A Gift Which Money Can’t Buy
Kivi Bernhard, an international keynote speaker and author of the highly acclaimed "Leopardology: The Hunt For Profit In a Tough Global Economy," received an invitation to deliver the opening address at a prominent Microsoft conference. The event was expected to host hundreds of international figures vital to Microsoft's business, including Bill Gates.
Upon realizing that the conference coincided with Shabbat, Kivi promptly informed the speaker bureau, stating, "I am Jewish, and I don't work on a Saturday." In response, a senior VP from Microsoft contacted Kivi and offered him double or even triple the usual rate to attend the conference. The VP explained that the meeting had been scheduled a year and a half in advance, with the theme centered around Leopardology. He said to Kivi, “What do you need? We'll send you the check, you write the amount”. However, Kivi remained unwavering in his decision.
Ultimately, the meeting was eventually rescheduled to respect the observance of the holy Shabbat. Kivi Bernhard delivered the opening keynote on Sunday morning instead.
Several months later, the senior global VP shared with Kivi that he had the opportunity to join Bill Gates on his private jet. During the conversation, the Microsoft executive recounted the unique experience of working with the speaker bureau to reschedule the conference start date to accommodate a Jew's observance of the Sabbath.
This incident left a lasting impression on Bill Gates, who remarked, "There are some things that just cannot be bought with money... It seems the Sabbath is one of them."
We currently reside in an era of immense prosperity, offering an abundance of opportunities and resources. According to Pew Research, the typical American family possesses around 5 connected devices, granting access to media, friends, entertainment, education, work, and more right at our fingertips. The volume of available information has reached unprecedented levels, and our interconnectedness accompanies us everywhere.
Simultaneously, our nation is grappling with a major public health crisis marked by heightened levels of anxiety, loneliness, dissatisfaction, and depression. Recently, New York City, along with its schools and public hospital system, filed a lawsuit against major tech giants such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. The lawsuit attributes the addictive and perilous nature of their social media platforms to fueling a childhood mental health crisis, disrupting learning, and depleting resources.
To effectively address these issues, it is crucial to focus on the root causes rather than solely concentrating on the symptoms and dangers posed by these addictive platforms.
On average, studies have shown that people spend approximately 44% of their waking hours on the screen. When factoring in additional time for personal needs like eating, sleeping, and exercising, very little time remains for anything else.
The key to harnessing the tremendous power of technology for positive purposes and not allowing it to dictate our behavior and habits is through dedicating a consistent time for self-reflection, cultivating meaningful relationships, and connecting with our core Jewish identity and values.
In this week’s Torah portion we learn about the Mitzvah of observing and sanctifying the Shabbat. “Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have sanctity, a day of complete rest to the Lord…(Exodus 35:2)”.
Interestingly, in addition to instructing the Jewish people regarding keeping Shabbat, the Torah also mentions work during the week. The Midrash explains the significance of this inclusion: “Just as the Jewish people were commanded regarding the positive Mitzvah of Shabbat they were also commanded to work during the six days of the week.”
Furthermore, the Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) states: “A person was created to work”. Of course, the term “work” includes all valuable and vital contributions to society both physical and spiritual.
While each of us have our own unique personal and professional responsibilities that consume most of our day, it is important to keep in mind the purpose of why we are working. On Shabbat we take a step back from our creative work and connect with our Jewish identity while strengthening our relationships with our family, community and G-d.
Shabbat empowers us to cherish, reveal and safeguard the most important parts of our lives which no devices can replace and no money in the world can buy.
Honoring and celebrating the day of Shabbat infuses the rest of our week with a higher purpose as well. As the Zohar explains that “Shabbat brings blessings to the rest of the week”.
The underlying concept of Shabbat is to ingrain within us the knowledge that G‑d created and is responsible for the entire world and cares for all our needs. This knowledge has a profound impact on our conduct during the six weekdays and our approach to the world around us.
The result of this knowledge is that, while we work hard during the week, the work will not consume us; our heads and hearts will remain focused on the purpose and goal of our work which is to raise a good Jewish family, contribute generously to the community, and develop our relationship with our Creator by studying Torah and performing Mitzvot thereby transforming this world into a fitting home for G-d.
For those who are just starting to become accustomed to the concept of Shabbat, try observing at least the first few hours of Shabbat by lighting Shabbat candles before sunset on Friday afternoon and then spend a few hours together with family and friends while enjoying Shabbat dinner without the distraction of our digital devices. And for those of us who are already observing Shabbat, let us make an effort to perhaps refrain from talking about business or politics on Shabbat and dedicate more time to connect with our families, friends and Jewish heritage.
Just as this dynamic between the workday and Shabbat exists on a micro-level each week, the same applies on a macro-level throughout the course of history.
Nachmanides writes that the six days of Creation correspond to the six thousand years of the world's existence. According to the Jewish calendar, we are now in the year 5784, which is at the end of the sixth millennium corresponding to the sixth day of creation. We are already on Friday afternoon right before sunset and we must be preparing for the seventh day, Shabbat, a day of rest, the seventh millennium, corresponding to the Shabbat of Creation when we will experience an era of peace and prosperity for all nations on earth.
