Orthodox Jews told Koogle is kosher

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 15 Jun 2009 at 08:11

Religiously devout Jews barred by rabbis from surfing the internet may now "Koogle" it on a new "kosher" search engine.

Site founder Yossi Altman says Koogle - a play on the names of a Jewish noodle pudding and the ubiquitous Google - appears to meet the standards of Orthodox rabbis, who restrict use of the web to ensure followers avoid viewing sexually explicit material.

Koogle omits religiously objectionable material, such as most photographs of women which Orthodox rabbis view as immodest, Altman claims.

Its links to Israeli news and shopping sites also filter out items most ultra-Orthodox Israelis are forbidden by rabbis to have in their homes, such a television sets.

"This is a kosher alternative for ultra-Orthodox Jews so that they may surf the internet," Altman says.

The site was developed in part at the encouragement of rabbis who sought a solution to the needs of ultra-Orthodox Jews to browse the web particularly for vital services, he claims.

Nothing can be posted on the Jewish Sabbath, when religious law bans all types of work and business, Altman adds. "If you try to buy something on the Sabbath, it gets stuck and won't let you."