy influencing, he will not himself be influenced as we see from the many people involved in outreach. Finally, the sages in their warning were not referring to times such as these when so many people are thirsting for Torah and so many wish to share their Torah knowledge.
As we contemplate this further, it is clear that even though there is a responsibility to place filters and other safeguards on Internet access, and this should be done with great alacrity in every home and every other location, this is still insufficient protection. Even if a person protects himself and his family by living in a protected environment, if his child desires he can easily find ways to access the filth next door. Therefore, the only cure is one which will result in the entire generation rejecting this filth until it is unwelcome in all places. We need to be a holy people. Not just our families and our neighborhoods, but the entire nation. We need to fight for this goal in ways that exude love. We need to take every Jew into our hearts and share that purity which we wish for our children with every Jewish child. We should not be indifferent to the sight of Jewish children wallowing in immorality which doesn't match the purity of their hearts.
The bottom line is that the Tzaddik needs to be a partner in the burdens of the rest of the people and to feel their pain. He shouldn't assume that isolation will save him. That is not what God assumes. He wants the entire Nation to be complete and sees the righteous as a part of the entire Nation.
Yes, our sages taught, "Distance yourself from an evil neighbor and do not have a relationship with the wicked." However, the first thing to keep in mind is that Jews aren't wicked. Most of them were not raised Torah observant, and in our times the thirst for Torah knowledge is great. Secondly, there is a Mitzvah to encourage every Jews to get closer to God. The admonition to stay away from people are are wicked is only if you are intending to learn from their wickedness. But associating with them in order to positively influence them is a great Mitzvah. And when one is busy influencing, he will not himself be influenced as we see from the many people involved in outreach. Finally, the sages in their warning were not referring to times such as these when so many people are thirsting for Torah and so many wish to share their Torah knowledge.
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