October 2025

I recently had a conversation with a Buddhist friend of mine, and we were lamenting the sad state of the world. We came up with a list of reasons why we thought the world was in such a state: lack of civility; preponderance of gossip and hurtful speech; unskillful behavior, just to name a few. For me, however, the number one reason was our dependence on technology. There is no arguing that technology has improved our lives in countless ways. Information is no longer “locked” in libraries, rather it is in the palm of our hands. Medical care has improved because of technology. But all of the advances have come with a price: distraction. Distraction is one of the greatest challenges facing us today. We are tethered to our devices, waiting for the next notification that will let us in on the latest gossip and the hottest info. Scientists have noted that we have become so addicted to the dopamine hit from getting a notification on our devices that people constantly feel the need to check their smartphones. Moreover, they feel symptoms of withdrawal when they are separated from their devices. The problem with being constantly distracted is that it pulls us away from the essential. We are losing the ability to focus for more than a few moments without checking our devices. I see it when I am at a restaurant. People are no longer having conversations with each other. They may be sitting at the same table, yet they are looking at their devices instead of at each other. I’ve seen it in both movie theatres and live theatres, where I’ve been witness to more than one fight caused by a distracting device. And I’ve seen people in synagogues and other houses of worship. We grow frustrated when our internet connection is too slow or when we can’t get good cell phone reception. And we are less patient with each other. We are frazzled and not present in the moment. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can put down our devices and embrace the here and the now. I know it sounds too easy to be true, but it is that simple. Put down the phone and look around you. Take a deep breath and marvel at the sounds around you. Take a moment and think about someone you love. See? Wasn’t that easy? Now, do it again. Enjoy the peace
​Rabbi Robert D. Judd