Edit: I guess I just don't understand this approach. GP is clearly in a different life situation (has a family) than the person who wrote the article. As this sort of task clearly isn't doable for everyone, why not discuss ways you can still achieve, or try to achieve, the same or similar goals based on your own situation? Does HN not foster constructive conversation, even if it's tangential to the original point?
Enjoy the rest of your day!
I'm not able, not interested, in doing nothing, but I'm interested in ways that help me look at the world differently, and in the case of the blog 's intent, i feel my approach has validity, albeit in a different way.
Traditionally three Sabbath meals are in fact required, though you can't do the labor to prepare them or use energy to heat them.
It is odd that the OP and every comment thus far on HN skip over that aspect. As OP describes it this is also a fast.
Does it mean not using devices with screens and/or Internet connectivity or does it include avoiding things like refrigerators, washing machines, blenders, dishwashers, ovens, stoves, electric lights, doorbells, electric kettles, water heaters, fans, air conditioning, automobiles, and many more that are built with technology?
For the most part, we don't turn anything on or off. It stays in it's state. The water heater or furnace have their own systems they abide by, and given they aren't alive, they aren't required to abide by the rules of the Sabbath. This goes for any autonomous system: timers for lights, crock pots, utilities, servers, answering machines, faxes, etc. We don't cook food, so either everything has to be prepared in advance, or we eat cold stuff.
We also follow more strict rules that are beyond tech. Technology is just one thing we avoid (long story short is we are prohibited from making a fire, sparks generated but turning something on is conceivably a distant, but related spark, thus we avoid turning on things). We don't write (no pen/paper) and as adults we don't usually play with chalk, but our children are less contained by this nuance. We don't chop wood. We try to even avoid making plans for after the Sabbath during the Sabbath.
We don't drive cars, do normal work, run errands, do chores (sweeping, cleaning up, etc are fine, but some people hold that even doing dishes may violate their Sabbath, but to each their own).
Given the well-known Askhenazi propensity for hair splitting, shouldn't using FETs to turn electricity on/off be ok? There really is no spark in that case.
That said, can you explain this line -
> If it's on, it's on. If it's off, it's off
Obvious exceptions are made for such things as life-saving situations, the practice of medicine, etc.
For lights, we leave bathroom lights on, but turn off lights and leave it that way. We go so far as to either have switch covers or tape to prevent accidental state changes.
It's not always easy, and when there are holidays overlapping the Sabbath, making it 49 hours, that can sometimes be grating.
That said, we find fulfillment in long walks, community meals, board games, books, sitting around and lazing about, etc.
During these times, i do have amazing conversations (and arguments) with my family. And the space created for us is so rare these days. I can't imagine life with out our weekly ritual.