Unleash your “virtual” shackles

Give yourself a gift for Hannukah

By Steve McCloskey, President

The internet and social media are ubiquitous in scope and, many times, perniciously pervasive in their societal influence. However, whether we seek out this connection by turning on Facebook, Google, Instagram or Twitter is entirely up to us. If we don’t power up our phone or laptop, we can’t be swept into the often malevolent maelstrom of the online world.

While virtual platforms have historically been mostly forces for good, on occasion, those utilizing them are susceptible to evil inclinations and sinister acts. There has been a proliferation in recent years of cynically or maliciously exploiting social media in political campaigns, sometimes with foreign influence, but mostly home-grown.

The spreading of misinformation, disinformation, half-truths and outright falsehoods has been propagated with “virtual” impunity. There has been very little pushback from social media platforms, usually under the guise of either protecting free speech or of letting the consumer decide where the “truth” lies (no pun intended).

The internet is another fount of knowledge, some of it factually accurate, but much of it not. Specifically, the “dark web” provides a haven for the disaffected, the disturbed, the hateful and, too often, the violent. These diabolical groups can gather remotely in chat rooms to conspire and plan acts targeting individuals and groups, like the recent plot involving Governor Whitmer.

How, then, does the minor religious holiday of Chanukah relate to our concerns about languishing in cyberspace? Chanukah means dedication and commemorates the rededication of the Temple following the victory of the Maccabees, a fight against the suppression of the Jewish religion by the Syrian Greek empire. The oil used to rekindle the eternal flame, against all odds, lasted for eight days. The miracle of the little lights was a metaphor for shining a great light during the darkest of times.

One question for us is whether we are in danger of descending into those darkest of times. It is much easier to spew hate, instigate division and incite violence under the cloak of immunity afforded by social media and the web. We can bellow and bully from cyberspace without constraint. Another question is whether it is healthy for us and for society to devote so much of our attention to social media and the internet. We will all be ready for a breather following this grueling and tumultuous election season.

My hope is that each of us will take one of the eight days of Chanukah to power down our devices and power up our commitment to Tikkun Olam. Let us dedicate ourselves to loosening the grip of our slavish devotion to our smartphones, iPads, laptops and desktops. We can all do our part to, instead, shine a light on and in our world by seeking and fighting for justice for the least advantaged; by treating others with compassion, dignity and respect; and by comporting ourselves with the humility that recognizes that life can humble even the mighty among us.

Our obsession with the internet and social media robs us of time, our most precious commodity and one we can never get back. We can partake of the internet and social media in a number of positive ways, such as attending our Shabbat services, one of our NJC Connects events, our adult education sessions or our Sisterhood book club events on Zoom or YouTube Live. We can also use Zoom, Google Chat and FaceTime to connect with family and friends.

We at NJC wish all in the greater Naples Jewish community Happy Hannukah. Be safe and stay well.