tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post5412920398778090039..comments2024-03-07T15:19:48.772-05:00Comments on The Rabbi with a Blog (Rabbi Jason Miller): Join the Minyan with SkypeRabbi Jason Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-77431071252615308682016-09-22T15:37:28.582-04:002016-09-22T15:37:28.582-04:00Despite the fact that John is a local of Iowa, he ...Despite the fact that John is a local of Iowa, he has been living in Texas for more often than not since 1980. John and his excellent spouse Connie as of now live in the piney woods of East Texas and are guardians of Scott and Jason, both of whom are seeking after advanced educations.William Braylenhttp://www.mordocrosswords.com/2016/09/recite-rapidly-with-off.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-38987006676795141122015-01-28T18:53:16.902-05:002015-01-28T18:53:16.902-05:00Deborah, I am so sorry for your loss. My condolenc...Deborah, I am so sorry for your loss. My condolences. There are many congregations that steam prayer services, but not many that live stream daily minyan. You should try a web search. Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-83884681950140578132015-01-28T18:47:37.485-05:002015-01-28T18:47:37.485-05:00My father died 2 weeks ago and I have been saying ...My father died 2 weeks ago and I have been saying kaddish for him. I need to travel for work next week and have not been able to find minyan there. Is there a minyan anywhere that is accomodating participants via Skype?<br /><br />ThanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09001888647607741795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-43616173212520901072011-11-13T16:58:13.686-05:002011-11-13T16:58:13.686-05:00Thanks for educating me. I guess I had ne er stopp...Thanks for educating me. I guess I had ne er stopped to realize that the Mourners Kaddish was so much more recent than the Kaddish. I thnk the Skype Kaddish question is a great one.Stuart Wistonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-15417764692138720242011-11-13T16:57:59.722-05:002011-11-13T16:57:59.722-05:00You are right about the antiquity of the Kaddish i...You are right about the antiquity of the Kaddish itself.. but the "mourner's Kaddish" is relatively new: the custom that a mourner says Kaddish over a deceased relative was not known to Rambam. neither it appears in the Shulkhan Arukh. The custom spread probably during the late 18th - early 19th centuries... <br />Interestingly - during the 19th century it was mandatory that only one person says Kaddish. (I heard of places where this custom still exists). The Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh (mid 19th century) dedicates 3 pages to rules of precedence: who says Kaddish when there are several mourners in shul - one is sitting Shiva, another one has a jahrzeit etc. (That was the reason to introduce so many Kaddishim at the end of Shaharit). <br />More to our point of discussion: the effort to find ways to let people say the mourner's Kaddish over the internet points to the importance given by the average Shul - goer to the ritual of the dead. I had some somber thoughts about it last Yom Kippur - when I counted the number of people who were in shul during "Yizkor" - and compared it to the number of people who remained there during Mussaf....Yiftah Shapirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-73207062634402506532011-11-13T16:57:41.236-05:002011-11-13T16:57:41.236-05:00I'm confused as to why the Mourner's Kaddi...I'm confused as to why the Mourner's Kaddish would be considered 'relatively new'? I had learned that it started in the Babylonian Exile. A quick search taught me that the Amran Gaon (circa 900) is recorded as having a copy in his Siddur and that by the 13th century, it had make it's way into Halachic writings.<br />I know we're an old people, but calling something that's 800 or more years old 'recent' ?<br /><br />I think the idea has merit, if it were not for Yiftah's excellent point. Judaism has a very wel balanced mix of private and communal prayer. When a family member has died, the desire to be alone is strong, but the need to be with others is great. I'm not sure that being with others via Skype can fulfill the human need for interaction that the rabbis built into our requirement to come together for minyan.