Jooish

A major controversy has erupted in Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim after special “kosher” cellphones distributed to the yeshiva’s bochurim were discovered to contain a loophole that reportedly allows users to bypass the device’s restrictions and install virtually any application.

The Android 11-based devices had been specifically approved for use by the yeshiva and include several permitted features not generally found on standard kosher phones, including public transportation information, seforim and music. However, bochurim discovered that creating a new user profile on the phone apparently opens an unrestricted environment without the filtering and blocks imposed on the primary account.

Ironically, the loophole was discovered because bochurim were attempting to download Torah shiurim from Kol Halashon.

One talmid told B’Chadrei Chareidim that the bochurim were unable to transfer shiurim by cable using a station in the yeshiva, leading to notices being posted explaining that a new user could be created through the phone’s settings to enable the transfer.

“The story is that the bochurim wanted to download shiurim from ‘Kol Halashon,’ but they couldn’t copy the shiurim with the cable to the station in the yeshiva, so the yeshiva posted notices that a new user could be opened in the device’s settings and then it would be possible to copy the shiurim. What became clear is that the new user has no filtering at all and no blocking,” the talmid said.

The discovery has caused considerable turmoil inside the yeshiva. Another concern is that even if the devices receive a software update closing the loophole, bochurim may eventually discover another method of bypassing the restrictions.

The yeshiva had not yet issued an official response as of Wednesday night, and B’Chadrei reported that the devices will likely be collected from the bochurim.

The phones were introduced in an effort to combat the widespread use of so-called “kosher Xiaomi” devices — smartphones that can outwardly resemble approved kosher phones while providing access to unrestricted smartphone functions.

The initiative itself had previously generated controversy. Last year, the devices were distributed free of charge to younger bochurim in Vaad Aleph, although recipients were required to provide two security checks: NIS 600 in case the device was damaged and NIS 1,500 if the phone was deliberately breached. Several Gedolim and Roshei Yeshiva had initially opposed the device before it ultimately received approval from the yeshiva’s leadership.

At the beginning of the current Elul zman, the phones were distributed to the broader student body under the same deposit arrangement. Now, just weeks later, the newly discovered loophole has thrown the entire program into question.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)