Planners OK Mostly Zoom Services; Tashlich And Yizkor In-Person

 

Congregation Tifereth Israel is moving forward with a mostly virtual model for High Holidays worship this year. Consideration of congregant safety imposed by the spread of Covid-19 has forced our shul to adopt virtual means for Sabbath and holiday worship. Yet, the upcoming High Holidays when, under ordinary circumstances, communal prayer encourages worshippers to connect with each other as Jews in their devotion to the faith, seemed in jeopardy as the virus continued to affect our local villages.

The shul’s Task Force of medical, religious and civic leaders considered the wisdom of virtual vs. in-person services and made its recommendations to the shul’s Ritual Committee, which is charged with determining the procedural details of High Holiday worship, among other aspects of synagogue observance.

Following  an investigation of Covid-19 responses by other Long Island synagogues, and also Task Force and Ritual Committee discussions, our synagogue will offer most High Holiday services on Zoom, with two exceptions. Zoom is the teleconferencing program that the shul has used successfully for Shabbat services and Passover Seders as well as meetings and fundraising events that have kept our shul operational. The exceptions to Zoom services are an in-person Tarshish service on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, which will be held at the water’s edge, and an in-person Yizkor memorial service that will be held in Andrew Levin Park, the garden adjacent to our shul building. A second Yizkor service will be conducted on Zoom for those reluctant to participate in-person in the park.

The planners believe that this model of mostly virtual services with a few in-person opportunities responds to safety concerns considering the usual large attendance at High Holiday services, while catering to the need for some communal connection at the in-person Tashlich services and one of the Yiskor services, usually attended by fewer members and guests.

 

Format for Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur services

The following format will be observed throughout the High Holiday services:

  • Rabbi Gadi Capela will officiate on Zoom from the sanctuary, with the screen queued to “speaker view.” Gabbai Paul Nadel, representing the congregation, will be the only person other than the rabbi allowed in the building during the virtual services.
  • Rabbi Gadi will use the shul’s regular High Holidays prayer book. Thanks to a generous donation, copies are available for members to keep. See information below.
  • The cantorial portions of the services will be fulfilled by Rabbi Gadi and also by interspersing videos of selected cantors within the virtual services. Andrea Blaga and Steve Benthal will facilitate the video portions, to be chosen by Rabbi Gadi and members of the shul.
  • All members and guests will be muted on Zoom, except those selected for aliyot and English language readings, who will be unmuted during each one’s portion.
  • In case of questionable weather, please check the shul’s website for decisions on the outdoor Tashlich service and the outdoor Yizkor service.