Of Mahler, Cellphones and Trees

A few weeks ago I learned on NPR about a collision between 21^st century technology and early 20^th century classical music. It seems that in the middle of a particularly moving portion of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony someone’s cellphone began to ring. The conductor lowered his baton, silencing the orchestra, and waited for the offending device to be disabled. The concert then resumed. This story made me think, of all things, about Tu B’shvat.

Our tribal Birthday of the Trees is fast approaching. Like many of my colleagues, I’ve begun to plan activities for students and families in my community. At one point, as I began contemplating a nature oriented scavenger hunt, the idea of using QR codes or the web based SCVNGR platform popped up. I couldn’t help but smile as I imagined school families brandishing their smartphones like compasses, wandering around the Florida wilderness, following up on clues originating in The Cloud. As the chorus to Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” began to play in my head, I decided that in this particular instance, digital tech was not the way to go.

Call me a Luddite if you will. It’s just that there’s a time and place for everything. Obviously 21^st century technology is a necessary tool, when wielded appropriately. But there are many times that it takes away from an experience we want to feel with our own skin. Sometimes digital tech becomes a distraction, getting in the way of truly living in the moment. The words of Reb Nachman’s eco-prayer seem to belie the seductiveness of the virtual.

Master of the Universe, grant me the ability to be alone;

May it be my custom to go outdoors each day, among the trees and grasses, among

all growing things, there to be alone and enter into prayer.

There may I express all that is in my heart, talking with You, to Whom I belong.

And may all grasses, trees and plants awake at my coming.

Send the power of their life into my prayer, making whole my heart and my speech

Through the life and spirit of growing things. (http://ellenbernstein.org/shomrei-lettheearthteach-sample.htm)

So this year, at least in my part of Palm Beach County, Tu B’shvat will not be brought to you via a 3 or 4G network. Mahler, I think, would be pleased.

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Peter Eckstein

Peter Eckstein began his career a Jewish educator in 1982 on Kibbutz Ketura, working with children of all ages and serving as the kibbutz Education Coordinator. In 1993 upon returning to the U.S. he became the Director of Education and Programming at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach. Currently he is the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens. In addition, serves as the Technology Integration Educator for the Friedman Commission for Jewish Education.He was very active with the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education as programming co-chair, Shabbat chair and conference chair for several conferences. He has taught professional development for educators, Judaic adult education classes, and the Palm Beach County’s “Introduction to Judaism” course for those seeking to become part of the community. He is specializing in teaching educators how to integrate Education Technology into the Jewish classroom. He has also served on the faculty at URJ Camp Coleman as an informal Jewish educator.Peter is fascinated by how technology and experiential education will aid in the transmission of Jewish awareness to the next generations

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