“You told them that a smartphone would be good for you. Now is your chance to prove it”

By Yossie Strickman, as told to Bayla Hersher

Meir Kaplan, a 22-year-old from a home where technology use is discouraged, buys a smartphone with the guidance of his rebbi. In addition to having Yossie filter the phone, Meir asks Yossie to bridge the communication gap between him and his father, a rosh yeshivah. Yossie calls Rabbi Kaplan and emphasizes how the phone could potentially help Meir by meeting the needs that were behind his request. Rabbi Kaplan commits to supporting his son’s decision, but just a few weeks later, Meir asks Yossie to call his father again.

Meir’s request to speak to his father took me by surprise.

Before I could formulate a response, he rushed to explain.

“Everything has been great since you spoke to him, really.”

Meir told me how Rabbi Kaplan was expressing genuine interest in the way he felt the phone was helping him, and celebrating the small victories Meir had already achieved in yeshivah.

After hearing that Meir had gone to Shacharis every day for an entire week, his parents sent celebratory yapchik for his entire shiur that Shabbos with a meaningful note. Whenever Meir mentioned how happy he was, Rabbi Kaplan made a big deal out of it and called his wife in to hear the good news.

From Meir’s voice, it sounded like he had never felt so motivated to push himself to succeed.

“I’m so glad that your father is supporting you, Meir. That’s great to hear,” I started, silently thanking Hashem that Rabbi Kaplan had been so committed to changing his attitude. “So then, what do you want me to call your father about?”

“This week is an off-Shabbos.” Meir said nervously. “It’ll be my first off-Shabbos with a smartphone, and I’m worried my father will forget everything you told him once he sees it in my hand.”