Singer Avraham Fried posted the following on his social media:
“Something beautiful happened this morning in Shul where I Davened. People were walking back and forth, but no one stopped to pick up the dirty tissue that was sitting right there in the middle.
“But then I saw a young boy, I would guess he was about 11 years old, walk over, bend down and pick up the tissue. He took it to the nearest garbage bin and dropped it inside. I watched him run back to where his father was sitting, and with a big smile, he said to his father: “Tatty, I did a Mitzvah. Right?”
“I don’t know if his father asked him to go and pick up the tissue and told him it’s a Mitzvah to keep a Shul clean or the kid thought of it in his own. But it was a beautiful sight.
“As I was smiling and enjoying the moment, a cell phone from the fellow next to me started ringing and playing music! That shook me out of my joy.
“And I decided that I would start encouraging people to remember to close their phones when they are in Shul.
“Especially now in the three weeks, when we try to do extra good things to bring down Hashem’s Brochos, please try to remember to turn OFF the phone while in Shul.
“I have no doubt this will bring Yeshuot V’nechamot to the Klal and to the individual.
Let’s try! It well worth it.”
Meanwhile, Fried’s cousin Rabbi Dovid Friedman of Pittsburgh, PA, has reviewed a new poster against keeping phones on in shul that the public can print and hang up in their shuls.
The page was created by Pittsburgh resident Len Estrin, quoting the Alter Rebbe about the importance of spiritual etiquette in shul.
“We’re distributing it during the Three Weeks as a “wake-up call” (pun intended) before Elul to keep a bad habit from becoming the status quo, chas v’shalom!” Estrin told COLlive.com.
The page can be downloaded here
You have a serious problem in your Shul, but there are ways to help the situation. If Hashem has brought you to a place, it is for a purpose- to spread G-dliness, as it says in Hayom Yom, and many places in Chasidus. For one, you can start by standing in the middle of the Shul, by the Bima, before Davening starts, hold up your phone, and announce, “Please join me in silencing our phones for Davening.” When people are talking during Davening, walk over to them, stand between him and the person that he’s talking to. Put your arm… Read more »
I agree with #22 Here in Manchester uk most shuls have forbidden open cellphones during davening. In this respect am sorry to say anash is behind the world instead of leading.Well said Avremel but with respect this is a moreh horaah”s chiyuv
What is the exact law that says such jamming is illegal?How do Wedding Halls, get away with it, then?
Raise awareness and stop trying to solve problems by removing human agency. There are ways to use a phone appropriately in shul and there are legitimate reasons to do so. I happen to leave mine at home in the morning but there were times I brought it in because, wait for it… I needed to do so. If you are checking whatsapp during davening then you have a serious behavior flaw to correct.
Sorry we aren’t going to solve this for you by jamming the airways.
Ever shul in Israel has had signs against having cell phones turned on for years so why is this news?
To those who browse, would you read a newspaper in Shul?
To those who follow chats and tests, would you check your phone if you were in front of the Rebbe?
It is also very disturbing for others talking on the phone during Davening, especially those that go Nuu, ehhe, etc.
Every shul should have a landline installed for emergencies and they should block cellphone signals.
We don’t know why people look at cell phones during davening and we should not judge. Indeed, phones should always be set to vibrate or mute, so as not to disturb other persons. However, I know that’s when I was caring for my sick parents, I needed my phone so that I could see if the caregiver was trying to reach me in the case of emergency. There are other similar people who are caring for other people and / or pregnant wives and need to be able to see if they are trying to contact them. More awareness of… Read more »
There is a gadget that can block cell coverage in shul
Just have that switched on during tefilos and hey presto no more problem
In London, there is a shul which has small cellphone lockers outside the Beis Hamedrash, to charge the phone whilst davening, meanwhile taking away temptation to use it.
What a fantastic idea! Thanks for posting this, hope it catches on everywhere! 🙂
The only people who should have any form of communication device switched on during davenning are EMS, Hatzalah, doctors, Zaka, Chesed Shel Emes or police. The rest of you…. including my husband & sons…. switch off.
Talking in shuls is getting out of hand. Cell phones are just a small part of that.
Forget cell phones… the noise from the ENTIRE kehilla was disgusting. It was so bad I couldn’t follow the leyning and the Rav had to tell people in his drasha about it. Nobody could hear him over the noise. We had…. children slithering under the temporary mechitza; a shiur at full volume going on the entire davenning; children screaming & crying & their mothers just letting them; kids running all over the men’s area playing tag & not one father (including the Shliach) ever says a single word; kids playing ball INSIDE the shul; men moving the mechitza to look… Read more »
Not only to Avrohom Fried, but to Rabbi Friedman and Leibel Estrin as well!
S. Saxon
Cell phone awareness while daviening!? This is a conversation topic? A debate?
The laws of davening and shul have so many nuances regarding attention to anything but the prayers. But put that aside for a moment. THis is lubavich where people would not only daven with special fervor, but learn chassiduc before to prepare the mindset. Chabad davens past the time of preferred tefilla becase they are supposedly busy learning chassidus and preparing appropriately for the mood. How could that possibly align with a cellphone???
It’s actually shocking how many people are so addicted to their phone checking what’s app throughout davening or running out to answer a call I’ve even seen a chazon on his phone in middle of Davening ! Time to wake up to this addiction and work on putting a stop to it
Now I know why there are cellphone chargers at the Ohel! Charge your phone and don’t take it in to the Ohel where it will disturb others.
funny????
sad!!!!!!!
I always feel guilty about looking at my cell phone whilst davening
I will try knowing others are trying too will help me!
Thank you R’ Avrohon
In London, there is a shul which has small cellphone lockers outside the Beis Hamedrash, to charge the phone whilst davening, meanwhile taking away temptation to use it.
THANK YOU R AVROHOM FRIED
WE AL SHOULD CLOSE OUR PHONS WHEN WE ENTER HASHEM HOUSE SHUL OR BAIS HAMEDROSH
Is it weird that I’m reading and commenting on this article while I’m davening shachris? Oops, guess I’m a bad Jew. Also there’s less then a hour to shabbos, guess I should hurry up!
I’m a big fan not only of your music but of your beautiful neshama
Chazak!
This is about time that we talking about it open one of the biggest problem in our generation
Continue to change the world avrohom fried
I feel this warrants serious attention. Some of us are losing sight of what we are in shul for. The era of technology is great in many ways, but I think there’s a time and place. Period. Let’s step back and look at it from an observer’s vantage point. What do you see? Does it look OK to you? Not to me!