Why I'm Tempted To Bring My iPad To Shabbat Services Tonight

Last spring, I wrote about why I thought every classroom needed to include iPads for student learning.  Fast forward a year, and many downloaded apps, and I stand by my previous blog post.

I'll cut right to the chase.  The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Press has released iT'filah: The Mishkan T'filah App.  I downloaded it on the first day it was available for a few different reasons:

1)  I was curious about how it would be formatted, and what different technologies would be incorporated into the app.  Not surprisingly, there are multiple surprises included!  From the ability to navigate effortlessly through the e-Siddur, to the option to listen to selected prayers and blessings with a simple tap on the screen, I consider this a very successful first attempt.

2)  Continuing from my last point, I then thought about how the app could be used in the educational setting.  Whether in the classroom or sitting at home with a B'nai Mitzvah tutor, this hits a home run for many reasons.  Our students (read: digital natives) are hard-wired to tap, scroll, search and record.  They do it all day long, and they need to be doing more of this in the Jewish educational setting. Center-based learning opportunities?  Check.  Individual enrichment?  Check.  Smart-technology-based lesson ready?  Check.

3)  This is the first (of my knowledge) Reform-friendly siddur application for the iOS.  There are a large number of apps that have been around for a while, but none of them connect to me like the book I pick-up when I enter the sanctuary on Friday nights.  To be able to pray out of my iPad...is a thought I haven't had yet.  But now I'm wondering: what will it feel like to be holding the digital device vs. an actual book?  Will I find it enhancing my worship experience, or taking away from it?  I don't want to distract others, but also am interested in providing an example that there are different ways to connect (pun intended) to the worship experience.  Does an iPad belong in a sanctuary, even one that is using screens, a wide array of microphones and musical instruments?  The iPad is all of these, but in a different case.

Rabbi Marci Bellows (fellow tech-lover and URJ Eisner & Crane Lake Camps enthusiast) has a thoughful piece in The Jewish Week.

Here's an interesting blog post by a colleague in the field that poses the counterpoint.

So...in summary...my jury is still out...kind of.

For the Jewish educational setting: homerun. Kol ha'kavod to Dan Medwin and CCAR for making this happen.  As always, I'm excited to see what the next steps will be as we better utilize technology to enhance our learning and connections to Judaism.

For the worship experience: stay posted.


Shabbat Shalom!