_(english).jpg "The Prosecutor")
_(english).jpg "Judaism and the 12-Step Program")
+.jpg "Individuality within Structure")
+.jpg "Trespass")
+.jpg "Live in Peace")
_(english).gif "ABCs of Shavuot")
Electronic Disconnect
Jun 5, 2012 at 08:28:55 AMWe could all use a bit more "disengagement" from electronic media in favor of more quality personal time.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg writes about a recent performance of the New York Philharmonic. Toward the end of Mahler's Ninth Symphony, someone's cell phone began ringing… and kept on ringing.
Conductors almost never interrupt a performance, other than for truly exceptional circumstances. But in this case, Philharmonic conductor Alan Gilbert didn't just pause the performance -- he turned toward where the sound was coming from and refused to continue with the Symphony until the individual verbally acknowledged that his phone was turned off. (The audience cheered and applauded.)
I don't know about you, but I find it hard to speak with someone who is checking email. Time and again, the quality of my one-on-one communication increases significantly when I am face-to-face and there are no electronic devices in play.
To see how this manifests in real life, check out this great short film, "Disconnect and Enjoy."
Finally, what caught my attention in this hilarious-but-true cartoon is that it's actually from 1996. Imagine how much "worse" things are now!
