Hassidic Photographer Quits WhatsApp After Rabbi's Pledge

Thousands of Sanz Hassidim gathered for a Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebration where the Grand Rabbi of Sanz delivered a fiery sermon on holiness and the dangers of technology. During the address, the Rebbe made an unprecedented offer to his followers: "I will be your atonement. In this holy and elevated time, whoever commits to strengthening their adherence to holiness and discards their impure devices, I promise by the Torah scroll that he will be pure of all blemish, and I will take upon myself all his past sins and transgressions." The Rebbe's words deeply impacted the assembled thousands, leading to immediate practical steps. Prominent Hassidic photographer Moshe Goldstein, a Sanz follower himself, was the first to take a dramatic personal step. Despite his phone already being protected with security measures, Goldstein announced his immediate departure from the WhatsApp application via a series of final statuses. He also began transferring his contacts to a new phone without WhatsApp. Goldstein shared his rabbi's words and his firm decision to disconnect from the social network in light of the Rebbe's pledge that "whoever commits to being holy from today, I will take upon myself all his past."

The photographer's action sparked significant discussion among journalists and photographers in the Haredi sector, with many viewing it as a testament to the profound influence of rabbinic teachings on their followers' daily lives.