High Holiday Task Force Planning for Virtual Observance at Tiferet Bet Israel
Membership in the Jewish Living Committee at Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, involved operationalizing plans for the High Holidays amidst halachic needs, pandemic concerns, and access challenges. The decision to hold a virtual observance was made, requiring the organization of sub-task forces, interim cantorial search, and technological solutions. Strategies included segmenting services, addressing technology access, and preparing for virtual delivery.
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Presentation Transcript
Case Study Susan Kasper Debbie Goldberg Tiferet Bet Israel Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Membership Jewish Living Committee First meeting with Rabbi Clear that Committee would be High Holiday Task Force Consider different constituencies Clergy Member Units All age categories Teachers Service Leaders Traditionalists
Operationalize What do we need to do to get to the High Holidays? Halacha Needs of the community Public health pandemic issues Permission to open buildings Physical distancing High risk groups Balance the halachic mandates versus what is possible to deliver
In Person versus Virtual Considered in-person options Small groups of congregants (family units) physical distanced by seats and rows Blocks of time groups of congregants rotate into sanctuary In our region unlikely that we would be able to meet the requirements Decision made to plan for a virtual High Holiday observance
How to do we prepare for the virtual observance? Organization 3 meetings to date two sub-task forces needed Interim Cantorial Search Task Force Technology
Interim Cantorial Search Committee Our long-term Cantor is leaving June 30, 2020 Permanent Cantorial Search on hold Many lay people who can help lead the services Identified several candidates as interim cantors who can help lead portions of the service
Technology Sub-Task Force - Structure Pre-recorded segments Choir/soloist/music Teaching/Sermon President address Torah/Haftorah readings each reader will be recorded individually in the sanctuary with the Torah on separate days Live segments Tefilah
Technology Sub-Task Force - Challenges Access to appropriate technology some congregants do not have access or skills to use the technology Distribution of siddurim Lev Shalom will be available in an electronic version Challenge is that when screen sharing electronic version cannot see other congregants or speaker/reader easily Participation of families especially those with young children How to engage without having parallel simultaneous programming for children Professional production versus volunteers and staff Significant cost to professional production Expectations of the congregants and community
Organization of the Service Virtual sessions should not be more than 50 to 60 minutes without giving participants a break How to incorporate breaks How to insure that congregants return to the service Each portion of the service separated by a break Shacharit Family service Torah service Incorporation of pre-recorded readings Musaf service Combination of live and pre-recorded portions
Additional Considerations What parts of the service should be included and what can be eliminated? Managing breaks in the service Example After shacharit recite Kiddush then have congregational enjoyment of apples and honey at home Distribution of annual New Year gift bags May include apples and honey for congregants How to distribute honors to congregants and staff? No traditional aliyot, opening/closing ark, hagbah and gelilah, etc. Erev Rosh Hashanah and second night evening services Declining attendance need to adjust timing to correspond to dinner IT support person available during services to troubleshoot Financial impact fewer sources of revenue
How to get the sound of the shofar to the congregation? Parking lot shofar blowing on second day of Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur
The future Encouraged by: Creativity of congregants, clergy and staff Engagement of congregants, clergy and staff Flexibility of congregants, clergy and staff Hopeful: What we learn from this experience will expand our reach, engagement and value for decades to come Engage those who cannot physically come to synagogue Engage congregants who have moved away Seniors College students Engage extended families to experience life cycle events
