By Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg
EDISON, New Jersey — Should Orthodox congregations permit Zoom services? There is debate over whether this is permissible under Jewish law (Halakhah).
I am not a major Torah scholar and do not pretend to be one. The answer needs to come from the rabbinic sages of our time. However today these answers must address issues of life or death.
Praying indoors is dangerous even if you separate and wear a mask. As a result, many elderly have not been in a synagogue since March, while many other religious Jews have died because they attended a wedding or funeral or prayer services on Jewish holidays or the Sabbath.
I am aware this issue was brought up in Israel with regard to Passover and that some Sephardic Rabbis found a source permitting Zoom attendance but were forced to rescind it. Their reasoning was that people were alone for the holidays and that the loneliness pertained to their mental state, so it was a matter of putting health first. Recently I have heard of small children with Covid asking if they are going to die. If anything, perhaps a temporary allowance could be given until the crisis is over which might save many lives.
The Chazon Ish, Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (7 November 1878 – 24 October 1953) wrote that closing an electrical circuit to create an electrical current is Biblically prohibited as “building” and opening a closed circuit is prohibited as “destroying.” He became a teacher and guide for thousands while maintaining his extreme modesty. He wrote more than 40 books on religious topics, all of which are known for their lucid, uncomplicated style.
On the other hand, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (July 20, 1910 – February 20, 1995) was a renowned Orthodox rabbi, and head of the Torah yeshiva in Jerusalem. He disagreed vigorously with the Chazon Ish. Among other reasons, he claimed that building and destroying must be fundamentally permanent in nature, whereas most electrical devices are routinely turned on and off at will, and the person who turns it on usually intends that it will be turned off at some later point, and vice versa. Prohibiting the building on Sabbath of an item that is fundamentally temporary in nature is at most rabbinic in origin, not biblical, and Rav Auerbach said that opening and closing a circuit is like opening and closing a door, which is not prohibited at all. Many other Orthodox authorities take this position as well, as does the Conservative Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.
One contemporary authority states that even according to the Chazon Ish, the prohibition of “building” would not apply to changing the state of electric circuits in a computer which is already running.
If we are to err, it should be on the side of protecting life, known in Judaism as pikuach nefesh.
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Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth-El in Edison, New Jersey and is the author of Theological and Halachich Reflections on the Holocaust, among other books. He serves on the New Jersey State Holocaust Commission and chairs the Holocaust Commission of the New York Board of Rabbis.
As for this article itself, as usual Rabbi Bernhard is spot on. His unique history and life experiences grant him keen insights into the nature of suffering among our people and the vital need to mitigate as much of our collective suffering as we can. His piece here is balanced and scholarly. It shows the need for something far too many Jews are lacking (Covid or not): Community in the midst of hard times; and it gently calls upon the Jewish leaders of our generation to act to help mitigate this needless suffering by granting our people the kind of online community they need, as we do at BeitEmunah.org.
As he says, “I am not a major Torah scholar and do not pretend to be one” either, however I clearly see the issue he is discussing and is concerned about. So many of our people, even without the COVID lock downs, are unable to attend shul, either because of the prohibition on driving on Shabbat or age/health issues. Using the Zoom method I outline above, I find no halachic issues with streaming services (although a minion is not possible unless they meet together physically). I offer my comments here in full support of what this great leader of our people is expressing in his article.
How our services work halachichally
And how you can join us
By Rabbi Shlomo Nachman
Beit Emunah
We are A House of Active Faith
Source: https://beitemunah.org/stream.html
Jewish Law (Halacha) forbids 39 specific actions on Shabbat. See my https://learnemunah.com/holidays/shabbat2.html for more on these laws. In this modern internet age opinions vary about the 39 prohibitions and the applicable laws.
Among these prohibitions is the proper observance of number 36 and 37, Extinguishing a fire and Kindling a fire. Two others are also at question, 32 and 33, Writing two letters and Erasing two letters.
