Yud Tes Adar 5776, UC Hospital, London, 2:56am,

“It’s a boy”

“Boruch Hatov Vehametiv”

A moment with the baby, and then a call to my parents, a call to my Shvigger, and back for another moment with the baby.

Beep: Mazal Tov only Nachas

Beep: Can we see a picture

Beep: Nu? Picture

Beep: Mazzzalll Toooov

7:00am, someone needs to send the other children off to school – phone calls, rush to train, home on time to tell the children they have a new brother.

Yes, he’s really cute.

I’m not sure who he looks like – he looks a bit like all of you…

***

Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5779, UC Hospital, London, 7:38am

“It’s a girl”

“Boruch Shehechyonu”

A moment with the baby, and then… another and another.

It is Shabbos, I can’t call anyone.

For a brief moment I consider if I should walk the two and a half hours to inform my parents and children. But a brief discussion with the information desk informs me that the directions are not so straight forward… and with my sense of direction…

So I just sit there holding the baby. Marvelling at the miracle of birth. Watching her eyes open and close, her hands move, her steady breath, and her shrill cry.

And I sit some more. Nothing else in my world besides this precious bundle Hashem entrusted me with.

The pressure of daily life, the still closed Yeshiva, the challenges of the Bochurim that have been placed at my feet and that I must help them carry, all fade away as I watch my precious few-hour old daughter sleep peacefully in my hands.

Davening was somehow different that day.

I wasn’t in Shul, there were beeping sounds all around me, and nurses coming in and out.

But I wasn’t there.

I was in some other universe.

It was Shabbos, next to me lay a healthy little baby, and I was saying Halel.

“Mo Oshiv Lahashem Kol Tagmulohi Olai”.

“Hodu Lahashem Ki Tov Ki Leolam Chasdoi”.

***

Smartphones.

The challenges all too often discussed are those of the depth of Tuma they can access.

The practical questions evolve around what is the best filter.

But what about

Beep: Oops. One second. Ah cute my nephew is eating ice cream.

Where was I?

Ah yes. But what about the

Beep: Sorry just a moment. Ah my brother wrote: “Cute”.

Ok, back to the discussion;

But what about the other challenge smart phones bring?

Beep: Again? What now?

Ah Trump tweeted something.

Oh wow.

Look at what that Senator said.

And this commentator.

He’s right. This is outrageous!

Sorry again, back to our discussion: But what about the other challenges smartphones bring.

The constant following of manufactured crisis… or news that is so insignificant that it won’t even make it to the evening…

The mere knowledge that the phone can go off at any moment, doesn’t allow us to focus properly at all, even when all is quiet.

Even when on silent, the constant focus on news takes a large part of our brain power… subconsciously wiring our minds to “other” important matters.

***

As we arrive home to celebrate Zman Cheruseinu with our families, we need to make a conscious choice.

Will it truly be Zman Cheruseinu?

Will we focus on our own lives, and on what is important to us?

Or will we place ourselves into the Meitzar of being spectators in the lives of others?

True, it’s hard not to pick up your family members phone…

But it is ultimately tougher when we do pick it up…

Controlling this one urge will provide us the freedom of really living.

The freedom of being fully focused on our family, on Yetzias Mitzraim, on the Gilui Elokus available to us during these holy days.

After Pesach the world will still be standing… probably in exactly the same way as it is now… But it will be standing even sturdier for those who truly Live during Pesach.

Beep: Oy! Not again! This fellow I don’t know and will never meet said what?!