Chaim87,
“Incorrect I need it for my parnsa and wouldn�t have food without it.”
I already addressed work requirements in my last post. And it’s a red herring as you wrote above that you have “other reasons” for using these devices in addition to work.
“Its also pretty much a necessity in the modern world … Society is kind of past that. Go outside the frum world and you�ll see just how much people use it. But I am not here to debate this issue so much.”
I do see how much smartphones are used, and it’s horrific. I’m not immune from it either. I had a smartphone until around a year ago, and I thought my usage of it was low and careful. During a trip my toddler smashed it and broke the screen in a hotel room. My older son then told me he was glad it broke, because I was always on it and not paying attention to what he was saying to me. They are destructive, and I call them cocaine slabs.
“You are telling me from a religious point of view that i need one. OK but then offer it for free because I am just not such a deep believer in the cause. Unless you don�t care about getting us less believers to filter.”
You’ve taught me a new life hack! Food costs have been a real challenge, but those rabbis keep harping about keeping kosher, so I’m going to head over to the kosher grocery store and demand free food, because I’m “not such a deep believer” in kashrus (chas veshalom), and my ruchniyus is their responsibility, not mine. They’re sure to see the truth in this, unless of course they don’t care about getting us “less believers” (chas veshalom) to eat kosher.
“Yes I feel resentment when an organization thats a tzedaka and here to help the klal charges”
They are here to help the klal, but where do you get that they are a tzedaka? I don’t think of them as such, and nowhere on their Web site do they claim to be. They refer to their work as community service, and openly state on their Web site that any charges incurred go to the filter providers. In contrast, bikur cholim is a tzedaka, and they state that their assistance is free.
“Bottom line, I have a hunch you work for TAG”
Nope, I don’t work for them, volunteer for them, nor have I ever even walked into one of their facilities.
“We think its a chutzpah to call yourslef a �non profit� when all you do is charge us money.”
I’m not sure you understand what a non-profit is. The Smithsonian Institution is a non-profit, but you still have to pay for parking at many of their facilities. The Educational Testing Service is a non-profit, but there’s still a fee to take the SAT. Most shuls are non-profit, but they charge membership dues. Just because they’re not making profit for shareholders doesn’t mean there are operational costs that have to be covered.