A Lakewood Menahel posed a question to the Roshei Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha regarding the use a Hashomrim Cards. The Hashomrim Card series is a collectible set of trading cards marketed towards children to teach them abut the dangers of technology, specifically smartphones.
The cards raised controversy as they depict smartphone users in a very demeaning manner with grotesque caricatures of frum adults using smartphones.
The Roshei Yeshiva concurred those who are against the cards, writing in their letter that while the cards are spreading awareness about a good cause (i.e the dangers of technology) the method being used is not in good spirit and as such they cannot stand behind the cards.
Here are samples of two of the Hashomrim Cards:
{Matzav.com}
devorim peshutim “binyan nearim setirah”
Just curious…
Dies the one who post this have a smartphone???
Sad that any Menachem thought that these might be a good idea. I can only wonder who the Roshei Yeshiva didn’t suggest that he step down from his position. Which thought process permits teaching our kids blatant letzanus?
No Jewish home should allow such cards that scorns parents.
These people should be given Malkus and put into cherem. Full of hate . Shame on them and the parents and educators that allow them
Why is it that when there are such דברים העומדים ברומו דל עולם, a handful of kanoim try to lead the charge without the directive and guidance of the gedolei yisroel? The asifa in citifield and other events were spectacular examples of klal yisroel uniting behind its Torah leaders…why can’t we do everything that way?
Negativity NEVER works when you try to inspire others. It applies in so many ways. When I was younger I had a particular Rebbe who used to tell us, “learn or burn”. Didn’t work to well. Here in America only the derech of Slabodka (gadlus ha’adam) was matzliach.
dont say never. its not true.
Right. Only the derech of slabodka. That’s why our youth are turning to the mussar of slabodka, not the chassidishe seforim. Yup.
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FROM THE rOSH yESHIVAS. aLSO, BY BLESSING THESE PEOPLE AND ONLY DISAGREEING WITH THE CARDS, THEY VALIDATE THEIR PLATFORM THAT THEY CLEARLY DON’T DESERVE.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME
It all boils down to shidduchim. “How will this affect MY children’s shidduchim”? If I can somehow out-yeshivish the next guy, I’ll get the better shidduch for MY child. How can I look frummer?
These are awful looks like nazi propaganda to me.
The truth hurts…..
Its not the cards that are grotesque. Its what people do with their shmutzphones that grotesque.
Looks like the stuff from Der Shturmer
1 sample?!
I am quite sure the R”Y was quite against them, but to lend support to his hisnagdus to them, which may have otherwise been discounted by the kanoyim amongst us, he posed the question to the Lakewood Roshei Yeshivah.
All I am going to say is these cards are disgusting.
Thanks for sharing Dass Torah!
Have the Roshei Yeshiva signed a letter regarding:
Toeva r’l
The isur of mesira and arkois r’l
Vaccinations
Etc…….
Kindly post those as well!
We’ve created an alternative b”H. [email protected]
I threw out all the Shomrim cards that my kids had and replaced them with your Mesorah Cards! Your cards are great and teach them great things from Pirkei Avos! Thank you for creating something so beautiful for the kids to learn from! I think everyone should go out and buy your cards!
These cards are gold comparing to some others in the same series.
Maybe these cards are a bad/inappropriate chinuch tool. But they are too mild if anything. Smartphones have done far more damage than portrayed
A bunch of babies, cant handle cards depicting ppl as such, or as zombies… grow up.
and of course the Roshei Yeshiva dont support a message delivered in such a manner, but to say “they should be condemning them”… seriously, grow up.
what is chinuch? if you teach children to mock parents. how will these students respect Rabbis also. do you not think of something called a domino effect?