The world looks very different than it did 2 weeks ago. This is an extraordinary moment in time. As we adapt we look to Jewish law to help guide us and give us structure while also having the flexibility to help us uphold our values in a new context. It is my role as the Posek, to interpret and make decisions regarding Jewish law in our community. The Jewish people are not newcomers to complicated living conditions and we have mechanisms within Jewish law to help us maintain our continuity and also attend to the moment.
Until this point, the Committee of Jewish Law and Standards, the ruling body of Jewish law in the Conservative Movement upheld the position that a minyan could only be 10 Jewish adults who were physically in the same space. If a person wanted to participate virtually, perhaps if they were homebound, and they needed to recite Mourners Kaddish, they could only do so if they could remotely connect to a minyan that was happening in person. For more information read the article here.
Much has changed since this was written even though it was only posted 12 days ago. It is not safe to congregate in groups and social gatherings are banned. We find ourselves in what Jewish law would call sha’at hadechak, an hour of crisis. This calls for us to take a more lenient position on certain aspects of a minyan, one that can be fully understood in this article, posted on 3/17.
On Monday evening, I gave a class in which we discussed these sources and the time we are living in, and we decided that for the time being, as long as congregating is unsafe, we will be reciting Kaddish with our online minyans. Because we categorize this time as she’at hadechak, a pressing moment, as soon as it is safe to congregate once more, this time will be over and we will only be upholding the original position of the CJLS.
There are certain stipulations. We must be able to see the faces of 10 Jewish adults in frame. If one steps out of frame, we will lose our minyan in that moment. I do not come to this position easily. We are not extending this view to saying Barchu or the Kedusha. I have separated Kaddish from the rest of the other items that require a minyan because not only is Kaddish is a much more sensitive topic for people, but we have more texts supporting distance while reciting Kaddish than other aspects of the minyan. We are trying to be flexible on issues that call for wider reading.
As of now, until we have the capability to livestream using automated or timed cameras, we will not be having services on Shabbat. We continue to have the following weekly offerings via Zoom:
If you would like to discuss this topic further or need to be in touch for any other reason, please email me at Rabbi.Bernstein@cbohr.org
Wishing you health, safety, and support. I pray that you feel the connection that we are offering and that you have what you need in this strange time.
B'shalom Rabbi Bernstein
Congregation Beth Ohr 2550 South Centre Avenue Bellmore NY 11710 (516) 781-3072 officestaff@cbohr.org
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism