November 29th, 2007
Is using Vonage Biblically correct? Well, this writer seems to think so
I know that sounds totally over the top, but consider this.
As I understand it, many if not most observant Jews regard the five books of the Torah (also often referred to as the first five books of the Old Testament) as their principal guiding light for living their lives.
Presumably informed by this creed, Ben Nathan of the 5Towns (Long Island, N.Y.) Jewish Times, has some interesting things to say.
He writes:
There is a mandate in the Torah not to waste things. Although, Biblically speaking, it applies only to fruit trees, the rabbis extended it to many other areas. One area in which we should look to avoid waste is in our utility bills.
We may be wasting a significant amount of money in excess heating and electricity bills. Below, we find a number of ideas for saving money—possibly several thousand dollars each year.
Number #30 (of 30) on his list, and I kid you not:
Look into a Vonage phone or other alternatives to the phone company. Check your regular telephone plan to make sure that you are not being taken advantage of.
Ben lists these 30 principles as examples of what he refers to as Bal Tashchis- a Biblical mandate not to waste things.
I’m not smart enough nor theologically grounded enough to pass judgment on whether or not using Vonage offers any redemptive potential.
Maybe some of you can offer insight into whether we should accept Ben’s Vonage endorsement as sound consumer advice..or maybe something owing to a higher authority than the almighty dollar?
As if the dollar were still almighty these days?
Russell Shaw is an enterprise computing journalist, analyst and author based in Portland, Oregon. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
| 11/30/07
