“So don’t say the Internet is bad. Say it’s bad for your kids. It’s like saying that your kids are all allergic to unfiltered Internet”

By Yossie Strickman, as told to Bayla Hersher

I’D clearly called at an inconvenient time.

Eliezer Stern had emailed asking me to call him regarding a technology issue, but it sounded like I’d caught him during some sort of crisis.

“Hi, Yossie,” Eliezer said, composed, even though I could hear screaming in the background. “I’m in the car with my kids, driving from Baltimore to Toronto.”

That explains the noise, I thought. A little girl was repeatedly shrieking, “Shimon’s touching me!”

“Can I call you back later today?” he asked, raising his voice.

Eventually, the Sterns made it to their destination — Mrs. Stern’s parents — where they would be for all of Pesach.

“My in-laws are the most loving grandparents,” Eliezer started when we finally spoke. “They make the Seder come alive for the kids every year, and they take us on amazing Chol Hamoed trips that they’ve planned for weeks.

“My kids love being here with them, and we’re so grateful they open their home to us,” he said sincerely.

Eliezer paused for a moment. I waited for the “but.”

“It’s just that…” he cleared his throat, “my in-laws have a lot of technology. A lot. And none of it’s filtered.”