Sabbath Manifesto: Slowing Down Live Since 2009

How far should this rule be taken? Avoid elevators and subways? Don’t check Twitter on Saturdays? I’m interested in hearing what people think an ideal break from technology might be.

Does this principle conflict with principle #2. My 4 children & 5 grandchildren are scattered across North America. I have submitted to them that it’s OK to call savta and Sabba on Shabbat.

I’m sure it’s ok to call them then, but maybe avoid other hi-tech stuff?

Steve – they’re principles, not strict rules. I think Black Birdie’s solution is a wise one. Interpret the principles in a way that works for you.

of course you must interpret — the whole thing is interpretation.. Heck when these “laws” of Shabbat were originally “written” there were no phones, no internet, no TV. So the “laws” now that say not to turn on said things, are all interpretations.

avoid technology then follow us on twitter? i'm confused.

Most times if I'm on my laptop I'm either checking my email (which could be work, planning things, or shooting the breeze), doing work, reading (and generally flipping back and forth to one of the other activities), or shopping. To me, avoiding technology primarily means avoiding my laptop and, therefore, work. This makes sense to me.

Because these are more guidelines, I think avoiding technology means that which–in your own circumstance–is something you would prefer to be freed from. For instance, if work keeps you on comptuers all the time, maybe that is what you can choose to not use. Or use your computer if that is relaxing, but choose not to answer the phone because people are calling you all the time. Just examples. It is up to you to interpret how to “unplug” from a hectic life, as long as you find it restful!

the end goal is ultimate relaxation. I find that unless I draw a line in the sand and say “no technology at all”, I won't be able to really feel that Shabbat rest. If you use your laptop, it won't take long until you've checked your work email etc. turn the machine off, spend time with your friends, and read a book. keep it simple.

not interpretations…. but extensions

Follow on twitter and facebook on the other 6 days of the week!

I think the more you avoid the better it works

I really want to second what Chani wrote. One needs to unplug in a way that is meaningful for them, based on what being plugged-in is like in their daily lives. In my life I have experienced completely unplugged Shabbats in many ways. I've also experienced many a plugged-in Shabbat (the comment about it being OK to use the tech to connect with the mispacha really rings true) that proved to be experiences as deep and meaningful as those spent at retreats or in truly observant communities where I was totally unplugged.

My interpretation is to have a day of meditation or a day of retreat to purify yourself, which happens in various religions.

It could also be a selective avoidance of technology, e.g., eReader OK, text, Twitter, IM, Facebook not OK.

It could be a selective use of technology, e.g. call someone you keep meaning to call but never have the time to.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church have been practice all but #6 and #7 of the Sabbath Manifesto all these years during sabbath (Saturday – day of rest). You can substitute #6 for Prayer and #7 Drink Grape juice. That will be perfect.

I think people are missing the point… the point being to DISCONNECT from technology for a “while” so you can RECONNECT to the DIVINE instead… To *relearn* the sanctity of the Divine! Which is what the “Holy Day” is all about…. Get It? Got It? Good! It's not a debate of what “technology” is at all…. it's about what is needed to be done to reconnect to the DIVINE. Get It? Got it? Good! — The point being to avoid “distractions” so that a pure line of flow can be established with the Yahweh, God, Dharma, Trinity, WHATEVER you call it!

Not to be entirely self-serving, but simply as a way of saying that I agree with “restricting technology's reach,” I wrote a chapter on this topic (as well as one on the Sabbath) in my book, “Say Yes to No”
May your tribe increase!

Avoidance in the service of what?

Surely there must be some constraints on 'what works for me”?

I just heard about this program this evening. I unplug every week to observe the Holy Shabbos (Shabbat, Sabbath, whatever). The other 6 days, I love being plugged in, but am grateful taht G-d gave me one day to literally and figuratively tune out from the craziness of life and reconnect with the important things in life.

Does a Kindle count as technology if the wireless is disabled? It would fit the spirit of disconnecting, but still allow book reading outside.

It interests me that this one has elicited the most (and the most contentious) comments. We are so addicted to our little electronic doodads and get so frightened by the thought of being without them. I think it's fair to say that anything we're this attached to should be regularly set aside.

I think the whole point of the Sabbath rest is just to reconnect with your own spirit, and with whatever you believe is a higher spirit. A day to de-stress, to reenergize for the next week–kind of a day to reboot. This can be taken as far as one wants or is able; it does not necessarily mean to cut oneself off from daily living totally. Regardless of whether it is the Sabbath, or just an hour in the middle of the week, everyone needs time to regather his/her thoughts, and regain strength to face the grind of daily life.

