Yehoram Gaon Reflects on the Changing Role of Cell Phones During Wartime

In recent months, singer Yehoram Gaon has frequently expressed his thoughts on the events of the ongoing conflict. He has shared social media posts in support of IDF soldiers, praised their spouses, and now, he has posted on Facebook reflecting on the importance of cell phones from childhood to military service.

"Every parent has, at some point, cursed under their breath about the nerve-wracking behavior of their school-aged children who were glued to their cursed little cell phones, oblivious even to their father's presence," Gaon wrote. "Driving in the car, only silence in the back; the parent glances back to find their kids silently texting. Eating together, the child doesn't even notice what's going into their mouth as they're engrossed in a video on their phone. How many times have parents told their kids, 'Get rid of that cell phone!'?"

Gaon explains that during wartime, the phone becomes the holiest possession for parents. "Suddenly, the moment comes when your child has grown up, is now in the army, and parents long for a call from their child. They are right in the midst of battle, unable to talk, and parents pray, 'Hashem, let the phone ring, let him just say hello, let us hear his voice.'"

In conclusion, he wrote: "Yes, this is the same child we couldn't communicate with before because the phone had taken our place in his life. Now we wait eagerly, in prayer, in supplication, for his phone to ring, to hear the child's voice, bringing joy to our hearts. We haven't heard from him for three weeks; our insides are churning just to hear his blessed voice through the phone."