Orthodox, Conservative rabbis blend tradition with tech (when permitted)
By ALAN SMASON
While the Reform rabbinate and congregations have been easily able to conform to the technical opportunities of using the Internet to live stream, computers and smartphones to access web sites and to share content and applications like Zoom by meeting virtually (see CCJN feature story), members of the observant Orthodox and Conservative communities have had to limit access during times of observance on Shabbat and for religious festivals due to prohibitions against them.
Rabbi Deborah Silver of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation. (Photo by Alan Smason)
“We’re just trying to take advantage of what we can, while at the same time trying to honor what we need to honor,” said Rabbi Deborah Silver of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation in Metairie.
The rabbi admitted that even though the congregation is staying faithful to observance, they have never had more of an online presence than they do now.
“Our executive board and our of directors has really picked up the responsibility of reaching out to people by phone,” she added.
The reason is that the technology does not always reach all segments of the community, she admitted. “There’s something reassuring about hearing a human voice at the end of the phone,” Silver mused.
With mandates to stay at home from both the governor’s office and local authorities, the technology is oftentimes a blessing to connect to a vast segment of their congregations who would otherwise be left disconnected from the faith and practice of Judaism.
Modern Orthodox Congregation Beth Israel Rabbi Josh Pernick and Rabbi Silver have worked together for the last several weeks in advancing Jewish practice with unique Zoom events such as Kabbalat Shabbat services that work all the way up to L’Chah Dodi before ending.
“We got a lot of feedback from people in that it provides a bit of normalcy,” Rabbi Pernick stated in a phone interview. “Obviously, it’s not the same as being in person and it’s not a full service, but it gives them a taste of that.”
Beth Israel Rabbi Joshua “Josh” Pernick. (Photo by Alan Smason)
They have also invited Rabbi Lexi Erdheim, assistant rabbi from nearby Congreatation Gates of Prayer to also take part in joint Havdalah services via Zoom sessions.
“Anyone can join in the Zoom link,” Pernick noted, “and it’s streamed to the Beth Israel Facebook page.”
The reaction to the pandemic has been dramatic for both rabbis as traditional services and gatherings have ceased and they have, like their congregants, found themselves sheltering in place at their homes.
“It’s interesting. For better or worse, we’re in a profession that things look different as a result of the pandemic and the stay-at-home order, but (it’s) not so different,” Pernick noted.
“Because of the nature of our community, the fact that we come from a community where so many people are involved with multiple synagogues, it doesn’t make sense for each of us to operating in a vacuum,” the Beth Israel rabbi said. “It makes much more sense for us to be coordinating our efforts and trying to do things together and expand the impact.”
He added: “If we’re going to be in this for a while, there are better ways to be more strategic about how we’re keeping people connected.”
Both rabbis have taken part in conducting funerals with streaming through Zoom to allow family and congregation members to pay their respects and follow the mandates. This is going to be the standard for the foerseeable future, they both admitted.
“The priority at the moment is that people have got to be kept safe,” Rabbi Silver continued. “The best way to keep safe is to stay home and the next best way to keep safe is to stay apart.”
Recalling Mishnah 4:5 that says when you save a life, you save the world, Silver said: “It’s very painful, but in the end, it’s in the interest of preserving life and that’s the biggest mitzvah of all.”
Concluding, she asked “How many times in our life are we going to be presented with such a clear cut opportunity to uphold that Mitzvah?”