Is there a way to print the manifesto? I want to print so I can share it on Shabbat while “unplugging” but can't seem to do it. Thanks!

First was the phone. Didn't answer it. It was so bloody weird but quiet. The day seemed so quiet-so peaceful-so weird. It was tough though. My mother, who lives right around the corner, showed up at my door wondering if I was alive. So much for peace and quiet…………..

On my weekly day off, today, I'm *using* tech for *religious purposes*. All spiritual stuff. On Twitter. And I'm definitely not doing any paying work or volunteer work today. Thank you for prompting me to think about what I want to continue to do or omit. Another activity good for my day of rest is to learn a bit more about my favorite field of study, linguistics.

Some folks do take it that far, and further: no transacting business or even touching money; no signing your name, no operating a car, no striking a match, no turning lights on and off. My personal practice is not strict like this, but I do see it as being very good for one's mental and physical health. YMMV.

I agree with it. It only means that we have to take a break from this very busy world and take time for HIM..

nice post, thanks for sharing

Do automobiles count as technology? Personally, I think they should, not only for people, but for the planet. If every driver in the world refrained from doing so one day a week (and didn't make up for it on other days), we could probably stop global warming. But even discounting that, what creates more distraction, more hustle and bustle in modern life, than driving?

“Avoid Technology”? Nah! We need way more nuance here. I happen to like Bach (YMMV). I can't have a small orchestra of live people come play for me in my house, but I can put on a CD anytime.

If you are following the traditional Jewish rituals, you would say a prayer after lighting your candles. Then you would say another one before drinking your “fruit of the vine” (fermented or not). Jews have blessings for just about everything, so the prayer part is kind of implied.

I'm trying this experiment and blogging about it… if anyone is interested. I've loved it (and hated it) so far!

http://www.confessionsofatherapist.com/2010/09/my-experiment.html

Having already suffered through “Software Withdrawal, ” I know how difficult this one would be.

Traditional observance of Jewish Shabbat laws does include a restriction on travel, no use of electrical devices (except on timers), no cooking (although keeping food warm is fine), and a host of other things.

I once had the conversation about cell phones with someone, how could they not call their family on Shabbat? They had parents in New York but lived in Los Angeles, what if something happened to their parents on Shabbat and they had to fly out there? The answer is quite radical to modern sentiments, namely, one doesn't find out until after Shabbat is over. Although that might seem callous, even if I found out that someone living in New York was in the hospital, I wouldn't be able to get there until the next day anyway, there would be nothing I could do about the situation. Further, until not so long ago in human history, information took time to travel.

There is of course, a loophole in the law to save someones life (almost all the Shabbat laws can be set aside) but thats only for people in one's immediate vicinity.

I personally have the custom of calling my parents (even though I am a grown adult) Friday afternoon (rather than Saturday) and they give me the blessing from parents to children.

I will concede that from an outside view, the laws of Shabbat look insane and obsessive-compulsive. Dress up in your best suit to stay close to home? It looks restrictive, even stifling, and it is impossible to convey with language. The only way to get a feeling for it is to live it 3 times. Contrary to the general adage “I'll try anything once,” the mind won't open up to it the first time. It is however, a worthwhile investment.

I don't really think its a modern spin on an ancient notion, the sabbath of the old days was implemented exactly for the times we are in…

God knew about Facebook and Twitter, way back in the times of Moses.

Heavens yes!!!!

I have to modify this for my life to “avoid *unnecessary* technology”, because my school, future job and career *is* technology (information, more specifically, and how people connect using technology vs. in real life). I've done academic work on Facebook in the past and…it's quite addicting. I did take an entire week off from Facebook (and Twitter!) – after 7 days, you don't feel like you're missing much, and that you've reconnected to the real world/God(or your spiritual side, what have you)/life…but I don't think that's the point.

Technology has a place in our lives. It's up to us to find the *right* place for it, because it's simply a TOOL. It's a means TO an end, not THE end.

I recently had a guy fix my laptop. He (Joe) has a small PC fix-it business near my town in Western Massachusetts. Joe is from Ghana. I was asking him about life there. He said, “People are connect to each other there. Here, people are connected to machines.”

An oxymoron undertaking. How do you avoid technology if the technology itself brings this undertaking?

