Is Using Technology Against Conservative Values?

During the current pandemic, congregations that have spent years looking for ways to bring people into their buildings now have to insist that they stay out. With doors shuttered, how do congregations fulfill their sacred purpose when conditions require a whole new approach that seemingly breaks with cultural tradition? “They leverage the opportunity to innovate,” according to Bob Leventhal, Director of Synagogue Leadership Development, USCJ. Below, he explains how synagogue leaders can cut through the fear and anxiety of the pandemic to come out ahead.

Q: Is using communications technology to facilitate congregational community, Jewish rituals, and prayer against conservative values?

A: The Talmud tells us that when the ancient temple was destroyed, the idea that God should be worshipped didn’t change. This turning point in Jewish history - when priests, musicians, artists, carpenters found themselves out of place and out of work mirrors what’s happening now. People were forced to reimagine what Judaism would look like and then went and created a new way.

Today, I am seeing very traditional congregations, who in the past would never have considered using communications technology, changing their course and doing it because the need to serve the community trumps their own comfort level. We understand that halakhic guidelines allow us to make these adaptations. Daily minyans are scheduled online so people can say Kaddish and be comforted. Great leaders are able to see how practices need to be retooled to serve the larger mission.

Q: How do leaders rise to the occasion during this anxiety and fear-ridden time to keep their congregations together?

A: It isn’t easy, but as Peter Drucker said, “leadership is a foul weather sport.” Leadership really is what’s called for when people are feeling fearful. This harks back to the story of Jonah, when God said to him, “will you tell us what fear looks like?” to which he responded, “ No, I’d rather jump into the ocean than have to go into the place of fear.” But, like the captain of a ship, leaders need to remain steady and focused on riding through turbulent waters and at the same time, keep the overall experience of connectedness unchanged. As a community-based religion, we believe that life is fully experienced together. We learn together, we find God better together. Under the current circumstances, we just can’t be together in the same way due to the need for social distancing. So, although we can’t gather in person, we can use communications technology to create these important communal experiences virtually where we can at least see one another and gain comfort from that.

When a community is committed to their core values and purpose, they can work to identify innovative strategies including those that leverage new communication technology to reframe our traditions and adapt to crises and changing times. In fact, their commitment to their mission, purpose, and values can actually overcome a fear of change; it can fuel their creativity and move them forward. Right now, in a time of extraordinary stress and isolation, people have a fundamental need to gather together and connect.

Q: How do traditional leaders reframe their thinking, switch their mindset, around performing rituals in a new way?

A: To reframe their own cultural thinking about how conservative Judaism should work, traditional leaders must accelerate their learning about technology and be open to considering new ways of delivering value to their communities. Instead of thinking “that’s not what the Conservative movement does,” think of how live streaming or other technology can help to keep our congregations and rituals intact, while still maintaining adherence to halakhic guidelines. The fact is, that across North America, many Conservative congregations have actually been live streaming for a long time.

I recently experienced a paradigm change. Because of the pandemic, we had to switch the Sulam for Presidents leadership intensive to be a virtual program. For years, I had only delivered it in person, with small groups of synagogue leaders, relying on face to face interaction, the bonding, networking, and exchange of ideas that come out of that. But, it turned out there was a silver lining in that more people attended and stayed for the entire virtual program whereas, in the live program, physical attendance is not always consistent throughout. In this case, the need to be together is driving greater potential to try new things. As a result, going forward, we may consider something of a hybrid.

Q: What’s the best way to break out of a cultural tradition that has been part of the synagogue’s culture for so many years?

A: While keeping things in the traditional framework over many years may be a synagogue leader’s preference and part of a congregation’s culture or minhag, we must remember that the Conservative movement has never said we can only do things one way. To prompt a new approach, create buzz around it. Encourage professional staff to talk about it, welcome lay leaders and ritual committee and others to a larger conversation. Enlist an Engagement Task Force - selecting a group of reflective thinkers to start developing new approaches and new traditions. I’ve found that these larger groups are collectively curious. Separate and apart from the Ritual Committee, which may be more comfortable with keeping traditions, the Engagement Task Force’s mission puts them in charge of brainstorming and developing new ideas, new rituals - they may find inspiration on the USCJ or RA website or other news outlets, they’re talking to their colleagues and other community members about how they might reframe Shabbat or another type of prayer ritual. When this conversational buzz starts to accelerate, that’s when a groundswell of support for the “new vision” happens. Ideas start to coalesce. Eventually, things will not look the same as they did before and that creates excitement and a step forward.

from USCJ https://uscj.org/blog/is-using-technology-against-conservative-values
via USCJ