This doesn't go along with this project exactly, but I stumbled across this article in The Atlantic and just wanted to share a few quick thoughts about it.
Basically, over 50,000 ultra Orthodox men (no women allowed) gathered in Citi Field in New York to hear rabbis speak about the evils of the internet.
Firstly, it seemed to be quite a sight to behold, that's for sure. Check out this unreal photo, from this article.
Hard to believe, I think. It makes for a really cool photo. The same article also has some footage of the stadium, which is something to see.
Anyways, the actual thoughts I had about the article are a little different than just a description of what the article was about. It's a good read, by the way, I definitely would recommend it. In the interview part (the interview was with the organizer of the event) of the article, it says that the actual motto of the event was "Using Technology in accordance with Jewish values". I find that a little strange, but maybe only because I feel like it would be difficult to decide what the practicalities of it would be.
Let's firstly notice that only men are involved in this conversation. I realize that in Orthodox communities, men and women are kept separate ("but equal"), but just thought it'd be worth a mention.
I feel like, when I started to write this post, I had a lot more to say - now it's been a little while and I have forgotten my main points. In any case, the thing that I was thinking about myself is that they suggested taking an "internet shabbat". Or maybe that was just a thought I had when I was reading it - not really important where it came from.
In any case, there's some thought here about how having constant contact and stuff with smartphones and all that has changed the way we think and/or interact with one another. I'm sort of interested in maybe trying out an internet shabbat one of these weekends. I'd turn off my phone maybe and all that stuff and just read and spend time with others and do all that good stuff.
I do not keep shabbat, but I've been thinking about it a bit recently. It doesn't even have to be religious, I was actually thinking about inviting my friends to celebrate "do nothing day" with me. Where we sit around and eat and drink and play games and chat and giggle and all that good stuff. So there's something I'm thinking about.
I kind of think that that is the whole value to this crazy project. Look at the super old religious rules and stuff, and then apply it to my life the way I think it works best.