Hey everyone, just wanted to give you a different viewpoint on this from a non-believer's perspective. I have been my entire life, while I do consider myself to have a somewhat spiritual side, I rarely agree with the typical rules and dogma of most religions. However I am totally in favor of unplugging yourself from technology and entertainment in order to clear your head or recharge your soul. about three years ago I even made the choice to cancel my cable subscription and I cannot even begin to tell you what a difference that alone made in my life! This list is a perfect example of how from time to time believers in a “god” , and myself can come to a healthy agreement! My one question however is this , why limit these practices to a certain day? Why not a concerted effort to bring love , nature , and hobbies into your life more often and become less dependent on our physical distractions? Just a thought. Enjoy your holiday! Peace!

Interesting… technology is NOT the problem. What really matters is whether you're connected to God. If you are, you should value relationship with Him more than anything else and it's easy to disconnect things that really don't help.

And the scary thing about this to me, is that we try to go to countries like that and give them american “luxuries”. Sometimes, I think we are doing them more harm than good by doing this!

annual National Day of Unplugging to underscore the group’s “Sabbath Manifesto,” an attempt to recast the ancient Jewish day of rest for the modern age. …

… annual National Day of Unplugging to underscore the group’s “Sabbath Manifesto,” an attempt to recast the ancient Jewish day of rest for the modern age. …

Humans simply cannot avoid technology! That’s non-sensical! Technology or rather artifacts, i.e. objects created by humans, are all around us! Cloths are technology, shoes are, glasses are, cars are, most of our food was created or processed with the help of some sort of technology… your house is a product of technological processes, your heating is done by technology… etc. We have come to depend upon technology for everyday life so much that it’s simply impossible today to “go back”…

If the Manifesto has a more narrow definition of technology, equating it with digital information and communication technologies, then there might be a chance for this “rule” to be sensical… but then it should be stated as such…

Last year, a group of Jewish artists and media professionals created the Sabbath Manifesto, a list of 10 principles to be followed one day a week in order

I disconnect almost every weekend, when I go for a snow shoe or hike. On my annual fishing trip I am offline, disconnected for an entire week of bliss in the wilderness.

My job, my 24 hour a day modern, online job requires I be connected at least once every few hours and I do not mind. This is the 21st century and the Internet is as much a part of our lives as the kitchen table of old. In fact the Internet has connected me with more family and old friends than I knew I had.

Technology is not a problem. Technology is a scapegoat for a generation that raised the current generation by relying on the technology to be our baby minders.

We couldn’t agree more. We have justt written a book about the importance of taking a break, Reboot Your Life:Energize your Career adn Life By Taking a Break, go to http://www.rebootbreak.com. Use this day to practice for a longer break.

Sounds like a nice idea, I think I realized how “hooked” I was when I was in my car coming back from a trip and my phone wouldn’t charge. Began looking for a Radio Shack or a cell phone store to buy a new charger ($30). Bought the charger and still no luck charging but saw a K-Mart stopped there for a new inverter (I hate car adapters for each device, I just buy one inverter) and tried that (another $30) and it didn’t work. Drove directly to the cell store by home (instead of going to the house first). And dropped off the phone for repair. When I got home the dog showed how he felt about having to wait for me by taking a dump in the kitchen! I waited nervously (afraid to take a nap lest I sleep through the cell phone closing time) and bolted back to get what turned out to be a replacement. Still didn’t sleep updated all my contacts and apps from backups and then crashed even though I was going out of town again early the next morning!

That’s messed up… And I did it to myself. The dog was right “I poop on you!”

As long as I’m at Service, this should not be a problem.

I’m studying John Wesley’s 3 Simple Rules right now: “Do good, Do no harm, stay in love with God.” What you say rings true…perhaps a more ‘natural’ way of life suits us better as humans?

I could not agree with you more. I am Christian, but I attended a Jewish college as an undergraduate. Recently, I have come to celebrate the Sabbath as a day of rest given us by God. The pleasure one gets from focusing on the Creator is awesome. As a former scientist and now a minister I can tell you that the atheistic scientists are just plain wrong about our origin

I agree with @sadie – it shows that we have a fear of disconnecting and being in silence with ourselves alone, and also before God. He becomes far closer to us when we turn off the ‘noise’…and that can scare us. I’d say, make the highest priority the one that you want to avoid the most. If you think you’ll just do all 9 principles except this one, none of the others will do you much good.

