Our book is geared to the “average” person who wishes to maintain his kedushah. But one has to be honest with himself. Fueled mainly by the accessibility and anonymity of the Internet, addiction to tumah has spared no class of Jews. Anyone whose situation is grave and has spiraled out of control needs more direct intervention. Guard Your Eyes (GYE) is an invaluable resource in the Jewish world today for people dealing with addiction to inappropriate images (on the Internet) and related behaviors. They have helped thousands of people get back on a path of sanity, healing, and self-control, and have touched the lives of tens of thousands more.
Guard Your Eyes has the support of many gedolim such as HaRav Aharon Feldman, HaRav Shmuel Kaminetsky, and many others. Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, one of the world’s leading experts on addiction, writes in a letter of support for the organization:
“In my 40 years of psychiatric experience I can testify that traditional psychiatry and psychology alone are not effective. The only thing that works is a support network, primarily of people who have recovered from this terrible condition. The Guard Your Eyes organization offers this service anonymously, allowing thousands of religious Jews to get help where they otherwise would have been unable to. They have saved many hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals and families. Their network provides a variety of tools, counseling, and support for affected people as well as their spouses. Their success rate is phenomenal. It is the only effective tool we have today.”
Website: www.guardyoureyes.com / Hotline: 646-600-8100 / E-mail:help@guardyoureyes.org
We cannot enumerate all the means of providing protection. Tips to fight tumah and how to deal as safely as possible with the Internet are too numerous, nuanced, and constantly evolving to list here. GYE offers chizuk and general tips for protecting your Internet-enabled devices, whether it is a computer, smart phone, or gaming device.
First of all, most safeguards and filters require you to insert a password for when you want to make changes or un-install, and an email address in case you forget the password. To ensure maximum security (for yourself as well), it is very important to have a rav, friend, or spouse insert their email address and make a password that only
they’ll know.
Here are two resources to help you find and install the best protection for your Internet-enabled devices:
(1) The website www.venishmartem.com can help you choose the best option for you. For specific questions, write to office@venishmartem.com.
(2) TAG (Technology Awareness Group) has offices all around the world that specialize in guiding the frum community in installing the best possible filters and reporting programs available. They provide these services free of charge. Call 718-CALL-TAG (225-5824) to speak to someone live or to find the nearest TAG office.
TAG has knowledge and experience in this field, and will help you install the protection more quickly, more safely. TAG will also keep your passwords safe in their database, which will prevent anyone from uninstalling your filters and will safeguard you as well. In the event you want to change something, it’s only a phone call away (most changes can be done remotely). TAG’s Helpline is available 20 hours a day. TAG maintains strict confidentiality; there’s no need to divulge your name.