This is the second week consecutively that I’ve participated in giving up Facebook for Shabbat. Shabbat is the weekly Jewish day of rest starting at sundown on Friday and ending Saturday night when 3 stars appear in the sky. Me not being spiritual, I adapt traditions into my own meaningful to me traditions. Society is becoming too heavily connected and tech-addicted. I find it freeing to dedicate one 24hr period to disconnecting and focusing on family and friends physically around you. I don’t think I’d ever be able to honor Shabbat in its truest form with all of the rules, but I feel I am on track to something more personal.
In my baby steps approach I’ve started with 2 things: no facebook and no tv. For 24 hours I don’t need to know right away what everybody is up to. If it is important enough it will find a way to reach me. For 24 hours we can find something else to do besides staring at a tv.
Even though I probably could, I don’t think I can eliminate phone and email. I’ve got servers that I am responsible for and I need to be reachable if something goes wrong. I can though screen and filter anything I deem not urgent.
Other rules like no driving, no electricity, and no handling money are rules I’ll have to exclude as well. Saturday morning is youth bowling. No way around that. Again, my focus is on spending quality family time so I believe I am alright.
Next steps: hmm, I haven’t really thought of this. Well I definitely want to try baking a challah. Other than that I’m not sure. Let me think on it.
