“V’ choshech al pnei tehom — darkness over the surface of the deep” (Bereishis 1:2) Chazal teach refers to the Greek exile. The Greeks sought to darken the eyes of Yisrael and to cover the light of the Torah. By translating the Torah into Greek they threatened the unique relationship between the Jewish People and the Torah which is the inner light of the world.
At the recent Mirrer Yarchei Kallah in Jerusalem Rabbi Yosef Elefant described a new form of darkness that threatens the very ability of Jews to learn Torah: modern information technology. That technology has left us awash in information most of it without spiritual or intellectual content but presented in attractive eye-catching formats.
His warning needs to be heard by every parent every yeshivah bochur and everyone who aspires to one day marry a Torah scholar.
Above all modern technology holds the power to destroy our ability to think. “Let us create Man in Our image as Our likeness” (Bereishis 1:26) Hashem said to His heavenly court. Rashi explains that “Our likeness” refers to the human ability to understand and to acquire wisdom. That capacity for reflection and contemplation constitutes our very soul — i.e. the Divine part of us.
