Leading Lithuanian Rabbis Condemn Internet Use and AI at Emergency Tiberias Gathering

An emergency meeting titled "Purifying the City of Tiberias 2" was held on Tuesday evening in Tiberias, drawing hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men and community members to address the perceived harms of technology and artificial intelligence on the city's public and communal life. The event began with recitations from Psalms and quickly turned into a platform for harsh criticism of smart devices and open internet use by community leaders.

Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, a member of the Council of Torah Sages and head of the "Or HaChaim" yeshiva, opened the session by highlighting the growth of the ultra-Orthodox community in Tiberias and warning against new technological threats, including AI systems. He urged the community to strengthen its unity amid local disputes over public spaces and called for systemic measures to preserve the community's character.

Other speakers reinforced a strict stance against digital media use. Rabbi Elimelech Biderman encouraged attendees to make personal and practical decisions to reduce smart device usage. Rabbi Pinchas Erlanger took a particularly stringent position, stating that even those permitted filtered internet access for work purposes are forbidden from reading news, shopping online, or consuming leisure content. The conference concluded with Rabbi Menachem Stein warning of spiritual decline due to uncontrolled internet browsing and calling for strict separation and safeguarding of community boundaries.