At the Education Summit this week in San Diego, I discovered a fascinating intersection of faith and technology. As a Rabbi, I was thrilled to share my passion for connecting spirituality with data-driven solutions. One conversation stood out. A woman and I explored ways to leverage technology to enhance K-12 education and foster a sense of spirituality in students. As we wrapped up, she remarked how amazing it is to solve spiritual problems with data. This resonated deeply with me as this isn’t a new concept for me. My entire upbringing I was taught that spirituality and physicality are not in conflict, they must coexist and complement each other.
In Judaism, we recognize two types of holy days: Shabbos, where holiness is determined by Hashem, and holidays, which are appointed times to connect with the Divine.
The Torah refers to the Jewish holidays as "Moed" (meaning "time" or "appointed time"), highlighting the significance of these holy days. They're not just dates on the calendar but focused times to connect with the Divine. We're not always in a state to be spiritually connected, hence time is fused with sacredness and the mundane.
The takeaway? We should try to solve secular problems with holy solutions and vice versa. By embracing this balance, we can create a harmonious blend of the spiritual and mundane. Just as I did by laying tefillin with fellow attendees and exploring innovative ways to connect students with their spiritual roots. You too can find ways to infuse your mundane day to day with spirituality and enjoy Shabbos with physical enjoyment.
Have an amazing Shabbos!
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman