Kavanah Journal

The Rav Who Asked for a Rule

Rav Daniel Glatstein on the phones we bring into shul, the leaders afraid to name it, and what it would look like to actually stop.

When the Phones Were Gone, Everyone Could Daven

A short Instagram Reel from a shul shows what happened when a group of teenagers made putting phones away part of davening. A simple observation worth pausing over.

What If Putting Our Phones Away Became Normal in Shul?

A small choice. A powerful example.

Leave the Phone in a Different Room

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein makes a direct case for physical distance from your phone during davening and learning. Here is the message — and what to do when leaving the phone at home is not an option.

Your Phone May Be on Silent. But Is It Really Out of Mind?

Your phone doesn't have to ring to pull at your attention. Even on silent, part of your mind stays with it — and a small physical boundary can help you let it go during davening.

Creating Space for Kavanah in a Distracted World

Kavanah doesn't have to mean perfect concentration. We can't control every wandering thought, but we can control some of what competes for our attention — starting with the phone.

What Should You Do With Your Phone During Davening?

You may not want to turn your phone off, but keeping it in your pocket leaves it one reach away. A look at the options, and how to pick the one that helps you stay present.

Davening Without Distractions: A Small Experiment

Try one davening with your phone out of reach, and notice what your mind does. There's a real difference between "I shouldn't check my phone" and "my phone isn't available to check."

For Women Who Want Fewer Phone Distractions During Davening

For many women, the phone connects to family, schedules, and responsibilities. Putting it away during davening isn't disconnecting from life — it's creating a short, defined space for tefillah.

When the Notifications Show Up in Person

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein and Mint Media imagine every phone notification during davening as a real person standing in front of you — and then ask the question that actually matters.

The Best Kavanah Pouch Is the One You Remember to Use

One simple suggestion may turn Kavanah Pouch from something you own into something you actually remember to use every morning.

Learning With the Phone Next to the Sefer

The phone may be silent. We may never touch it. But does simply having it next to the sefer change where part of our attention goes?

The Phone Is on the Table — Even When We Never Touch It

Two people can sit across from one another for an entire meal without checking a phone. And yet the phones may still be part of the conversation.

Kavanah at the Dinner Table: Being Present With the People in Front of Us

We usually think about kavanah in the context of davening. But what does it mean to give our attention to the people sitting right in front of us?

The First Shipments Arrived — In Lakewood

Yesterday, the first Kavanah Pouch was delivered — to a home in Lakewood, New Jersey. A quiet arrival, and a meaningful one.

What Did We Do in the Car Before Everyone Had a Screen?

Before every empty moment could be filled with a screen, car rides gave us something we seem to have less of today: unplanned time.

One More Scroll: What If We Ended the Day With More Kavanah?

You pick up the phone to check one thing. Somehow, twenty minutes later, you are still scrolling.

Make More Room for Tefillah

Kavanah Pouch was created for anyone trying to give more attention to davening. That includes the quiet moments of tefillah that happen at home, at work, and in the women’s section of shul.

The First Kavanah Pouches Have Shipped

The first Kavanah Pouches have officially shipped — a small but meaningful milestone for a product created to help people daven with fewer distractions and more kavanah.

Why I Created Kavanah Pouch

The story behind Kavanah Pouch — a simple signal-blocking phone pouch created to help people daven with fewer distractions and more kavanah.

The First Pouches Have Arrived

A real box of Kavanah Pouches just arrived from the factory. After months of designing, sampling, and waiting, the first batch is here and ready to ship.