68 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024 

hearing the shofar blasts on Rosh 
Hashanah is allowed over a video 
streaming service or an interactive 
application like Zoom. 
For Rabbi Daniel Nevins, the for-
mer rabbi at Adat Shalom Synagogue 
in Farmington Hills and author of 
the new book, Torah and Technology: 
Circuits, Cells, and the Sacred Path, 
the focus is more on the 
halakhic (Jewish legal) 
considerations. 
“We are taught to 
differentiate Shabbat 
and holidays from reg-
ular days by avoiding 
‘labor’ such as writing 
and recording, and by 
‘resting’ from ordinary behaviors. 
Given that most people today carry 
smartphones and other devices,
” 
Nevins explained, “looking at various 
screens throughout the day, dedicat-
ing Shabbat and the holidays as days 
that are screen-free is enormously 
important. 
“This allows us to reclaim social 
engagement with other people in real 
time and space, and to declare our-
selves free of digital devices for a few 
hours each week. During the height 
of the pandemic, there were health 
arguments that overrode our normal 
practice, but those concerns remained 
in place. 
“There are always special circum-
stances that override these concerns, 
especially for people with fragile 
health and disabilities. For them, the 
need to participate safely with the 
community may override the con-
cerns listed above.
”

THE FINANCIAL IMPACT 
ON SYNAGOGUES
Some rabbis and community lead-
ers fear that the ease of streaming 
services might lead to a longer-term 
decline in synagogue membership 
and attendance. Many synagogues 
rely on High Holiday ticket sales and 
membership dues as a major source 
of income. The increasing popularity 
of free live streams could create finan-
cial strain for synagogues, potentially 

leading to closures or mergers. In the 
U.S. and Canada, there are already 
reports of synagogues consolidating 
as membership dwindles. The tradi-
tional model of sustaining synagogues 
through membership fees and High 
Holiday ticket sales may need to be 
reimagined in light of these techno-
logical changes.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
Looking toward the future, it’s clear 
that the streaming option is here to 
stay for many non-Orthodox con-
gregations, but the future of syna-
gogue attendance is uncertain. Some 
congregations may need to innovate 
further to create hybrid models that 
blend the convenience of virtual 
services with the community-driven 
aspects of in-person gatherings. 
 It is also imperative that syna-
gogues create more inclusive mem-
bership models that acknowledge the 
financial realities of modern Jewish 
life while sustaining synagogues as 
vibrant community hubs.
One possible outcome could be 
a restructuring of how synagogues 
operate, with more emphasis on 
smaller, localized gatherings and a 
broader virtual presence. Others fear 
that if this trend continues, more syn-
agogues may face closure or merger, 
particularly in regions where Jewish 
populations are already declining.
As we enter this new era of digital 
Judaism, the challenge will be finding 
the balance between accessibility and 
community. For many Jewish people, 
the High Holidays will continue to be 
a sacred time of reflection, repentance 
and renewal — whether they are sit-
ting in a sanctuary or watching from 
home on a screen. 
Since technology is not going 
away, we must answer the question: 
How can we ensure that the sense of 
belonging and feeling connected to 
the community remains intact? 

Rabbi Jason Miller writes the monthly Jews in 

the Digital Age column for the Detroit Jewish 

News. He is president of Access Technology 

in West Bloomfield, a managed service 

provider.

continued from page 66

Rabbi 
Daniel 
Nevins

ROSH HASHANAH
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