A Message From Rabbi Cytryn Dear Friends, Ketiva Vehatima Tova to everyone - A prayer that each of us and our loved ones are inscribed and sealed in the Book of Good Health, Joy and Satisfaction for this coming year. Im writing this note a few hours before Rosh Hashannah begins to explain our decision to live stream our High Holiday and subsequent services. This is a decision that is literally 25 years in the making. In 1989 the Conservative Movements Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) adopted a position that it was acceptable to live stream on Shabbat and other Holy Days if the following four restrictions were respected and observed: 1. no permanent tape (recording) is made in the process 2. the equipment is set up before Shabbat or Yom Tov, and either turned on before Shabbat or placed on a timer 3. the equipment is either inaccessible to adjust or repair, or is placed in the skilled hands of a non-Jew in the employ of the synagogue 4. there is no noticeable distortion in the visual or sound components of the system Beth Els live-streaming project observes each of these four restrictions. We are not videotaping or recording these services in any manner. And, we are not turning the camera or computers on or off during the Holy Day or Shabbat. If something were to happen to either device during our service, the live-streaming would conclude and the remainder of the services would be off the internet. The decision to live stream has been quietly discussed here since I arrived in 2003. When we look at our congregation today, we know that the number of congregants who must stay at home, or who are in nursing homes, assisted living residences and hospitals, or who are no longer residents of the region but remain loyal donors has increased dramatically over the past few years. We want to reach out to as many Jews as we can, especially those whose health demands they stay at home, or in hospital care, during these Holy Days and Shabbat, and make them feel welcomed into a religious service of which we are very proud. Within the context of Tradition and Change in our Conservative Movement, Its been sixty-four years since we discussed how to revitalize Shabbat observance in an age of increased suburban living. In 1950 Conservative Judaism accepted the notion that using electricity on Shabbat and driving to and from synagogue on Shabbat were acceptable means of bringing people together to observe as a community. This issue of live streaming and related internet issues are the driving issues of today. Permitting someone who couldnt get to synagogue without driving was a concession to modernity and a statement about how important community is. Permitting someone who cannot be here to say Kaddish, participate in Yizkor, hear the Shofar sounds and feel part of our warm, welcoming and dynamic community while outside of our building is important to us today. This issue was discussed with the leadership of our Worship Committee, our Executive Committee and our Congregational Board and I am proud to say that those voices were unanimous in reaffirming our commitment to sharing our message with as many Jews as possible. And, for those caught outside the sanctuary during Paul Latchfords Presidential Address, my sermons and the Israel Bond Appeal, you can sit and watch the live-stream in the Chapel. Shannah tova and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Eric Cytryn
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:50:30 +0000