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They are everywhere: in school, in the boardroom, at the doctor’s office, even in synagogues. They are those forever-spinning little triangular gadgets that will set you back anywhere from $3 - $25 and become an inseparable extension of the hand. Interestingly enough, people report that on first sight they are turned off by the concept of a fidget spinner, but once they try it out they are hooked.
But what most people don't know is that fidget spinners are the brainchild of Catherine Hettinger, a creative inventor and innovator. After a visit to Israel a number of years ago she saw firsthand how young Arab children were spending their time throwing stones at Israelis. Catherine decided that she needed to find a replacement for the stones, and thus the fidget spinner was born.
Sadly, her fidget spinner did not replace the stone throwing, but Catherine did stumble upon something that has now become a wildly popular fad. Alas, Catherine isn’t making any money on the lucrative toy. She gave up the patent years ago because she couldn’t afford the $400 renewal fee. But she isn’t bitter. She told the Guardian, “Several people have asked me: ‘Aren’t you really mad?’ But for me I’m just pleased that something I designed is something that people understand and really works for them.”
What is it about these fidget spinners that make them so wildly popular and addicting?
I am not an expert in trends or ADHD solutions, but I’d like to share one idea that perhaps gives a deeper reason behind the phenomenon. After all, according the Jewish perspective, the physical world reflects the spiritual. So it stands to reason that this fad is tapping into something that resonates on a deeper, spiritual plane.
Judaism believes that human beings were created with a quest for perfection. We are born as an unpolished diamond. Raised and nurtured by our parents and educators, we then set out on our own to pursue the quest that is our very existence. Jewish tradition teaches that life equals growth; a day without growth is a day that has not truly been lived. That is why human beings are referred to as mahalchim, travelers, alluding to the constant movement that characterizes our existence as we travel to toward our destination of perfection. Life is for constant growth and movement. There is no standing still.
Perhaps our attraction to the fidget spinner reflects a kinship that we feel with its constant movement, and the ease with which that sustained movement is achieved. Imagine a life that is constantly and easily moving! This is, of course, a pale imitation of the real-life movement that our spiritual sub-conscious is craving, but it taps our innermost desire to grow and move.
So whether you are a current fidget spinner addict or a fidget spinner adversary, here is a little “spin” on life. Your soul is craving movement and growth in its quest for spiritual perfection. You can either try to placate it with a cheap knock-off, artificial feeling of growth, or you can really satisfy it with the thrill of genuine growth and soul-fulfillment. It’s up to you to decide which direction you want to spin it!
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Rabbi Shlomo Landau began working for Torah Links (the outreach arm of the Lakewood Yeshivah) in the summer of 2000, and he was instrumental in founding Torah Links of Middlesex County located in East Brunswick, NJ.
Torah Links of Middlesex County began with a few home-based study groups and has blossomed into a full service kiruv organization serving 400+ Jewish families in the area. From Sunday school to Hebrew High, from numerous daily classes to High Holiday programs, the organization works flat-out to create inspiring programs. The results speak for themselves. Thousands of Jews from all walks of life have been positively impacted by the uplifting and inspiring Judaism provided by Torah Links.
In addition, countless individuals and families have found their way back to complete Torah observance, and Torah Links is proud to have graduates of its youth programs in top yeshivos and kollelim. Through Rabbi Landau’s tireless efforts, Torah Links is about to commence construction of the Torah Links of Middlesex County Community Learning Center; a 15,000 sq. foot beautiful state-of-the-art full service Kiruv center.
Additionally, since the fall of 2002 Rabbi Landau has been a high school rebbi in various Modern Orthodox yeshivot. He is currently a beloved faculty member of the Ray Kushner Yeshiva High School (located in Livingston, NJ).
For over a decade, Rabbi Landau has succeeded in inspiring hundreds of young men to investigate and appreciate Jewish living and learning. Rabbi Landau has built long lasting relationships with very many of his students – relationships that have lasted past graduation and continue to flourish today, when he is often called on to act as ‘mesader kiddushin’ at their weddings.
Latest Article
The Spin on Fidget Spinners
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