A unique Kiddush was held at one Lakewood Shul this Shabbos – celebrating a switch to the ‘Flip Phone’.
After hearing about a Mispallel who decided to switch to a flip phone, a Brooklyn resident phoned the Lakewood Rav and told him he’d like to sponsor a Kiddush in his Mispallel’s honor.
During the Kiddush, the Rav spoke about the Chashivus of those who make the switch from the smartphone, stating several people in the Shul recently switched – all for different reasons. One was because of Lifnei Iveir, another said that although he had a filter, he wanted to identify himself with Bnei Torah, and the other stated it was simply because of addiction.
On the topic of addiction, the Rav noted a recent study repeated by Rabbi Frand, that smartphone users look at their phone once in six minutes.
The Rav also repeated a story of a man who was sitting at a Sheva Brachos, and asked the man next to him if they could take a picture together. The latter refused, explaining he did not want to make use of a smartphone.
When the smartphone user got up to leave, the man handed him a note. The note stated, that while they were sitting there, he marked down every time the smartphone user picked up his phone – a total of 32 times.
This businessman who made the switch to the flip phone told TLS his primary reason for the switch was for his children.
“My kids always hear about Kosher phones, yet they see me with an iPhone,” he said. “I felt it was the right thing to do and switch.”
Ashrecha vetoiv loch!! If someone gets used to the conveniences of a smart phone and switches to a flip phone is a true simcha!!
Very nice –
What a Mesiran Nefesh
Hope it was geshmak kiddush !!
Baruch hamekadesh es shmo berabim.. truly inspiring and admiring..
Great story!
kidush hashem mamish!! gevaldik in der velt! yisroel kedoishim! , I would love to attend and even send a big fancy cake, any details of shul?
it took 10 years to see what the Gerrer Rebbe warned about
I am truly inspired!
Kain yirbu and I hope to have the strength and ability to do it too soon
I “Flipped” out when I heard this story
I am the 10th one to comment but the irony is we are all likely reading this on our smart phones
who said? I am reading it on my pc.
People check their basic phones with texting just as often as smartphones.
nice inspiring story, you should have an aliyah in ruchniyos and gashmiyus