Jerusalem, Israel - Ultra-Orthodox Jews Surf Forbidden Internet

Jerusalem, Israel - In the Strudel Internet café, most of his clients are ultra-Orthodox youngsters who use the Internet for e-mailing and surfing news sites, says owner Michael Krumer. They are curious and they are increasingly breaking through their tightly sealed society into the world, defying long-timed traditions considering of the outside culture and the Internet as a threat to their way of life, and they are coming to the café for surfing the forbidden Internet world.

Many also visit dozens of ultra-Orthodox chat rooms where they can exchange thoughts on issues such as the Bible and community gossip.

Many Yeshiva rabbis have repeatedly warned their followers of the "destructive influence" of the "outside culture" and especially the Internet, fearing they will corrupt the purity of their lives. "Instead of dedicating their attention to Torah studies, our children are being exposed to the Internet," said rabbi Shmuel Haim Papenheim, the editor of an ultra-Orthodox magazine.
Jewish sages have ruled that the Internet should not be let into homes unless a rabbi grants special authorization.

Papenheim said that the Internet, more than television and radio, poses a real threat to the austere and pure way of life of ultra-Orthodox children. "We must guard our children. The young generation is completely exposed and we must build walls around them because the other side is constantly trying to harm them."

Many Internet cafes have received threats to close from the so-called "modesty patrols" -- groups of ultra-Orthodox men who police their neighborhoods to guard the community against immodesty and vice.

Some cafe owners were even forced to shut down.

Two weeks ago, one cafe was gutted by what police suspect was a group of ultra-Orthodox arsonists. "The patrols said they have cameras which take pictures of anyone entering and that the pictures will be hung on street walls," said Eli, a 18-year-old Yeshiva student. "Students can be kicked out of their Yeshiva and might have problems in their matchmaking," he added.