Digital Justice

We are at a pinnacle in the cycle of Torah readings; having left Egypt, crossed the Reed Sea, the Israelites are now camped at the bottom of Mount Sinai, and in a spectacle of thunder and lightning, God speaks to the Israelites and reveals Godself to the frightened people.  One ancient midrash (or fan fiction as it could be termed today) suggested that during this revelation “Each Israelite heard what was in their power to hear.” (Shemot Rabbah 28:6). In this comment lies an understanding that the Israelites did not communicate the same way, nor spoke the same language, or had the ability to hear. Some were too old and others too young. And yet despite all these obstacles to accessibility, they were still able to make sense of  the message from The Eternal One. Everyone, no matter their age, disability, distractions, scepticism or social situation were present, and had a ‘seat at the table’ so to speak. And then Moses received the two tablets. 

The tablets were a tool of learning, of accessibility to deeper knowledge, and an act of teaching justice, but as the cartoon above so eloquently points out, only if they are accessible, and in line with the social context. And that is an issue in our current situation, as is so well documented in the media, and that we are hearing from schools in Haringey. The digital exclusion during lockdown is only exacerbating the divide between those who have access to learning and those who share a mobile phone between three children. Many charities and organisations are trying to buy laptops, but there is a bottleneck, meaning that some schools still have not received the hardware they were promised nearly a year ago. And that is where we have an opportunity to act and affect justice as well as the environment. 

Together with our Citizens’ UK partners in Haringey we are collecting old laptops, of any age and in any kind of disrepair. Using Verita Digital the laptops will go through a full audit taking serial numbers, condition, components, charger etc.  The HDD/SSD will be removed and data-erased on their SLR Servers to NCSC standard 5; any DOAs will be degaussed on their site, and they provide certificates by serial number. Or, in lay terms, the memory will be wiped clean, the laptops refurbished, loaded with programmes and then delivered to partner institutions. Turnaround time is approx a week. Any left over materials will be melted down and reused, so that it will not affect the environment.

Data access is less of an issue as mobile broadband providers are stepping up to help. However. it costs £30 to wipe and refurbish each laptop, so if you are able, please also consider donating to the Digital Inclusion Just Giving campaign. 

Please donate your old unwanted laptops but also check in with your workplace and your friends to see if they might have old laptops that could help a child or teenager learn.

Drop off information: 62 Carysfort Road, N8 
There is a box in the front garden with CEC written on it. Please wrap your laptop in a plastic bag and place it in the box which will be emptied every night.

If you have any questions or want to help, email sandra@crouchendchavurah.org

Sometimes all that is needed is help with an upgrade.

Shabbat shalom