“And you are to teach them to your sons” Devarim 11:19

I like to listen to Torah lectures, especially ones on www.torahanytime.com. One of the Rabbis I try to listen to every week is Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein. I was recently listening to one of his lectures and he mentioned there is a big problem within our communities. It is technological devices and how much we are connected to them.

Have you ever had it when you were having a discussion with a friend or co-worker and suddenly some nice catchy tune in the other person’s pocket starts making noise? The person then reaches for his cell phone so he can answer the call. It’s happened to me before and I do not like it. It feels like the other person is saying, “you are not really important to me.” Everyone would agree it is completely rude for a person to interrupt two other people who are having a discussion. But for some reason, people do not feel it is rude to ignore a live person next to him to take a phone call from another person!

Imagine how it feels for a child when his parents are always on their cell phones. The father and son are having a catch when suddenly the blackberry buzzes. For the next 20 minutes, the father laughs with his friend while completely ignoring his son. How does the son feel? What lesson are we teaching our children when we are always checking our email and always on the Internet? Which does the child feel is more important to her parents: herself or the cell phone?

Luckily, this issue is now being noticed and Rabbi Wallerstein has decided to do something about it. This year on Tzom Gedaliah, October 2, 2011, there will be a worldwide event called “Disconnect to Connect”. The idea is to donate hours during the day (minimum: 1 hour, maximum: 24 hours) where people will disconnect from all technological devices and connect to what’s important. For a few hours, people should put away their cell phones and turn off their computers, and spend time connecting with their family. Spend time connecting with Hashem. Spend time thinking about what is truly important in life.

There is a lot to write on this subject (and I might write about it in future Divrei Simcha), but I wanted to keep it short this week so people would have extra time to sign up to donate hours for Disconnect to Connect. Please go to www.daytodisconnect.com to sign up to take part in this wonderful event. I signed up for it and I hope you will join me. This event will take place one week before Yom Kippur – what a way to start the new year by saying “This year I want to focus on what is really important in life. This year I want to make other people feel important by giving them more time instead of always being connected to technological devices.”

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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