Why is the use of a mobile phone prohibited on Shabbat?

With Hashem's help

Peace and blessings,

All credit to you for seeking the truth and maintaining the observance of Shabbat. Shabbat is the source of blessing, and through it, the Jewish people preserve their identity and are granted blessing and abundance from above. If all of Israel observed just two Shabbatot, they would merit redemption immediately!

The phone is a device constructed as an electrical circuit, and using it creates a type of labor (closing an electrical circuit), much like the use of electricity on Shabbat (which is a result of fire and a type of burning). Burning and the labor of building are two types of labor that were prohibited in the thirty-nine labors performed in the Tabernacle.

Hashem foresaw all generations and wanted to prohibit us from the active use of electricity on Shabbat so that we could experience true rest, imbued with holiness like on the olden days. Technology is addictive and could turn Shabbat into a regular day. Hashem desires that we be somewhat disconnected on Shabbat so that we can connect with those close to us—family and neighbors. Therefore, one of the commandments on Shabbat is the boundaries of Shabbat: "Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day" (Exodus 16), which pertains to the laws of boundaries.

All these actions create a change in the soul, as Shabbat prepares the soul for a cessation from the weekdays—even in consciousness.

There are Jews who travel all the way to India to seek "meditation" and a bit of tranquility for the soul, not knowing about the Jewish meditation known as Shabbat Kodesh—which renews the powers of the soul and brings joy and blessing to all the days of the week.

With Hashem's help, may you merit to observe Shabbat properly and find happiness in its observance.

Sincerely,

Daniel Bals