Among the questions these four prohibitions raise today is the use of the internet on Shabbat and the yamin tovim (holy days). Does turning on or off a computer amount to extinguishing or kindling a fire, an electric “spark”? Most current Orthodox opinion is that it either does or that it creates the appearance of a violation. Therefore such things should not be done according to most Traditionalist opinions.
There is also debate about online keyboard typing since the letters and words created with a computer keyboard do not constitute the creation of physical letters and words. Again, standard Orthodox opnion is that such should not be done, whether viewed as an actual violation or as a compromise on the protective “hedge” around Shabbat observances. To my knowledge there is no established halacha specifically addressing these two issues. There is only minhag (local or group opinions).
Based on these concerns Jews typically avoid using the internet on Holy Days.
While agreeing with this protective principle, we at LearnEmunah.com note that many people around the world have no access to a shul or other established Jewish community to properly observe these divine appointments. In non-Orthodox communities driving to services is generally permitted as they conclude that attending services is more important than not driving. Orthodoxy generally rejects this compromise and so many religious Jews have no way to get to even local shuls for services. Rabbi Shlomo Nachman is a Sephardic Jew. Sephardic minhag (tradition) is usually to go with the more lenient rulings for the good and encouragement of the community.
This is a serious problem for many people. Because of this minhag based prohibition many elderly Jews sit alone at home or in nursing homes on the holy days rather than joining their fellows at shul as they would prefer. Likewise many Jews for whom a proper shul is miles away likewise have no place to attend services nor to establish meaningful relationships with other Jews. We offer a solution. Our practice, in the absence of established halacha either way, permits people to gather in worship of HaShem with a community that provides mutual support via the internet.
Many years ago Rabbi Aryel Nachman Ben Chaim created the first, complete online Synagogue, the House of Seven Beggars. The name is based on an inspiring story of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Our Shabbat and holiday gatherings are based on the principles he elucidated.
How It Works:
In order to comply with established Shabbat halacha and Rabbinic opinion:
Our computers, routers, etc. are turned on well before the beginning of Shabbat and/or other holy days. They remain turned on until well after the conclusion of the day(s). This satisfies the prohibition concerning electricity.
Our LearnEmunah.com Shabbat and holy day services are only available in our Zoom Shul. We no longer broadcast on YouTube on Shabbat so as to avoid the appearance of a violation. Using Zoom one must leave social media and intentionally enter our cyber shul. This method acknowledges the sanctity of Shabbat while permitting active participation in our services.
To take part set up your free Zoom account before Shabbat and create a link via your bookmarks, toolbar etc. All our broadcasts use the same link:
https://zoom.us/j/6714203394
Open the link to our shul room before Shabbat begins. The message will say something like “Waiting for host,” When the Shul opens your broadcast should begin automatically. Make sure and turn off your auto-sleep option so you browser remains active. As long as you computer is on before Shabbat and left on until after havdala Saturday evening we see no halachic problem opening your browser with a mouse click and clicking our link.
This method is in complete halachic compliance as utilized with such well established items as Shabbat elevators, Shabbat “stoves” (blech), Shabbat lighting and heating, and so on.
We recommend participating fully as if you were physically present in a regular shul. These are not shows, they are services. Your cameras and mics may be on or off as you prefer. In our Zoom Shul you will be able to take part with live readings etc.if you wish. Speak to Rabbi Shlomo before Shabbat for more information.
WHOEVER you are, regardless of your Jewish movement, regardless of your Jewish status, if you are Noahide, or merely curios and respectful, YOU are welcome at the LearnEmunah.com Shul. We are merely a gathering of like minded people who love HaShem and one another. We hope you will join us.
If people wish to attend online Shabbat Services we at Beit Emunah welcome you. We are a Sephardic based Breslov community.
Visit our shul page: https://beitemunah.org for more information and the link to our Zoom Shul.