In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jewish world, like many religious communities, witnessed a dramatic shift in how synagogue services were conducted. With social distancing measures and public health concerns, synagogues across the globe turned to technology to keep their congregations connected. Now, several years later, the impact of live streaming services, especially during the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, continues to reshape synagogue attendance patterns. Like most changes to synagogue life sparked by technological innovation in the 21st Century, there are both positives and negatives.
Traditionally, the High Holidays have been a time when Jewish community members, regardless of observance level throughout the year, attend synagogue to reflect, pray, and connect with others. However, since the onset of the pandemic, streaming services have emerged as an alternative to in-person High Holiday attendance. What began as a necessity has become an option that many Jewish individuals and families now prefer. This shift is particularly noticeable this year, as Rosh Hashanah falls on weekdays, providing a convenient way for people to “attend” services from their home or office without missing work.
The Technology Boom: Zoom and Live Feeds
Synagogues have embraced various platforms to accommodate their congregants. Zoom has been one of the most popular options, offering interactive elements like chat features and virtual gatherings. Some synagogues utilize live feeds through their own websites or platforms like YouTube or Facebook, allowing members to watch services in real time. These technological tools have made services more accessible to those who may have otherwise faced barriers, such as physical distance or health issues, from attending in person.
Rabbis and the Virtual Experience
Many rabbis and cantors grapple with the implications of streaming services. They recognize the benefits, like more Jews partaking in the High Holiday experience, especially those who are geographically distant or unable to attend in person due to illness or other personal constraints, like serving as a caregiver for children or the elderly. However, clergy and synagogue executives are also concerned about the weakening of in-person attendance, a trend that has extended beyond the High Holidays to regular Shabbat services as well. After all, it is difficult to replicate on a computer monitor or iPad screen the sense of community and shared energy that is created during prayer services in a sanctuary.
Pros and Cons: The Streaming Dilemma
The positive implications of streaming are clear. Congregants can attend services from anywhere, which is especially convenient for those with busy work schedules, who are not concerned about the Jewish legal restrictions on technology use during the sacred holidays. The technology allows elderly or immunocompromised individuals to participate safely. Additionally, many synagogues offer their live streams for free, whereas in-person tickets for the High Holidays can be costly. Membership fees, often required for High Holiday ticket purchases, can run into the thousands of dollars. For families facing financial strain, streaming provides an accessible way to fulfill their spiritual obligations. It also allows for more choice in terms of which congregation’s services one attends. For example, a college student who lives far from her family’s congregation is now able to log in and feel connected to her home synagogue during the High Holidays. Also, families who have recently relocated can still be part of their former congregation’s services through Zoom or video streaming. Others enjoy a particular congregation’s services or wish to be inspired by a particular rabbi so the virtual option is the most ideal way to overcome the geographical constraints.
Rabbi Shalom Kantor of Congregation B’nai Moshe in West Bloomfield, where all services are streamed and available to anyone, explained, “Streaming has allowed those members who are homebound or even out of town to be able to join our services. Our congregants appreciate that our daily services continue to be streamed and [that] has greatly increased attendance and participation in a post-Covid world.”
While there are certainly pros to virtual attendance at High Holiday prayer services, the cons are equally significant. In-person services create a sense of community that is difficult to reproduce through a screen. The social connections formed and nurtured during synagogue attendance are vital for the cohesion of Jewish life. The isolation of attending virtually can detract from the communal essence of Judaism.
There are also Jewish legal factors that some will consider when it comes to streaming High Holiday services, including the question of whether hearing the shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah is allowed over a video streaming service or an interactive application like Zoom.
For Rabbi Daniel Nevins, the former rabbi at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills and the author of the new book, Torah and Technology: Circuits, Cells, and the Sacred Path, the focus is more on the halakhic (Jewish legal) considerations. “We are taught to differentiate Shabbat and holidays from regular days by avoiding ‘labor’ such as writing and recording, and by ‘resting’ from ordinary behaviors. Given that most people today carry smartphones and other devices,” Nevins explained, “looking at various screens throughout the day, dedicating Shabbat and the holidays as days that are screen-free is enormously important. This allows us to reclaim social engagement with other people in real time and space, and to declare ourselves free of digital devices for a few hours each week. During the height of the pandemic, there were health arguments that overrode our normal practice, but those concerns remained in place. There are always special circumstances that override these concerns, especially for people with fragile health and disabilities. For them, the need to participate safely with the community may override the concerns listed above.”
The Financial Impact on Synagogues
Some rabbis and community leaders fear that the ease of streaming services might lead to a longer-term decline in synagogue membership and attendance. Many synagogues rely on High Holiday ticket sales and membership dues as a major source of income. The increasing popularity of free live streams could create financial strain for synagogues, potentially leading to closures or mergers. In the U.S. and Canada, there are already reports of synagogues consolidating as membership dwindles. The traditional model of sustaining synagogues through membership fees and High Holiday ticket sales may need to be reimagined in light of these technological changes.
What the Future Holds
Looking toward the future, it’s clear that the streaming option is here to stay for many non-Orthodox congregations, but the future of synagogue attendance is uncertain. Some congregations may need to innovate further to create hybrid models that blend the convenience of virtual services with the community-driven aspects of in-person gatherings. It is also imperative that synagogues create more inclusive membership models that acknowledge the financial realities of modern Jewish life while sustaining synagogues as vibrant community hubs.
One possible outcome could be a restructuring of how synagogues operate, with more emphasis on smaller, localized gatherings and a broader virtual presence. Others fear that if this trend continues, more synagogues may face closure or merger, particularly in regions where Jewish populations are already declining.
As we enter this new era of digital Judaism, the challenge will be finding the balance between accessibility and community. For many Jewish people, the High Holidays will continue to be a sacred time of reflection, repentance, and renewal—whether they are sitting in a sanctuary or watching from home or the office on a screen. Since technology is not going away, we must answer the question: how can we ensure that the sense of belonging and feeling connected to the community remains intact?
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