I’m so happy to know there are others out there who want a break from technology, too. It’s a “quality of life” issue for me. I don’t own a cellphone or other gadgets. I don’t have cable television. I have an answering machine to take my calls and I answer them when “I” am ready. I protect my privacy from the uninvited intrusions of others. Am I anti-social? No, I love my family and friends and love spending time with them. But it’s no pleasure to be with them while they answer cellphone calls, put me on hold for call-waiting, and just plain ignore the conversation because they are checking for incoming text messages. To me, that’s rude behaviour. I want human contact, conversation, eye contact. Technology can’t give you that. So, I avoid technology whenever I can.

We have – 2 months ago when we moved house we decided to get rid of the TV and the internet and the landline. It is so peaceful and pleasant.

I think that the point of Sabbath is that it will spill out of its one day into the other six. But starting with one day seems doable, where trying to keep these principles every day seems overwhelming. But just like training for a sport, the spirit/psyche/soul/whatever-you-want-to-call-it needs an excercise regimen. You don’t start out running 20 miles. You just run one. And you build from there. Sabbath is like that. We start with one day, and then let the goodness of these principles grow and transform the way we live our lives.

doesn’t anyone see the irony of complaining about technology via computers just sayin

I have two children under 7 and we have entered one in a Waldorf school only to discover that in order to maintain enrollment they allow in families that have multiple tv sets, use video games and access to computers for their children.

It seems we have exhausted our search for a community with values that include keeping all technology at bey until our kids are mature enough to apply as a tool and not prolific use for entertainment.

Any suggestions as to who might also be thinking along these same lines?

Help!

I don’t necessarily disconnect from my technology when I’m “off” nor do I think it’s necessary to disconnect to be “off”.  That being said, all of my machines work for ME.  I don’t worry about how many miles I put on my car – that’s what I bought it for!  As for my iPod, I’m a musician that unfortunately has a day job.  My iPod IS my escape!  My phone is a convenience for other people, not a leash.  I don’t answer my phone in the john or when I’m eating – EVER.  These are the 2 points in the day that are truly mine and they’ll stay that way.

The point is, remember that these gadgets are here to make our lives easier, not harder.  They’re gadgets, we’re humans.  They’re inanimate.  There’s a hierarchy and we’re (supposedly) at the top.

I absolutely agree with everyone…we do need a break from our daily lives and deffinately a break from techonology.

It’s hard when you work from home as it’s too easy to “do some work for half an hour” at the weekends, my solution though a little drastic was to lock my keyboard, smartphone and iPad in the safe on a Friday evening and give the key to my wife until Monday morning – Yes it hurt for the first couple of weeks but now it’s excellent.

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I’m an Orthodox Jew and one thing I can say about doing this the traditional way is, you don’t get pulled back into the weekday.  While a ringng phone might be a loved one calling, it might also be a telelmarketer or a political pollster or some other unwanted intrusion. Driving your car jerks you back into the weekday frustrations of traffic and other people’s road rage.  And so forth.  So I chose to just turn the phone off, shut the computers down, and not play with electronic gadgets.  Anyway, you might be interested in a couple articles I wrote on this topic on my blog at “Notes from a Jewsih Thoreau”  http://rooster613.blogspot.com — just scroll down the right sidebar to the topics list and click “unplugging” to find them.  Enjoy!

I’ll take a bad conversation with a good friend over a good text with same person any day of the week. My brother lives in Bosnia and I’m still closer to him than I am with people that I text everyday. We have never connected even once on facebook.

I agree with you that the issue is not directly about disconnecting from technology but from all things mundane so we can get closer to our families, friends, communities and yes to G-d. We are supposed to re-connect with our values and take the opportunity to increase our learning and reflection so we become better and more enriched. Otherwise it’s only about rest and relaxation. These things are important to our our well being but do not make us better human beings.

This item is very important. We’re going to be addicted to technology (iphone, ipad, facebook, web magazine, and many more) so to create a new dimension of life, projected to the inside of us, of our family is a real medicine for our mind and heart! To connect not in web but with G-d and the loved one. 

Desplugue tudo agora !
Aproveite e desligue sua sogra tambem. 

An obvious Communist plot to derail American democracy and capitalism.  Defeat the Bolshevik devils. 

Gonna call everyone in my contacts list March 1-2 just to make sure they are avoiding technology!

I see no complaining, only suggestions of moderation.