Gezehn oif skype, translated from Yiddish as "saw it on Skype". Its a phrase that has now entered the vocabulary of the Yeshivia world. Its been mentioned and quoted by many including Roshei Yeshiva. While the battle on dangers of technology is on and as the internet is a double edged sword whose dangers can cancel its blessings, there are some luxuries and conveniences that we seem to take advantage of.
At many Simchas now or lehavdil a levaya, relatives or friends that can not be physicaly present are watching it online through skype. Many wedding halls have installed video cameras that can be hooked up online. There are several chesed organizations that feature a live webcast of a chasunah or simacha for a relative to watch who is too old or not well and can not attened. Many roshei yeshiva have befitted from this technology and can now participate in a way that was not done before. In the Lakewood yeshiva, the Bochurim talk via Skype with a mashgiach who has moved to Eretz Yisroel. There is even a service for Shidduchim by shidduchVision for live interactive video confrencing in cases where the boy or girl are out of town and not within driving distance for the initial date.
These are not what we can call a necessity, but more of a luxury as it can be done over the phone or you can watch a recoreded video of an event. Yet this technology is available now and we got used to it to the point that we can't do with out, just like the telephone and automobile. This only complicates the issue of how we want to ban and limit internet use for buisness only, because we are already at the stage where luxury is a necessity and even rabbonim are taking advantage of it.
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