My wife has her own business. She used to rely heavily on her smartphone to keep it going, and it was taking a toll on our family. Having all her emails and business dealings in her hand at all times was distracting her from being present for me and the kids. She made...
I have a son who needs a shidduch. He’s over 30 years old, and it’s been a rough ride. It’s especially hard for older guys in shidduchim. They are often bombarded with names, yet it’s really lonely. Last year, during Elul, I wanted to do something as a zechus for him....
Touch screens can be tricky sometimes. While I’m on the phone, my ear bumps into things and presses all kinds of buttons on the screen. I often find my flashlight turning on, or worse, my call disconnecting accidentally. The other day, I discovered something shocking....
The lights went dark. It was 11 p.m., and there was no warning, no bad weather, or expected blackout, but there we were without any electricity. Feeling very organized, I located, in the dark, my two lanterns that we keep for such occasions. My younger kids were...
Everything is becoming more automated in this country. You need your smartphone to park, transfer money at the bank, and even sign up for appointments, like haircuts. For yeshiva bochurim, using flip phones is part of life, and it doesn’t phase them at all—except when...
I know I should have time limits on my kids’ computer usage, but I find it hard to be consistent. Once in a while, I get strict and set limits, but after a bit, we fall back into a bad pattern of long turns on the computer. Mind you, we do have filters, and the...
I have rambunctious boys. I love them to pieces, but they can be a handful sometimes. This summer, one of my little boys was upset about something. He raged and threw a tantrum while we were swimming at a neighbor’s pool. The next thing I knew, he grabbed my cell...
A few years ago, my old flip phone broke for the last time. I walked into an AT&T store and asked the guy for some help. He promptly showed me the newest iPhone, and I decided to try it out and see if it worked for me. After three months with the iPhone, I returned it...
I was traveling on an Amtrak a few weeks ago and I got an unexpected boost. The train station was full of people traveling in every direction. Some were sitting and waiting, some were standing and walking, but what most people had in common was that they were on their...
Ach, I’m old already, what do I use my smartphone to do? I use it for some Tehillim WhatsApp groups, FaceTime-ing my grandchildren, and a little banking. Filters are for those who are using their phones to look at things they shouldn’t, not for old people like me. Or...
I was shopping in DSW and waiting in line to pay. When I got up to the counter, I realized that I had left my cell phone at home with my coupons in my email. Hoping they would still let me use my coupons, I asked the lady at the checkout my question. “I’m sorry, I...
I was sitting in a park in Eretz Yisroel this summer, visiting with a friend. Our kids were climbing and sliding on the colorful equipment, having a blast. We were catching up and trying to find shady parts of the park to sit in. The park was busy; lots of children...
This triumph is not really about me. I still have my smartphone and am not ready to make personal changes yet, though I probably should. My fellow carpool mother is the one who conquered here. We’ve been carpooling together for two years, and our main chats were on...
I am steadily working on controlling and cutting my tech use, but sometimes I worry that I am inconveniencing other people because of it. At times, I feel like my choice to minimize my tech use causes trouble for my friends and acquaintances by making me less...
Major Jewish news sites were my go-to. Every day, I would check the news and keep myself up to date on politics and Jewish news locally and in Israel. Whatever the news that day, the same two things were happening each day. One, I would get a daily dose of sadness and...
Many kosher devices on the market today, such as phones and MP3 players, do not have any official kosher certification agency ensuring the safety of the device. This is unlike the kosher food industry which has a number of respected certifying agencies overseen by...
Touchscreen MP3 players have seen a surge in popularity, particularly among children who have yet to reach the age for owning a phone equipped with an integrated media player. Almost all touch music players are powered by the Android software, the same system used by...
I had a major revelation during a nightmare car rental experience. After many years with a smartphone, I finally made the switch and have been using a flip phone that has no email for many months. The switch was life-altering and difficult, but my life has changed for...
Going to the MVA to deal with paperwork or driver’s license issues is very high on my list of unpleasant errands. Recently, I needed to renew my license. I walked into the MVA past Northern Parkway and waited on the line to get registered. The woman at the desk...
As Told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross I am an Occupational Therapist and work primarily with children. Even though my smartphone helps me expedite my work and is highly convenient, I try to limit my use for myself and my family. Though I don’t feel a constant tug towards...
