‘Like Driving a Car’: Karlin-Stolin Rebbe Compares Smartphones to Everyday Risks

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The head of the Karlin-Stolin Hasidic dynasty offered a nuanced and unexpected message this week on one of the most contentious issues facing Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community: the use of smartphones.

Speaking during a Hanukkah gathering in his main study hall in Givat Ze’ev, near Jerusalem, the Karlin-Stolin Rebbe said that while smartphones pose real dangers, banning them outright is no longer realistic in modern life.

“We’ve reached a situation where no one can honestly say we can manage without these devices,” the rebbe said, according to attendees. “It’s impossible to get by without them. But that’s exactly why filters are necessary, and why they must be used.”

Smartphone use has become one of the most divisive topics within Israel’s charedi (ultra-Orthodox) society, where some rabbinic leaders have called for strict bans while others have cautiously acknowledged the growing role of technology in work, communication and daily responsibilities.

The Karlin-Stolin rebbe is regarded as a distinctive figure within the charedi world. While deeply rooted in one of the most traditional Hasidic courts, he is known for charting his own path rather than conforming to the approaches of other prominent rabbinic leaders, according to followers and observers.

The rebbe rejected the idea that total prohibition is the only solution, comparing smartphones to other everyday risks.

“Anyone who shouts that it’s dangerous should remember that traveling by car is also dangerous,” he said. “There are many dangerous things in the world. Just as we don’t tell people not to drive because of the risks on the road, we can’t completely forbid the use of devices.”

At the same time, he stressed that technology should not be treated as a necessity for everyone. Addressing young married men, the rebbe cautioned against adopting smartphones unnecessarily.

“A young man who has just gotten married doesn’t need to immediately run out and buy a device,” he said. “It’s not a mitzvah. Devices should be used only for what is truly necessary — for work or essential matters — not for nonsense or wasting time.”

The rebbe also emphasized that technical safeguards alone are not enough, urging spiritual vigilance alongside practical measures.

“We must pray and plead with the Almighty to protect us, our children and our families,” he said. “We have to live with sincerity and integrity of heart.”

The remarks reflect a broader shift within parts of the ultra-Orthodox leadership, balancing strict religious values with the realities of modern life in an increasingly connected society.