By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Levi Notik of the FREE – Chabad House in Chicago, Illinois, recently introduced a no cell phone policy during davening, drawing positive responses from his daveners.
Rabbi Notik’s bold decision was made in a public letter following an announcement during Tishrei at the Shul located at 2935 W. Devon Avenue.
“Please make sure your phone is silenced,” he wrote and added a second request: “Do not use your phone for calling, texting, or as a siddur.”
Speaking to COLlive.com, Rabbi Notik shared his thoughts on the motivation behind the policy.
“Most people who come to shul genuinely want to daven properly without distractions,” he explained. “As explained in Chassidus, we daven three times a day because the inspiration from Shacharis isn’t enough for the afternoon, which is why we have Mincha, and then Maariv at night. We need to recharge ourselves regularly through davening, which connects us and uplifts us.”
Phones, however, he said, have become a major distraction—often serving as an addictive habit that can disrupt the spiritual flow of prayer.
Rabbi Notik described how the policy was implemented to curb this habit, and he’s already seen encouraging results. “The feedback has been very positive,” he added.
Daveners have responded warmly, with some saying, “I should have been doing this already,” and others humorously questioning if they had caused the issue.
Many expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you for putting this policy in place,” and “I should do this even when I’m not in shul.”
Rabbi Notik said that he hopes this initiative will inspire other shuls to follow suit, helping to maintain the focus and tranquility of davening and minyan amid today’s ever-distracted world.
Bans are usually not a very good idea. As a suggestion, I think it’s great to limit phone use in shul, but bans need to be enforced and such enforcement almost always lead to needless conflict and hostility.
Some years back I walked in to Young Israel in Montreal for MIncha. Unfortunately for me my phone rung in Shull, I was immediately approached by the Gabai who demanded the Mandatory 5$ fine…
Appears some shulls know how to enforce a no phone distraction area.
It should be instituted in ALL Lubavitch Shuls!
huh?
It’s about time.
Kol Hakavod! Hopefully many others will follow and may it hasten the coming of
Moshiach speedily in our days !אמן
Everyone is a master of their own ir katana , such bans are insulting to an individual -sending the subtle message that you are not capable of making your own decisions – we need this rabbi to coerce me to do the right thing . Sorry not a fan . It makes sense for the blue city of Chicago.
You can farbreng about it
Talk about it
Inspire others by being an example
But this attitude is degrading . And what’s going to happen when someone takes out their phone ?
You must have been in the middle of shmoneh esrey while you wrote this comment
Your taking it wrong. It is a great way to return the required respect for the Shul and the Davening. Weekday davening is not that long. It is to everyones advantage. May we be zocheh ti the Geulah immediately Amen!
If your phone rings in shul, it disturbs other daveners. If you talk on the phone in shul, it disturbs other daveners.
Feel free to practice your decisions in your own daled amos.
Chabad is becoming polish and litvish
Only white shirts, no phones, strict dress code.
My opinion is that not only doesn’t help but sends people away from shuls…and from our circles….
Aseh tov! Show the beauty of yidishkeit instead of bans
I hope you answered amen to kadish while you typed this out
When the Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, miraculously arrived on the safe shores of America in 1940, he declared: “America is not different”… Did you know?
You mean they should not use phones just like they didn’t use in Russia?
Show the beauty of shul by putting away your phone and respecting the place you’re in.
I don’t think you would have the same approach. When it would be your co-worker coming to a meeting with the wrong dress code and always on the phone…..
What about using the phone for chitas and rambam
The ban is during davening. Seemingly after davening its not a problem. If you’re learning Chitas and Rambam during davening, you might want to review The laws of tefillah (there are some halachas printed in the siddur immediately after Shacharis Shemona Esrei).
Use a Sefer. Its holy. A phone has a million other distractions that are definitely not holy.
You are standing before Hashem. Would you pull your phone out, have a personal conversation, or tend to your needs in front of the King? Have a little faith. Maybe your waiting for that important call or text. You don’t think Hashem can handle things for the 30-40 minutes that you are davening? Moras Eyin. I’m davening from my phone (the app is great), I’ve got it on airplane mode (nothing coming in, my tefillas will “fly”). What’s the problem? That little boy who is davening next to you who doesn’t know the difference. The Chassid with the phone out… Read more »
There are many reasons that a phone can be useful in a shul. Check zemanim, the date, use sefarim that the shul doesn’t have, and much more. An outright ban is probably not the best solution.
I do think phones should be discouraged and people should be asked to silence their phones, for sure, but we don’t need more issurim. Dai lach ma she’asrah Torah.
We have already outlawed phones for nearly 10 years imposing a $5 fine for those who transgress.
No-one is Hatzolah in minyan, or has pregnant wife, or sick kids, or needs to buy medicine etc etc
Hatzalah has walkie talkies, if your pregnant wife wasnt in labor when you left to shul and is in active labor within the half hour, ashreicheim. And for all other things that can’t wait – step outside.
Rabbi Notik is a wonderful leader of our kehillah. He is always helping us increase in goodness and kindness. We happily took this on.
I dont understand why there are so many negative comments
Nice, I read it as policy, it doesn’t sound like ban to me. I actually like it.
Every setting has decorum that fits that place, I think this is very fitting for a shul. Like if I was meeting the president or was in some special setting, I would make sure my ringer was off. I likely wouldn’t send off a text here n there or scroll for a quick minute while in the presence of a special dignitary, or as I’m right in the middle of a conversation with an important person.
All shuls should ban phone usage in shul during davening
Of what benefit does it have to our children that their teachers , rebbes , therapists , etc etc are wearing , holding , using their phone on their time.
It’s interesting to see you all having an opinion about the choice he made, guess what it’s private property and he makes the rules, your opinions don’t really matter just keep in mind if you go there respect the rules or don’t go. To the comment about blue state… I’m in a red state and red states understand the idea of respecting private property.
When a chabad house is supposed to accomodate ALL kinds of people at different levels of observance…including jews who prefer using a siddur app?
Be flexible, be accomodating. Prioritize people over policies.
Not their behaviors.
If phones aren’t banned in 770, how does someone create new customs?! 770 sets the customs of Chabad. Don’t call yourself Chabad if you do your own thing and follow the customs of others.