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 it messes up your plans.

My son wanted to go to a baseball game with some friends from yeshiva. They discovered that tickets could only be purchased and accessed with a smartphone. The boys searched for someone they knew who had a smartphone and begged him to join them at the game. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, and they were very disappointed.

Finally, my son called the stadium and explained the situation. The attendant said they could still attend the game if they followed a long list of steps and printed out all the necessary information. Relieved, my son and his friends printed everything they needed and went to the ballgame, feeling like they were on the winning team.