Use of the Internet
Question
I deal with online sales.
There is a halachic ruling by Rabbi Wosner zatzal that using the Internet is permitted only for purposes of earning a livelihood.
Is that ruling still in force, or is it no longer relevant (similar to the idea that if, when the telephone first appeared, they would have forbidden talking on the phone — that prohibition would now be completely cancelled; and I don’t think that was a "beis din gadol be‑chochma u‑ve‑minyan" among those who prohibited, but rather that it’s not a Torah prohibition and simply depends on the situation)?
There are many things for which the normal way to buy them is online — apparently because of the existence of the Internet, there aren’t so many options in regular stores (I live abroad)...
Until now I have been in the practice of telling my non‑Jew to buy my products for me online… and it’s a bit ridiculous… I am online all day to run my online store, but the moment I need to buy something I have to tell the non‑Jew (also by an online message — he works remotely) to buy it, and then he sends me a few pictures with options, and I look only at what he sends me and say what to buy… instead of me doing it myself in a minute…
I also see around me that everyone buys online and doesn’t really follow Rabbi Wosner’s position that it is permitted only for livelihood… Also for filling out forms and in the bank, everyone (or most people) use the kiosks, including some of the very best people…
Practically speaking?
Is this a question of a vow, since I haven’t bought online until now? And can I rely on the modaa (formal declaration) of Tishrei (I feel ridiculous that I was so naïve and did not buy online until now, and I’m uncomfortable to permit it in front of others)?
Thank you very much!
Answer
Shalom and blessings.
The ruling remains in force and is observed by very many Jews who abstain from any non‑essential use of the Internet.
Fortunate are you that you set boundaries for yourself in your usage and find the right way to maintain strong limits even in a situation where you must use the Internet regularly.
Without any doubt, when you set for yourself an iron rule that you do nothing on the Internet that is not necessary for your business, you thereby spare yourself from much greater tests. As Chazal said, the evil inclination does not come to a G‑d‑fearing person and tell him outright to worship idols; rather, today it eases things for him a little, tomorrow a bit more, and so on, until it brings him to the gravest sins.
You write: “Instead of sending it to the worker, receiving and approving, etc., I could do it in a minute.” Well, ask any user and he will tell you that although you might gain a few minutes on that specific purchase, you will certainly lose hundreds of minutes on pointless browsing and searching, or lose thousands of shekels on purchases made only because you came across a sale or were pushed an advertisement. In the end, the benefit of your clean way of conduct is yours alone.
If you can, continue on your guarded path with pride, not with the mistaken response of “I am naïve and this is ridiculous,” but with the genuine feeling of “I am protected,” “I am a truly G‑d‑fearing person.” This is the absolute truth and there is no other.
Even if one day you consult and decide that in your situation it is correct to open things up a bit more, this will not be as a decision to stop being “naïve,” but on the contrary: “I am compelled,” “I have a necessity to enter a problem I would have been happy to avoid.”
Be strong and courageous.
