IDF Homefront Command to Hack "Kosher" phones

For those in Israel, "air raid siren" testing is part of our routine, and every few months there are siren tests to ensure everyone will be able to hear them in case of an emergency.

The IDF Homefront Command tested a new, additional system today; in the event of a critical emergency, urgent messages can be sent to entire geographic locations in Israel, by the IDF.

Of course, this presented a problem for the Chareidi population that only uses "Kosher" cellphones, which in addition to zero internet connectivity, these phones also blocks all SMS reception and sending.

Therefore, in conjunction with the "Board of Rabbis for Communications", the IDF is creating a "workaround" which allows for SMS messages to be sent even to those "Kosher" cellphones, which under normal circumstances do not receive any SMS messages.

In an interview with Kol Chai Radio today, Lt. Col. Gil Hoffman, head of "Computer, Networking, and Emergency Alert" division of the IDF's Homefront Command, said that about three hundred thousand "kosher" devices will be connected to the emergency broadcast service. "We're currently in an initial phase of the project. Only we [the IDF] are allowed to send these messages and security posts. It not only alerts for missiles, but also warnings against dangerous events, hazardous materials, fires, or urgent warnings from the Ministry of Health, for example, if residents Bene Brak would need boil their water prior to drinking it."

Source: rotter


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Beis Yaakov Expells 9 Girls for "non-kosher" cellphones

Nine students from the Beis Yaakov Yerushalayim (BJJ) Jerusalem High School were expelled because they own "non-kosher" cell phones.

mynet, the regional ynet website reported as follows (roughly translated by Jameel).

The story began in the twelfth grade class this week, when a student suddenly jumped up excitedly and announced that her friend got engaged.

Her teacher realized that she had received the happy information via a text message sent to her cell phone, and immediately called for the school principal.

The principal demanded that the girl hand over the phone.

Ultra-Orthodox rabbis have forbidden the use of "non-kosher" cell phones, which allow SMS text messaging. Since the prohibition is considered very serious, the student was expelled from school.

Yet the principal didn't stop there. He went through the phone's directory to see what other girls in the class had "non-kosher" cellphones. Apparently, Kosher cellphones have a similar prefix, so it was easy to spot the "non-kosher" ones.

The principal's detective work resulted in 8 other girls from the class being called in to be reprimanded for using non-kosher phones, and then they were all expelled as well.

"Many girls at the seminar are stressed out because they have a phone that is not kosher and fear being caught," said one student.

"There are those who are now trying to get a kosher phone, so they can show that to the principal, if caught. Since we're dealing with 12th grade, no one wants to get thrown out of school 6 months before they starts going out on shidduch dates", another student said.

It should be emphasized that this is not the only institution that treats the subject seriously.

In some Ultra Orthodox institutions, even the parents aren't allowed to own non-kosher cellphones.



Hat-tip to Faith for the above poster...

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