Radlett, England – Radlett Synagogue [Who claim on their web site to be a modern orthodox shul] leaders are clamping down on the use of electronic devices during services to “bring some respect back into the shul”.
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Members and guests have been using mobile phones, BlackBerry devices and even laptops in synagogue. One visitor was seen trying to order a takeaway at a recent Shabbat morning service. Another guest was caught discreetly videoing a barmitzvah with a camera hidden inside a tallit bag.
In a letter to members, Radlett chair Michael Seres wrote that such behaviour had “left our regular members, myself included, feeling very sad and disillusioned. It is time we took a firm stance.”
He said this week that adults were as guilty as children of “breaching the fundamental rules of shul decorum while displaying a marked lack of respect for the service in which they are alleged to be participating.”
One visitor was trying to order a takeaway
In addition to notices warning against the use of electronic devices, it is hoped that initiatives such as moving the bimah to a more central position will have a positive effect. The community’s youth leaders, Daniel Finn and Ronen Gordon, are also coming into the main shul to ask youngsters present to join in the youth activities next door.
“Not only will this free up space,” Mr Seres explained. “It is hoped that having heard the barmitzvah, the kids will then be interested in participating in our youth set-up rather than sitting talking at the back of the shul.”
Radlett minister Rabbi Ariel Abel is doing his bit to stop mobile phone use in shul by reasoning with offenders. Over the festivals, the plan is to ask congregants to hand in their phones at the door.
they or we should crack down on this at laveyeis *(funeral) I think it is very disrespectful that phones ring
“Members and guests have been using mobile phones, BlackBerry devices and even laptops in synagogue. One visitor was seen trying to order a takeaway at a recent Shabbat morning service”
Whats wrong with ordering a kugel and chulent for takeout after davening if the wife forgot to heat up the blech. My wife’s cooking is challenging to begin with but cold chulent is beyond challenging and a real threat to my well being.
Aside from disrepect for the kedushah of the shul and davening and disruption to others in the shul, most gadolim hold that use of any cellphone or PDA is a chilul shabbos so thats another reason not to do so during shabbos davening.
Let us see the so called ‘Haredim’, who calim to be more religious, also crack down similarly.
I like the image of the congregant aiming his tallit bag at the Bar Mitzvah boy. Was his name, by any chance, Maxwell Smart?
they don’t mind that it was being used on shobbos just that its being used in shul?!! they have their prioritys messed up!
I don’t understand the need to knock the shul by putting the phrase “who claim to be Orthodox” in quotation marks. Just because a shul is officially Orthodox does not mean it can’t attract non-Orthodox members as well. As a matter of fact, I would give a lot of credit to the shul leadership for a) attracting so many non-Orthodox members or guests in the first place b) being firm about doing the right thing in regarding PDA use. It seems like an excellent kiruv approach to me. Why knock an organization which is trying to do the right thing?
As gabbai in our shul prior to starting the tefilah I announce that all cell phones should be turned off or put on vibrabte and even with the announcement daily, there are still cell phones which ring during davening. B”H non of our mispaleim would bring a phone to shul on Shabbos or YomTov, but vochadik is another story. Please tell me what could be so important that you will interupt tefilah to H’KB to accept a fone call?
I know this kehilla – it is modern orthodox, but they attract many families who are not shomrei shabbos, hence the cell phones on shabbos. Give respect to the shul for trying their best to bring back some respect
On the topic, davening while wearing a blue tooth.
It appears to me that this is very disrespectful to HaShem. Is it just me, or do others agree?
What is wrong with all of you? The point is that phones, PDA’s etc. should not be used during davening, Period. It is disrespectful on all levels bein odom LaMakom and bein odom Lachavero. where have our standards gone?
I think the quotes should go around ‘orthodox’, not ‘davening’, they still daven, just not l’halacha. In no way, shape or form are they ‘orthodox’ however.
I wonder, when they go up to the Bima, do they pull out the PDA, while the Rabbi is laning?
More shuckleing, because I am more religious than the next guy!
A big joke