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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
CONTACT:Ilya
Welfeld
Welfeld Public Relations Consulting, L.L.C.
201.439.1010
ilya@welfeldpr.com
"WIRED"
SOCIETY TAKING A HEAVY TOLL ON FAMILY LIFE
National survey
conducted by National Jewish Outreach Program shows nearly two-thirds
of children polled spend significant time "plugged in",
while watching TV together is the leisure activity that families
engage in the most
NEW YORK, NY;
FEBRUARY 14, 2005 - Cell phones, Blackberries, Instant Messaging,
PCs, TVs, video games…today's kids live in a world packed with
electronics. But is it too much of a good thing-especially for family
life? According to a survey conducted by the National Jewish Outreach
Program (www.njop.org), the answer is a resounding "yes."
More than 650 kids, ages 9-18, participated in a national online
survey from January 14th-31st, which asked about their electronic
and online habits and the amount of quality time they spend with
their parents. 64% of respondents reported that on the weekend they
spend three hours or more per day online, watching TV, and engaged
in other electronic pursuits, and more than a quarter, 26%, spend
six hours or more. 50% have their own computers and 83% have a television
in their room or for their personal use. While the majority-82%-said
that they don't think they spend too much time "plugged in,"
62% admitted that their parents sometimes or often ask them to stop
these activities.
And what about the parents? When asked about the leisure activities
they engage in with their parents, 91% of respondents reported that
they regularly watch TV together. While the fact that parents are
children are spending time together is good news, the question remains
as to whether or not this time is actually quality time. According
to Michelle E. Friedman, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice
on New York's Upper West Side and the director of pastoral counseling
at the Yeshivat Chovevei Torah rabbinical seminary in Manhattan,
"The immediate gratification of electronic gadgetry deprives
people of the opportunity to engage in real life communication.
People easily get walled off into invisible cubicles of private
air waves and don't even realize how cut off they are from even
minimal social contact with their surroundings."
And the problem isn't limited to pre-teens and teenagers. Adults
from all walks of life are just as vulnerable. "We've all seen
parents chatting on their cell phones while pushing their toddlers'
strollers," adds Dr. Friedman, "and seen people fiddling
with their Blackberries at restaurants. People talk on their cell
phones in public places, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they
are sharing intimate details of their lives with strangers. Yes,
chatting with a friend is usually more fun than dealing with a whiny
toddler, but a mom or dad on an extended cell phone conversation
in the park sends a message that the child is uninteresting. Part
of being civilized is practicing the art of social intercourse-like
making conversation with people at a dinner table or keeping intimate
matters out of the public domain."
"What our survey clearly showed is that American families are
seriously 'plugged in,'" said Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald, founder
and director of NJOP. "There is no doubt that parents and children
can benefit from setting aside time to "unplug" and focus
on each other without the distractions of ringing phones, the latest
reality TV show, or the lure of an instant message or an email on
the computer. Jewish tradition offers the perfect opportunity to
'unplug' on the Sabbath, during which electronic activities are
forbidden and leisurely meals with family and friends are encouraged,
but people of all faiths should set aside time to focus on each
other and pursue the things in life that matter most-family and
faith. Doing so, is the perfect antidote to the over stimulation
of the modern world."
Each year, as a means of introducing Jewish families and individuals
to the rewards of observing the Sabbath, NJOP sponsors Shabbat Across
America/Canada--a national Sabbath celebration featuring communal
dinners and explanatory services. On March 4, 2005, tens of thousands
of people are expected to attend the 9th annual program at more
than 680 locations across North America.
"We all need help tuning out the myriad distractions of modern
life," said Dr. Friedman. "Observing the Sabbath, or setting
aside a block of 'unplugged' time each week, creates a zone of air
waves free for spontaneous, live human interaction. I know of nothing
as powerful as two or more people sitting together, talking, laughing,
sharing and enjoying each others' company."
For a list of synagogues participating in Shabbat Across America/Canada
visit www.njop.org.
About the National
Jewish Outreach Program
Founded in 1987 by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald to address the critical
issues of assimilation and a lack of Jewish knowledge, NJOP is now
one of the largest and most successful Jewish outreach organizations
in the world. To date, more than 780,000 people have benefited from
NJOP's innovative, free programs which have been held in 3,630 locations-including
synagogues, community centers, military bases, and college campuses-in
all 50 states, nine Canadian provinces, and 30 countries around
the world. (www.njop.org).
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