Rabbi Howard Morrison

During the end of the pandemic and beyond, we started holding all Shabbat services in the sanctuary even though in years past, Friday night and Shabbat afternoon services were held in the smaller and cozier Lerman chapel. If you recall, livestream in the chapel came much later than livestream in the sanctuary. Also, for strictly Sabbath observant Jews, we did not want to create a situation where one had to switch livestreams between chapel and sanctuary during Shabbat. In addition, towards the end of the pandemic, we had more members participating on livestream than those who were coming physically to shul.

Now, we are seeing more and more members coming to shul. Very small numbers are using the livestream on Friday night or Shabbat afternoon. The majority of livestream users are utilizing livestream on Shabbat morning. With the goal of recreating as much of the past as possible; starting this Shabbat, Friday night and Shabbat afternoon services will return to the Lerman Chapel.

For strictly Sabbath observant Jews, if you are joining via livestream only on Shabbat morning or Friday evening/Shabbat afternoon, you can pre-set the livestream of your choice, sanctuary or chapel, prior to Shabbat. If you are using livestream for all Shabbat services, many people today have more than one laptop at home. Each can be pre-set before Shabbat to a different prayer room in Beth Emeth.

We will continue to be inclusive and offer livestream at all of our services, even as we reestablish some of our pre-pandemic norms.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison