As the world of technology evolves around us at a dizzying pace, hundreds of committed Chabad mothers from around the world have joined forces to navigate the world of technology and its impact on their young children.
As Chanukah begins, M.U.S.T Crown Heights is issuing a challenge to Chabad parents and families around the world. To ‘light it up by powering it down’ and commit to joining Jews across the world in going screen-free for the 30 minutes after lighting the menorah. We are taught that the time directly after candle lighting is immensely spiritually potent. It is a time when we are halachically mandated to refrain from mundane work and to sit with candles, basking in their holy glow. The Freideker Rebbe told us that “we must listen to the lights” and the mystic secrets they hold.
This precious time, post candle lighting, is also a unique opportunity to listen to our little lights, our children, and gift them with our full focus and presence. By abandoning our cell phones and electronics at this time we can really savor the moment. We afford ourselves the opportunity to focus on our families and facilitate activities that encourage connection and positive family time. Extensive research has shown that engaging with other people without the distractions of electronics can result in greater levels of well-being and happiness. There is no better gift than our presence.
I will try to do the full 50 minutes that the minhag is that the candel’s should burn