Orthodox Jews unveil 'kosher' phone service

JERUSALEM (RNS) —In a move designed to increase its market share of religious customers, Israel’s leading telephone company has introduced a “kosher” phone service that will prohibit outgoing calls to unsavory businesses, including ones that promote pornography.

Although the country’s cell phone companies already provide such a service, those using land lines have never had this option.

Avi Gabbay, CEO of Bezeq Israel Telecom, which held a telecommunications monopoly until 2006, said the free “kosher line” was introduced in consultation with prominent rabbis, who have long warned of the risks of uncensored phone use and prohibit surfing the Internet.

“Obviously our main customer is the ultra-Orthodox, but a lot of parents don’t want their children to be exposed to these kinds of numbers,” said Itamar Harel, vice president of Bezeq’s residential customers division.

Presumably, such a service will also appeal to many members of Israel’s Muslim and Christian minorities, which constitute roughly 20 percent of the population.