Watching a service streamed online is an option for those who don’t belong to a congregation or who are unable to attend services in person. While no local congregations are streaming services, there are several Reform and Conservative congregations across the country that provide that service.
Jewish Community Chaplain Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick believes the availability of streaming services has helped many people in our community.
“Sheldon Wishna, may his memory be a blessing, was a strong proponent of this because he had his own situation of being stuck inside for several months … and started getting connected on his tablet through one of the synagogues in New York City,” Rabbi Rudnick explained.
Through Wishna’s efforts, Rabbi Rudnick believes residents of some senior communities, including the Atriums and Town Village, have been connected to the holidays through online services.
One Conservative congregation that streams services is Temple Beth El in Springfield, Massachusetts, led by Rabbi Amy Walkk Katz, Ph.D. Rabbi Katz was an assistant rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom and taught Melton classes here for several years.
Here are three streaming services you can sample:
Conservative — Temple Beth El, tbespringfield.org (click on the round button “Chapel Services Live” in the upper left corner.) Shabbat morning services are at 8:30 a.m. Central. Evening holiday services are at 5 p.m. Sept. 29 and Oct. 8. Morning holiday services are at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 9.
Conservative — B’Nai Jeshrun, bj.org/spiritual-life/live/ (click on Spiritual Life and then BJ Livestream). Kabbalat Shabbat is streamed at 5:30 p.m. Central every Friday; Shabbat Morning services are streamed at 8:30 a.m. every Saturday. Morning holiday services start at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 9.
Reform — Central Synagogue, centralsynagogue.org/worship/live_streaming. Erev Shabbat, 5 p.m. Central; 8:30 a.m. Shabbat. Holiday times not yet available. Contact the synagogue at 212-838-5122.