BK Designs & Photography Ateres Star Issue 3 | Page 5

The Ateres Yaakov Star

December 2014

5

“Technology- A Mixed Blessing”
By: Shmuel Berger- 11th Grade
People often consider technology
the devil’s gift to us, at least in regards to Judaism. But many Jews
don’t realize the benefits that it can
provide. Though technology may
seem to be a parasite eating at our
souls, things like cars, electricity,
and yes, even the internet, have
helped spread Judaism and make
serving Hashem and keeping the
Torah so much easier.
Centuries ago, when night fell and
the candles went out on Shabbos,
learning ceased. During the week,
if you lived on the outskirts of
town, making it to minyan
was no easy task. Nowadays, we can stay up all
night learning under the
light of a Kosher lamp.
Thanks to cars, we can
live many miles away
from shul and still get
there on time for davening. Of course, the fear is
that some might just as easily
be compelled to drive on Shabbos
or turn on the light because they
forgot.
Assuming one fights the temptation to blatantly choose technology
over observance, technology can
contribute to our learning and our
growth. Slept through shiur and
missed the Tosfos? Good thing
you left your recorder on. Driving
down the highway at midnight?
Pop in a CD with all of your favorite
Rabbi’s speeches from the past
month.
Perhaps, had the Rabbis in the
times of the Mishna had tape recorders, the Gemara wouldn’t have
been written down because we
would have the oral Torah recorded orally! How much has learning

increased nowadays thanks to
technology? Granted, some might
respond that how much secular
music has been listened to this
way or how much television has
been watched during time that
could’ve been spent more productively?
Thus, these