Connecting in New Ways at High Holy Days
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Reform synagogues have helped hundreds of people to be part of High Holy Days services who otherwise would not have been able to be there. Almost 300 students and young adults have benefited from free passes to Reform synagogues across the UK. And those kept away from synagogue by illness or vast distances have ‘attended’ shul through live online broadcasts of services.The Reform Movement recognises that the High Holy Days remain the key time of year for Jews wanting to connect to the community. For this reason, they are doing everything they can to enable people to be part of services.
This year almost 100 more people than last year received free tickets to a Reform synagogue as a result of the High Holy Days Pass scheme which is aimed at students who may be away at university and want to attend their local synagogue, or 18-30s who are not, at this stage of their lives, looking to join a community. 21 synagogues, from Bournemouth and Brighton in the south to Glasgow and Newcastle in the north, participated in the scheme this year.
And for the first time, Jews around the UK have been able to follow Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services from their living room. The bimah was filmed using a static video camera in Alyth (North Western Reform Synagogue) and Finchley Reform Synagogue, with Glasgow Reform Synagogue recording the audio. Footage was then streamed live on the internet. Some of the recordings were open to the general public via the Reform Movement website, other synagogues were offering this as a benefit for members.
Philip Markus who lives in Pyworthy, Devon, some 40 miles away from the nearest synagogue said: "The only realistic method of transport is by car. I am a pensioner and my wife, whilst not yet in a wheelchair, has significant problems with MS and I assist her in many matters of daily life. The duration of being away from her for attending a synagogue service would be between four to five hours which is not practical. The facility of attending a service online is simply wonderful and extremely beneficial to personal spiritual well-being."
Recordings from Glasgow Reform Synagogue can be found here.
For further details, please contact Andie Newman.
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