How can that be? As dependent as we all have become on our technological devices, how can a broken, absolutely necessary i-Phone bring happiness? Stay tuned.
Frantic when I was unable to retrieve messages and texts, I made sure I would be at the Apple store when it opened, knowing it would take some time to get me up and connected again. There I was at 9:50 a.m., in line with a horde of other eager people, waiting for the doors to open. What's going on, I wondered, did I miss something? Is this the debut of yet another Apple product like the i-Watch? No, it seems it's just another ordinary day. At exactly 10 o'clock the doors opened, and as I was at the back of the line I couldn't see what all the commotion was about, but I did hear something that made me draw closer.
You may have seen this, but as this was my first time I was shocked to see 25 Apple employees standing at the front of the store, clapping their hands and welcoming the customers for the day.
"What did I miss?" I asked. "A service? Are you looking for a rabbi to lead the clapping and singing?"
While I made my appointment, the broken screen became secondary as I chatted with and quizzed the employee for some time about, "What's up with the clapping?"
"Oh," he said, "we begin each day with all the employees together doing what is called 'a download', where we talk about the state of the company, our goals and what we are all about. Then we welcome the day by opening the doors with major clapping."
So I asked why and he said because at Apple it's all about the experience, and they want the costomer to feel special. We then talked a lot about how Apple doesn't push products or 'up-sell' customers in any way. Employees are not on commission, they are there to help the customer and want to ensure the best experience possible. They don't have to sell the product: the product sells itself -- employees are there to help.
So what does Apple have in common with Chabad Naples? I truly feel the same at Naples Chabad where daily I can sense the energy, the experience of 'coming home' from the moment I step into our campus buildings. I should be standing at the door all day every day and clapping, because from early morning so many people are continually walking through our doors, beginning with 180 camp children to friends for services, or just someone that wants to feel comfortable in a place to call home. At Naples Chabad you will have the same experience: you will feel welcome and special.
As we prepare for the high holidays where it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the service or by anything else, please know that here you will be welomed with applause -- perhaps not literally but figuratively (at least until we import all 25 employees from Apple to Chabad). Until then you will feel the virtual clap every time you come to Chabad and like Apple, we don't try or need to 'up-sell' our product. We are just here to help, whether it's your 'broken screen' or questions about your own commitment and spirituality. We are here to offer comfort and help in any way we can. Come for a chat and stay: you will feel like part of our family.
