New York ( CNN ) -- As the story goes , God spent six days creating the world and then rested on the seventh day . He told the Jewish people to always rest on the seventh day of each week , which was to become known as the Sabbath for them for eternity . This was before Facebook , Twitter , BlackBerries and iPhones , of course . Adam and Eve did n't have friends who would get upset if texts were n't returned promptly , parents who wanted to know where their children were all the time or bosses who had complete access to their employees via work-issued devices . There is no excuse good enough to ignore the boss , even on a weekend . But one group is trying to take back the Sabbath : Reboot -- a nonprofit organization aimed at reinventing the traditions and rituals of Judaism for today 's secular Jews . Composed of Internet entrepreneurs , creators of award-winning television shows , community organizers and nonprofit leaders , these `` Rebooters '' are people who typically have their cell phones glued to their palms . Several of them go so far as to say they have an addiction to their devices . They pledged to observe 24 hours of freedom from their devices this past weekend : a National Day of Unplugging , lasting from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday , the Jewish Sabbath . The day was to launch Reboot 's ongoing project , the Sabbath Manifesto . Dan Rollman , a Rebooter and founder of the Universal World Record Database Web site , created the Sabbath Manifesto because he felt that technology was taking over too much of his life . `` There 's clearly a social problem when we 're interacting more with digital interfaces than our fellow human beings , '' Rollman said in an e-mail to CNN . `` Rich , engaging conversations are harder to come by than they were a few years ago . Our attention spans are silently evaporating . '' The Sabbath Manifesto consists of 10 principles . However , people are encouraged to discuss online which principles work and which should be tweaked . As they stand now , the guiding principles are : . 1 . Avoid technology . 2 . Connect with loved ones . 3 . Nurture your health . 4 . Get outside . 5 . Avoid commerce . 6 . Light candles . 7 . Drink wine . 8 . Eat bread . 9 . Find silence . 10 . Give back . The National Day of Unplugging specifically promotes the first principle . Even though Reboot is technically focused on reaching out to hyper-connected Jews , the values behind the Sabbath Manifesto are meant for all denominations , Rollman said . `` We believe that everyone can benefit from a respite from the relentless technology . Unplugging on a weekly basis wo n't provide a magical solution to these issues , but it 's a start ... a chance to catch our breaths , replenish our souls and reconnect with the living , breathing people we love . '' It may sound like a nice idea , but how realistic is the concept ? Can people live without their beloved technology for 24 hours ? `` No , '' said Chris Maroudis , 22 , without missing a beat . `` The problem is , I live in Jersey and work here [ Manhattan ] . I have to contact my friends in Jersey to make plans . I 'm not just going to go all the way there and then they 're not home . '' Some people are able to remember a simpler time before cell phones . `` This is new for me , '' said 26-year-old Amanda Norman , laughing and waving her BlackBerry . `` I remember even before cell phones , when you had to make plans with someone beforehand and meet them there . If you were late , you were late . '' Walking around Manhattan , though , it is hard to find people without a phone of any kind in their grasp . As Nano Paulino , 27 , pointed out , everyone in the city is working . The bosses need to stay in touch with you . Asked if he would answer a call from his boss at 10 at night , he said no . Why not ? `` I 'm sleeping ! '' His friend , Arnold Diaz , 30 , would also have a hard time without his phone , but for a slightly different reason . `` Definitely not on a Friday night . We have to make plans . Maybe on a Monday or Tuesday , '' he paused . `` Not Monday , because if you meet a girl over the weekend , you want to call her on Monday . So maybe Tuesday or Wednesday . '' There is one piece of irony to the whole thing . Lisa Keller , 42 , said she can easily go a day without using her phone . Asked if her friends and family would get frustrated by not being able to call or e-mail her , she laughed . `` I would first put up a Facebook status to say I 'll be off my phone and computer for 24 hours . '' Reboot also recognizes the irony that it has been promoting the National Day of Unplugging largely using social-networking sites . However , the group was asking people not to log on to their sites in the 24-hour window starting Friday evening at sundown .
Reboot aims to reinvent traditions of Judaism for today 's secular Jews . Television , cell phones , computers should be put away for weekly periods of rest . Sabbath Manifesto founder said he felt technology was taking over too much of his life .