From the Rabbi

As we are looking at the High Holidays from our rear view mirrors, it is appropriate to assess if we are on the right track– are we following through on the New Years goals we set for ourselves?

I know for me, one goal I always set for myself– is to be living more in the moment. In a digital world, with information at our fingertips, it has become increasingly challenging. Too many of us are “playing” legos with our children while glued to some useless information on our smartphones. Too many of us miss our kids, or grandkids base-hit in a youth baseball game, because some random colleague happened to text us moments before. So I always set a goal to try to figure out how to live a life of greater presence.

Fortunately, recently I came across a podcast called Kosher Money, in which a guy named Richard Simon was interviewed. Simon wrote a book called: Unplug: How to Break up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life. 

I was immediately intrigued, and ordered the book. As I advanced through the pages of the book, I began implementing what I had learned. He advocates for people to take a 2 month detox from their phones in which they either switch to dumbphones (older, non-smartphones) or to leave their phones off.

Over the past few years I have wanted to do this, but I always rationalized that as a rabbi who communicates largely with young professionals in their 20s and 30s, texting, and social media use is an absolute necessity for my job. 

But as I listened to this podcast I understood that I cannot think too hard about this– I need to simply jump in.  Having eight beautiful children, I realize I cannot afford to waste my life behind a screen. I need to be present, and cherish my children, and my life, with every passing day. 

Quickly upon embarking on a digital detox of my own, I noticed the results were astounding: A week prior to starting, I logged 5 hours and 20 seconds of screen time— almost half of my waking hours. The first day of the detox it dropped to 52 minutes. 

In those 4 and a half hours that I got back, I spent time watching the leaves fall off my beautiful tree while waiting for my girls to come to the car for carpool to school. Previously I would have been glued to X, trying to see how many games Pat Surtain would miss with his upper body injury— but I noticed myself drawn to the wondrous phenomenon that these leaves fluttered to the ground, despite the wind not really blowing at all. How did that happen? What triggered each leaf falling when it did? I never noticed, nor thought about it before.

I also built the same puzzle five times with my three year old. Apparently, he enjoys doing puzzles. And apparently, we make a good team. 

I noticed the unbelievably clear mountains we are blessed with in Colorado, and how they suddenly have snow on their majestic peaks. 

Is every day as clear as today, or is this the first time I ever noticed?

In the evening, rather than research my fantasy football options on my phone before bed, I cleared out the sink and loaded the dishwasher, to the utter joy of my better half. 

And I immediately noticed a sense of calm descended upon me. Less brain fog and anxiety. Infinite more clarity. 

And on this first day of my detox, which happened to be a Wednesday, I realized that with the phone turned off, sitting innocuously in my computer bag, today, a mundane weekday, felt like a blessed Shabbos.