[Photos below.] Approximately 5,000 people attended a large asifa last night in London to address the dangers of technology.
The asifa, coordinated by Gaavad of London Rav Efrayim Padwa’s Kedasia Bais Din, featured the attendance of many rabbonim.
Rav Avrohom Schorr, rov of Khal Tiferes Yaakov of Flatbush, Brooklyn, was the guest speaker.
The Skulener Rebbe, due to weakness, was unable to attend the event as first planned. Instead, he sent his son, Rav Efrayim Yehuda Portugal, rov of the Skulener kehillah of Monsey, in his stead.
The technology event, held at the Leyton Stadium fifteen minutes from the Stamford Hill section of London, followed the Citi Field Stadium event held in New York a few months ago.
The stadium holds 9,200 people, but 3,000 seats were not used. The dais was filled b y about 200 rabbonim.
The program began with Minchah at about 5: 15 p.m. Divrei pesichah were given by Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner, rov of the Tottenham Adas Yisroel shul of London and dayan of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
Divrei bracha were then given by Rav Elchonon Halpern, followed by Rav Efrayim Padwa. Divrei hisorerus were then delivered by Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, rosh yeshiva of Gateshead Yeshiva. The guest speaker, Rav Avrohom Schorr, rov of Khal Tiferes Yaakov of Flatbush, then addressed the gathering, followed by Rav Aharon Schiff, rov of Antwerp. A bracha from the Skulener Rebbe was then read, and the asifa was then addressed by Rav Shmuel Dishon, menahel of Mosdos Yad Yisroel-Karlin Stolin in Brooklyn, NY. Following the recital of Tehillim, kabbolas ohl malchus Shomayim was led by Haadmor M’Rachmastrivke of Eretz Yisroel, followed by Maariv.
The Pshvorsker Rebbe of Antwerp addressed the gathering via teleconference.
Other attendees Rav Yisroel Hager, son of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey; Rav Boruch Teitelbaum, son of Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar; Rav Yisroel Kohn, son of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe; and others.
See below for photos of the event:
{Matzav.com-London}
kol ahakvod
The Admorei Belz challenged their Chassidim to transform every Gashmius gift from the Ribono Shel Olam into maximum Ruchnius — i.e., to assist them in Limud Torah HaKedoshah and Shmiras HaMitzvos
I am sure that in Gan Eden, my Zeides ZT”L are deriving much Nachas from Torah-oriented Web sites, like this one.
i was there, it was truly an amazing gathering.
mincha was supposed to be at 6:30 but was delayed due to traffic
the Pshevorsker Rebbe was also due to attend, but couldn’t, so he adressed the crowd over the phone.
I thought Matzav doesn’t report on any internet assifa’s. Hush hush mush mush.
what was actually said? For those of us not able to attend – does anyone know what the actual message being given actually was?
WHAT A KIDDUSH HASHEM
may it be a zchus for klal yisroel
I attended this tremendous event.
The main message I got was: INTERNET IS DANGEROUS-KEEP AWAY FROM DANGER!!
but those who NEED IT,MUST HAVE FILTERED ACCESS
and that TAG is set up to help people with their equipment to ensure its SAFE to use…but
noone should think now that we have SAFE FILTERED INTERNET that they now have a reason for its use,and each person is to ask a RAV to
discuss queries regarding use of internet and not decide oneself,as FILTERED INTERNET is only
a BDIEVED option for those who really need to use it,and we must think about the potential dangers for ourselves and our families.