A Kosher Handheld or a Kosher Gameboy is a colloquial term for a portable game console whose target audience are Jewish Haredi communities. A small market of such handhelds exist, most (if not all) of which are rebranded from preexisting devices from other manufacturers.
Overview[]
Some subsets of Haredi Judaism have an isolationist doctrine in which access to secular information is controlled, including print media and television/internet access. Furthermore, Haredi families often consist of 6 to 12 children per family; making Haredi kids a prime market for generic handheld devices due to their cheap, internet-free nature.
Most Kosher Handhelds consoles are re-brands of preexisting Famiclones or "emulation box" handhelds, and occasionally legitimate refurbished consoles (such as the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance). Usually marked as "Kosher" or as approved by some Rabbinical Organization and usually feature Non-violent games.
Popular Kosher Handheld importers include Bina Vadaat (Wisdom and Knowledge) and Kokhav Hamiskhak (The Game Star).
Examples[]
Bina Vadaat[]
Bina Vadaat ("Wisdom and Knowledge") is a toy importer based in Bnei Brak, Israel. Most notable for the rebadged GB Station Light II.
Kokhav Hamiskhak[]
Kokhav Hamiskhak ("The Game Star") is a toy importer based in Eshtaol, Israel.
Samvix[]
Samvix is technology company specializing in accessible Technology for the Haredi Jews. They distribute several Kosher Handhelds including the Goobaboy and Goobaboy X and the iPlatinum 3DX
Goobaboy[]
Samvix Goobaboy
The Goobaboy is a re-badged SZDiier D-10-9 and the box is notable for having a mustache-less Mario on the box. The Hebrew text on the box says "Approved by The Educators Shlita" (Misspelled on the box). Which is an organization I cannot find any information about.
The selling points on the box translate to
- Over 500 games
- No Violence
- No Characters
- Not Educational
The back of the box is very similar to the front so information about this is sparse. It contains a 415 in 1 multicart of games including a copy of Devil World, which violates the Haredi ban on Christian Imagery.
Gallery[]