<br /><br />Personally, I would attend minyan much much more often if I could participate via Skype. It would obviate the need to go to a building 20 minutes out of my way to anywhere and still let me feel as though I was praying in a community. But if I had to say Mourner's Kaddish (chas v'chalilah) I would not feel that Skype minyan would work for me.Stuart Wistonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-88248941026356481462011-11-13T16:57:19.281-05:002011-11-13T16:57:19.281-05:00It is interesting - and I guess some sociologist w...It is interesting - and I guess some sociologist would find it interesting to research - that the motive for looking for new ways to define a minyan is the mourner's Kaddish - in itself a relatively new phenomenon in Judaism...Yiftah Shapirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-43519407570985428722011-11-11T15:20:41.652-05:002011-11-11T15:20:41.652-05:00If I can bring up a halachic question here... woul...If I can bring up a halachic question here... would there be some issue with her saying kaddish in the wrong time zone? Presumably she's catching an EST shacharit in the middle of the afternoon and mincha/ma'ariv around midnight.<br /><br />BTW, there is a Chabad in The Hague and at least two other Orthodox minyans listed on www.godaven.comAaron Schwartznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-82170635224746728972011-11-11T15:02:26.506-05:002011-11-11T15:02:26.506-05:00Reuven and Stuart,
You're both right. Any rab...Reuven and Stuart,<br /><br />You're both right. Any rabbi who implements Skype capabilities in the minyan must ensure that it doesn't detract from the real time minyan in the bricks and mortar synagogue. Stuart's right too that it could lead to more participation in the minyan (virtually) on the part of people who really couldn't be there in person (shut ins, handicapped, travelers, stay at home parents, etc.)Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-40801879343262963732011-11-10T15:14:12.092-05:002011-11-10T15:14:12.092-05:00I think it would be a real mitzvah if any minyanim...I think it would be a real mitzvah if any minyanim that would make themselves available for Skype participants could post information here! (For example: my mother is currently saying kaddish for her mother, but next month she will be in an area with no synagogue -- but at least some internet connectivity--for about a week...)MiriyaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12482440235721491144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-55021862086509495962011-11-10T15:01:45.120-05:002011-11-10T15:01:45.120-05:00R' Moshe discusses the telephone (and micropho...R' Moshe discusses the telephone (and microphones) in Igrot Moshe, in Orach Chayim, in Perek Dalet, p.174.<br /><br />My understanding is that you cannot be yotzeh a mitzvah that is d'Oraitah (e.g. Shemah) via these means, but that rabbinical commandments may be fulfilled this way if there are no better means. The specific examples he says mentions that might be fulfilled virtually (if you extend microphone to telephone to skype) would be havdalah and megilat esther. He does not mention kaddish.Rick Dorfmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06614401242790284684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-16769772168785282472011-11-10T14:47:58.939-05:002011-11-10T14:47:58.939-05:00Or, do you really want more people to attend minya...Or, do you really want more people to attend minyan?Stuart Wistonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-50674631360778193202011-11-10T14:47:42.317-05:002011-11-10T14:47:42.317-05:00Do you really want no one to ever come to shul?Do you really want no one to ever come to shul?Rabbi Ruven Spolterhttp://choppingwood.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-49187175055005954132011-11-10T13:22:08.918-05:002011-11-10T13:22:08.918-05:00Is it limited to 10 people only? I think if they ...Is it limited to 10 people only? I think if they will subscribe to a Professional account, the number of people that can chat and converse will be doubled. Not so sure about this. Will double check.Menachem Lifshitzhttp://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Menachem-Lifshitz/100002621852171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-23298203763217926752011-11-09T16:47:37.033-05:002011-11-09T16:47:37.033-05:00Perhaps the notion of "making an effort"...Perhaps the notion of "making an effort" to "go" will rapidly be redefined in a new and vibrant but different way.Karen Reiss Medwednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-73221046235308127002011-11-09T16:46:50.629-05:002011-11-09T16:46:50.629-05:00We are considering doing something similar here in...We are considering doing something similar here in Israel. <br /><br />In the article it mentions that it allows a person in Holland to join with the Minyan. This, of course, raises the issue of daveing, let's say, Shacharit, long after the morning hours.<br /><br />Another question was asked. Might some who wish to say Kaddish just stay home rather than making the effort to get to shul?