8 | APRIL 22 • 2021 guest column Judaism After the Pandemic I n countless conversations, the same words arise to describe this past year: loss, loneliness, fear, as well as opportunity, gratitude and “silver linings.” Mourners grieved alone. Parents suf- fered exhaus- tion. Children regressed. Teens and adults bat- tled depression and anxiety. Divorces multi- plied. Yet also, among the Jewish community in particular, adult education flourished; the numbers of people par- ticipating in prayer services grew; and innovation took hold. Synagogues adapted. People reported renewed focus on their most important priorities, including family, community and compassion for those in need. As COVID-19 transforms from an acute crisis to a chronic condition, Jewish leaders are wrestling with which institutional changes brought about in the past year deserve to continue. What remains clear, however, is that Judaism holds the potential to address the greatest ills facing humanity and, in a post-pandemic world, partic- ipating actively in synagogue life offers the most direct path to a life of meaning, purpose and joy. THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY Following the shutdown of synagogue buildings, the tools that create digital gatherings revolutionized notions of community. Zoom and similar programs cre- ated opportunities in which Michigan synagogues might grant aliyot to members win- tering in Florida; for families in mourning around the world to join virtually with their loved ones in reciting Kaddish together; and for those with illness or disability to engage more fully in com- munal life. Synagogue members reported connecting more deeply with prayer services by seeing their clergy up close and by eliminating the dis- traction of other worshippers around them. In a post-pandemic world, synagogues and temples will continue to utilize online tools as a complement to in-person adult education opportunities, religious school and commit- tee meetings. However, for prayer in particular, syna- gogues and temples will need to decide the extent to which they utilize technology. After all, a fine line exists between technology serving as an aid to building community and enhancing faith, and on the other side, technology serving as a distraction or impediment to religious life. WE NEED TO BE TOGETHER Indeed, suffering through the pandemic for more than a year emphasized for us that technology cannot replace real-life human companion- ship; in-person community is as vital to sustaining life as food, water and shelter. Rabbi Aaron Starr A Shabbat service at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, available for those in person and on Zoom. PURELY COMMENTARY SCREENSHOT Wilkerson, the author of the bestselling book Caste, and then following it up the next day with a smaller workshop called “Bringing it Home: Exploring the Caste System in Our Communities.” It was absolutely eye opening. We are quick to attri- bute caste systems to other countries, but she helped us to recognize that the same kind of system exists here in the United States. As she explained: “Caste focuses on the infrastructure of our divisions and the rankings, whereas race is the metric that’s used to determine one’s place in that.” Caste, rather than racism, is a better defi- nition, and I was surprised to learn that the concept of race didn’t exist until 400 years ago, as an American inven- tion. For the rabbis in my breakout room, being able to engage in deep conversation with colleagues about caste and race was incredibly pow- erful, and all of us left inspired to bring the conversa- tion home. That same kind of inspiration pervaded the con- ference, though not always on such a serious level. Starting out with Havdalah on Saturday night and a totally enter- taining perfor- mance by comedian Liz Glazer, the fun continued the next night as our chief executive, Rabbi Hara Person, invit- ed us into her kitch- en to demonstrate her family seder recipes. Class reunions are always a blast, and this year we honored THE CCAR continued from page 4 Rabbi Harold Loss was celebrated for marking 50 years in the rabbinate.