Ben Greenman Took the Sabbath Challenge

Big Jewcy member Ben Greenman attempted to unplug for the Sabbath Manifesto, and in the process wrote a very interesting account of is experiences that really do a good job showing how hard it is for a secular Jew to let even the slightest bit of Orthodox influence into their everyday lifestyle:

"When I boarded the plane in San Francisco to return to New York, I was ready. The sun set mid-flight; I went offline. Initially, it was great. I read some Raymond Chandler, listened to Rank and File (I permitted myself iPhone-as-iPod use), took a nap. When I landed, I couldn’t call my wife and tell her I was in the cab, so it was a surprise to everyone when I came through the door–and there were happy smiles instead of complaints that I was ten minutes later than I said I’d be."  (Via Huff. Po.)

Of course when I say "slightest", I mean slightest.  When I was a kid, growing up in a Conservadox household, Saturday morning baseball games on the television were a basic way of life, but shutting off lights was a total no-no.  If you were to ask me today, to even bend that much, I’d probably laugh at you.  Good job for even trying Ben.