<br /><br />However, all in all, the good outweighs the problems.Rabbi Andy Sacksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-1657110825007479342011-11-09T14:41:34.009-05:002011-11-09T14:41:34.009-05:00Joel: The Time Zone issue is an interesting issue....Joel: The Time Zone issue is an interesting issue. Rabbi Reisner addresses it in his <i>teshuva</i> (see below). Remember, the key desire is for a mourner (or <i>yahrzeit</i> observer) to be able to recite the Mourner's Kaddish with a minyan. As you know, it is not permissible from the standpoint of Halacha to recite the Mourner's Kaddish without a minyan.<br /><br />So, in the case of the minyan taking place in Massachusetts that allows a woman in the Hague to Skype in to participate is for the sake of her saying Kaddish. Therefore the time zone issue shouldn't be a factor. While there are timeframes within which one must say the Shema for instance, most mourners are just looking to be able to recite Kaddish each day (in each of the three daily services is ideal of course).<br /><br /><i>Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner:</i><br /><br /><b>The Issue of Time Zones</b><br /><br />"It was pointed out to me that distant participation in the minyan might entail the attempt to fulfill an obligation outside of its proper time, for instance, to hear the reading of the Megillah that is being done in Israel on Purim night while it is yet the previous afternoon in the location wherein the listener resides, or to fulfill the requirement of reciting the Shema and its blessings in shaharit while it is yet dark. It is apparent to me that to fulfill any time-bound obligation this way, the listener would need to do so by connecting to a minyan functioning within the relevant time-frame of the one wishing to fulfill the obligation.<br /><br />Another corollary flows from this<br />concern. There are many who attempt to say kaddish at every opportunity during their months of mourning.<br />Nor is kaddish limited to specific times. Rather, a mourner says kaddish whenever the opportunity presents<br />itself. Allowing global access to minyanim at various locations might suggest that a mourner should be perpetually prowling the internet or telephone links for minyanim with which to say kaddish. This is clearly untenable.<br /><br />It needs only to be noted that even now one could say kaddish more often if one moved from synagogue to<br />synagogue catching different minyanim (or even within one synagogue if they hold multiple minyanim), or if one<br />tacked on numerous psalms, saying kaddish after each. Wisely, our sources worried about the tendency to<br />multiply kaddeshim and regularly advised against it.<br /><br />It is sufficient to say kaddish, as far as possible, at the statutory times of prayer. There is no need to do more, and such practice is to be discouraged."Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-47122440384073649162011-11-09T14:33:59.302-05:002011-11-09T14:33:59.302-05:00Hi MiriyaB: Rabbi Reisner's teshuva can be acc...Hi MiriyaB: Rabbi Reisner's teshuva can be accessed <a rel="nofollow">here</a>. If you're looking for the technical means for broadcasting a minyan using Skype, you'll just need a computer with an Internet connection, camera and microphone (and a Skype account).Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-61583138576942193042011-11-09T13:04:55.181-05:002011-11-09T13:04:55.181-05:00Very interesting. I well remember how hard it was...Very interesting. I well remember how hard it was for me to arrange my schedule around minyan times, especially when travelling.<br /><br />But that raises another question: Can one say the Shacharit Kaddish with a Skype minyan that is in California, but while the person saying Kaddish is in Amsterdam - it would likely be too late for Shacharit there.Joel Ungarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14126300041959325188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-72143468368913725252011-11-09T12:24:29.347-05:002011-11-09T12:24:29.347-05:00Very interesting -- thanks for sharing: could you ...Very interesting -- thanks for sharing: could you post a link or relevant contact information so that others who might wish to take part in the minyan via Skype might be able to do so?MiriyaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12482440235721491144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-10338889491396323222011-11-09T12:23:15.362-05:002011-11-09T12:23:15.362-05:00Could you post the link or other relevant informat...Could you post the link or other relevant information for taking part in the minyan via Skype, for others who might wish to do so?MiriyaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12482440235721491144noreply@blogger.com