Using Technology Intelligently

January 18, 2018

The Verdict on a Shul Ban!

Dear Friends:

I hope this note finds you all well. 

I want to thank the incredible number of people who wrote to us in response to our last Intechigence message that solicited your input on the question of banning cell phones inside the shul.  Your input was instructive and valuable!   

To review briefly, we had discussed how consistently our weekday davening, events and meetings are loudly interrupted by a cell phone ringing, most often with a ringtone full of character and noise.  I mentioned that I keep my phone on vibrate at almost all times and, while I may miss the occasional call, it seems to me a far superior alternative to having my calls and texts disturb everyone around me.  We then shared a letter from a shul that had banned cell phones in the shul and asked you to consider if we should do the same.

A strong majority of those who responded to this e-mail - and they were way more than usual - were very concerned about the phones in shul and really would like to see a change.  Many spoke favorably of the cell phone lockers that some other shuls have installed outside their Batei Medrash, that are private and secure, and may even have a charging station included.  Some even offered to help sponsor installing them at BJSZ. 

Some questioned whether, instead of focusing our ire on the disturbing phones, we should look inward and try to be less distractible.   I certainly would agree that this would be a great value, however Halacha does seem to put part of the onus on the creator of the distraction, as it forbids walking, sitting or talking in the vicinity of one who is davening, as it may distract (see OC 102).  The Halacha (OC 96) also forbids us from holding even a closed book while davening, due to its potential to distract.  It would seem that a phone - even in a pocket - would not be any less of a problem.  Evidently, our Sages felt that we should do what we can to remove distractions and make the already difficult task of focusing on davening just a bit easier.  

Nevertheless, I would not be supportive of issuing a ban, for the simple reason that it would violate another ban that we have in our shul.  We have banned bans.

We have tried our best to make the shul a place where people are inspired rather than simply instructed to do the right thing.  We want people to feel comfortable, even as we try to create the awe appropriate to the place where we meet Hashem.  This is not by any means a choice to take it easy; quite the opposite.  We are constantly trying to improve in one area or another.  But it has been our approach that this is best accomplished by encouraging positive steps, rather than enforcement of bans and rules. 

What came across very clearly from the feedback we received is that people welcome effective tools and reminders that will encourage them to turn off or put away their phones.  Most of us seem to recognize the distractive and disruptive role our phones are playing, and are not proud of how we turn to them even during the most sacred times.  We welcome any kind of encouragement and support that will help us address this matter effectively for ourselves. 

As such, what I would like to do is the following.  We will work to install cellphone lockers near the Bais HaMedrash entrance to give people an option for safe storage and charging of their phones during davening.  And we will find creative and positive ways to encourage and remind people to use these lockers, or to shut off their phones – or at the very least their ringers – when coming in to the Bais HaMedrash.

What creative ways can we use to give those reminders?  This is the fun part.   Can you come up with something?  Clearly, a bland sign – or even an interesting one – will quickly stop getting people’s attention as they become used to seeing it there.  It would be very effective and great fun to have new and interesting reminders posted on a regular basis.  So, we are turning to you to come up with an idea, and to create a flyer or a graphic that we will be able to use for this purpose.  Design something clever, and if we like it, we will use it, and we will share it as widely as we can.

Please send your entries to intechigence@bjsz.org.

One final and fascinating note.  The feedback we received included the following amazing tool:  an App that actually turns off the ringer on your Android phone when you come into shul, and turns it back on when you leave!  Download it now from http://www.knafayim.com/shtok.  Due to technical reasons, it is not yet available for the iPhone.

Once again, I ask each of you to take a moment to write to us at intechigence@bjsz.org to share your thoughts.  Your feedback keeps this project going!   We need you to share your ideas and experiences, how it has or has not helped you, and other ideas and articles that you have found instructive or insightful.  Please send this feedback to intechigence@bjsz.org.  It will remain private.

Thank you!

Rabbi Moshe Hauer