by Rabbi Ephraim Kleinberg
One of my greatest mentors and role models is a man who after surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, went on to a 53-year career in teaching and educational leadership. He once shared with me his opening remarks each year at the kindergarten graduation. He would say to the parents: “Put your cameras away for the time being; now is your chance to take in this incredible moment in the life of your child through your own eyes”.
Our generation is in danger of losing the art of experiencing the world through our own eyes. There was a Facebook Event in February of 2016 inviting people simply to watch the sunset. One blogger, Matthue Roth commented on the event with the ironic line, “but how miraculous is it to use the Internet specifically to tell you to get off the Internet?”
Just the other week, my son was off from school, and I promised him a pizza lunch outing- just the two of us. My son chose a seat by the front window, picked out the largest most cheese and vegetable-filled slice he could find, and washed it all down with some chocolate milk. I gave in to the temptation to snap a picture of him to send to our family WhatsApp group, but beyond that, I was present and focused.
Our conversation went from me explaining the reason for the filthy clothing of two street workers who had been dining near us to a long discussion about how blind people get from place to place. At some point during our enjoyable bonding time, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket- I thought to myself, “it must be a family member commenting on the picture I had just sent”. I quickly took a peek at the notification, and at that very moment, my son said, “Daddy, you missed it!”
I wish I could have that moment back.
Ephraim Kleinberg is Director of Educational Technology and Religious Growth
