New York: Ultra-Orthdox Jews to rally against the Internet at Citi Field

"Tens of thousands" of Haredim, or ultra-Orthodox Jews, plan to rally against the Internet on May 20 in Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets in Queens. 

According to The Jewish Week, an announcement for the event read, “It is well known that in recent times that through the Internet many serious family-related problems have been created, and it all happens because of it, and something must be done so they won’t be hurt."

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“This will be a mass rally never before seen in the history of Orthodox Jewry in the US," it continued. The event has already raised $1.5 million from private donors, according to Jewish Press. 

But the event has been criticized by journalists and other rabbis. Eliyahu Fink, a rabbi from Venice, California, questioned the decision to only permit men into the rally. On his blog, he said, "If the threat of the Internet is so great, as the Ichud HaKehilos claims, how in the world can they make the marquee event for awareness and education about the Internet exclusively for men?! Are women not susceptible to the harms of the Internet?"

Natasha Tiku, a blogger at the New York Observer, promised to attend the event "in drag."

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His blog also includes a copy of the flier for the event, which asks participants to email for tickets. A response will contain a PDF which can then be emailed back to confirm one's spot at Citi Field.

"Live-tweeting the whole thing sounds like the best course of action," observed New York magazine.