A recent visitor to Israel observed the following scenario: He was at a restaurant when he noticed two people sitting across from each other at a nearby table.
Each was talking into a cradled cellular telephone against his ear.
Since they were speaking at the same time, the visitor concluded that they were not speaking to each other.
Stories like these abound.
Indeed, cellular phone use has become ubiquitous — some would say oppressive – – in Israel.
It is virtually impossible in the country’s cities to get through a restaurant meal or a movie without hearing cellular phone rings and conversations.
Now Israelis will find out if their obsession with cellular phones could lead to health problems.
The Jewish state will participate in a World Health Organization study on whether the use of a cellular phone can lead to an increase in brain tumors.
A recent study in the Australian Medical Journal suggested a link between the increased use of cellular phones and an increased number of such tumors in Australia.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.