Unplug every Shabbat

If any of our ancestors from the pre-electricity period, i.e. prior to the mid-19th century, were to drop into the Bay Area this weekend and see the story of the National Day of Unplugging, they would no doubt be wondering: Well that’s a little weird, we do this every week (“Local events embrace challenge to ‘unplug’ on Shabbat,” Feb. 22).

I am certainly in favor of more people keeping Shabbat, and some may say, whatever works, but if this is such a great idea, why doesn’t it happen every week?

I can’t help thinking there is a disconnect, which is the point of the NDU, between the advocates of the event and the irony in understanding the opportunity is available to them every week. Without meaning to disrespect the idea or the participants, your story highlights people spending the day doing events which can be done on any day of the week, and should not normally be done on Shabbat.

If people are that threatened by their technological devices, turning them off for one day is not the solution.

Jeremy Smith   |   Berkeley