The Reform movement is anticipating that its synagogues will remain closed for the High Holy-Days with services conducted online.
“Our priority is keeping people safe,” Reform Judaism senior rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner told the JC this week.
“We are conscious that when our synagogue buildings open, people may put community ahead of their own wellbeing.
“Our online engagement has brought many Jews, both Reform and others, closer to our communities and we intend to continue to strengthen this transformational work. Reform Synagogues are working on the basis that High Holy-Day services will be online only.”
One Reform congregation, Maidenhead Synagogue, has already informed members that physical High Holy-Day services have been cancelled in favour of livestreaming.
Maidenhead minister Rabbi Jonathan Romain said the decision had been taken “very reluctantly. But we do not think it will be possible to hold gatherings of several hundred people in a way that is compatible with social distancing and other safety measures.”
To make the livestreamed services “as meaningful as possible, we will be having online shofar blowers at Rosh Hashanah, a Zoom kiddush for up to 200 members to socialise in breakout rooms and a cellist starting the Kol Nidre service”.
Maidenhead will also offer online children’s services and teenage discussion groups conducted via Zoom.
But, being by the Thames, the community is intending to hold its annual Tashlich on the riverbank, which usually attracts 80 people.
“As it takes place outside, social distancing should be manageable,” Rabbi Romain pointed out. “And it will help lessen the disappointment at not having such important services [physically] or being able to meet old friends in person.”
Liberal Judaism looks set to pursue a similar path, with leaders “working on a model where the primary offering for the High Holy-Days is going to be online”. A spokesman told the JC that “Liberal Judaism is good at being incredibly responsive and in the same way we quickly moved online when lockdown began, our movement and communities will continue to adapt as alternatives present themselves”.
However, for the United Synagogue (which does not have the option of livestreaming on religious days), the aim remains to hold services in its shul buildings — and possibly in overflow sites. “We’d like an entire set of services held in each community if possible.”
