Gedolim Publicly Denounce Chillul Hashem of Vos Iz Neias and its Advertisers; Issue Issur Chomur

[Click here to view the kol korei.] Over thirty rabbonim and roshei yeshiva in the United States have signed a kol korei denouncing the Vos Iz Neias (VIN) news blog and forbidding Yidden from visiting, patronizing or advertising on the website.

[Editors Note: In all honesty, the Matzav.com editorial team initially agreed not to post this kol korei, although the need is great to inform the world of the pitfalls that exist for a frum Yid visiting the aforementioned site, which has, in the past, unapologetically taken stances contrary to da'as Torah. We strongly felt that there are much better media outlets to have this publicized than Matzav. Our hesitation to post this was people's knee-jerk reaction, which would be that Matzav is attempting to reap benefits from a competitor's downfall. We thus did not post it for two days since we were first sent this kol korei before it was made public.  Nonetheless, askanim familiar with the management of this site were contacted by a number of rabbonim urging that this kol korei must appear on the internet and that it is not sufficient to be printed only in the chareidi print media. Therefore, they urged that we put our personal dignity aside and post it, and not worry about negative repercussions of people accusing us of false motivation. Therefore, in fulfilling their request, please see below.]

The kol korei, which is being published this week in the leading American chareidi weeklies, states that while Vos Iz Neias was designed as a news medium, it is replete with objectionable material, nivul peh, lashon harah, rechilus, hotzoas sheim rah, and bizayon talmidei chachomim, and has brought about the degradation of both individuals and mosdos haTorah.

Likewise, the kol korei states, in addition to the objectionable material in the news stories themselves, the comments that are approved for publication are not moderated and contain vile language that causes machlokes.

''The chillul Hashem is norah ve'ayom (awesome),'' the letter states.

The website, the letter says, has been run anonymously, precluding the possibility of taking action against the individual(s) operating it, who has the din of ''machshilei and machti'ei horabim.''

The kol korei goes on to state that in light of the above, there is an issur chomur to advertise on that website or to engage in any form of partnership or involvement in the site, because this is ''nosnim yad laposhim and ''mesaayim yedei osei reshah'' (assisting those who engage in evil).

''Therefore, one should not patronize those who advertise there,'' the kol korei states.

The letter is signed by three dozen rabbonim, including:

-The Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudas Yisroel, Rav Yaakov Perlow

-Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshivas Philadelphia

-Rav Aharon Schechter, Rosh Yeshivas Chaim Berlin

-Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshivas Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood

-Rav Dovid Schustal, Rosh Yeshivas Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood

-Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rosh Yeshivas Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood

-The Mattesdorfer Rov, Rav Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld

-Rav Matisyahu Salomon, Mashgiach, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood

-Rav Yechezkel Roth, Karlsburger Rov

-Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heshel Bick, Mezhbezher Rov

- Rav Refoel Schorr, Rosh Yeshivas Vizhnitz and rov of Tiferes Gedalyahu

-Rav Moshe Green, Rosh Yeshiva D'Monsey

-Rav Asher Kalmanowitz, Rosh Yeshivas Mir

-Rav Yisroel Chaim Menashe Friedman, Satmar Dayan

-Rav Menachem Meir Weissmandl, Nitra-Monsey

-Rav Yehoshua Rubin, Bobover Dayan

-The Kossover Rebbe, Rav Shraga Feivish Hager

-The Tenka Rov, Rav Chaim Elazar Friedman

-Rav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, Skverer Dayan of Boro Park

-Rav Yaakov Horowitz, Rosh Yeshivas Bais Meir, rov of Telzer Minyan of Boro Park

-Rav Getzel Berkowitz, Dayan, Kiryas Yoel

-Rav Aharon Zilberstein, Tzeilimer Dayan

-Rav Yosef Chaim Moskowitz, Shatzer Dayan

-Rav Hillel Weinberger, Serdeheli Dayan

-Rav Chaim Feivel Schneebalg, Monsey

-Rav Yitzchok Isaac Eichenstein, Galant

An effort to have current advertisers, photographers and writers of the site cut their ties with it is underway with the encouragement of the rabbonim. Those who ignore the kol korei will be taken to task publically, we are told.

{Yossi Schneider-Matzav.com Newscenter}