Reform Congregations and Remote Engagement

Introduction

Life has changed for congregations after COVID. Distant family members can now participate in important life cycle events—baby namings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and yahrzeit observances—from across the world. Some watch Shabbat services like dinner theatre, gathering as a family to eat while the service plays in the background. Members who once loved their synagogue but have moved away find it easier to remain engaged.

Some Jewish and Christian congregations have found total attendance—both virtual and physical—higher than before the pandemic, with some also experiencing increased giving. Others, however, worry that remote worship dilutes community bonds or reduces in-person engagement.

As faith communities grapple with evolving needs, remote engagement presents a pivotal opportunity to expand participation, deepen connection, and reimagine spiritual life beyond physical spaces. This essay explores how Reform congregations can thoughtfully integrate virtual experiences to ensure a more inclusive, dynamic future.

Potential Approaches

1. Hybrid Services and Community: Creating Interactive Worship

Many synagogues have already adopted live-streamed Shabbat and holiday services, but true remote engagement requires more than passive viewing.

Beyond Livestreaming

• Remote members could submit names for the Mi Shebeirach (healing prayer) or participate in digital aliyot to the Torah.
• Zoom oneg Shabbats could allow remote attendees to chat and connect after services.
• Shabbat dinner matching programs could pair local families with remote members for a shared experience via video call.

Digital Study & Social Spaces

• Online havurot (small fellowship groups) could meet regularly, helping distant members form deep Jewish connections.
• Virtual Torah study sessions or text-based learning via WhatsApp or Discord could allow members to engage at their own pace.

2. Multi-Site or Seasonal Synagogue Model

Some Christian megachurches successfully operate multi-site locations or campuses. Could this model work in a Jewish context?

Seasonal Synagogues

• Jewish retirees who split time between two locations (e.g., Florida in the winter, New York in the summer) could stay connected year-round.
• “Snowbird” congregations could offer holiday services in multiple locations, ensuring continuity in spiritual practice.

Multi-Site Synagogues

• Synagogues could establish small satellite locations, where distant members gather in person while participating virtually in larger synagogue events.
• This could help unify transient Jewish populations, such as college students or frequent travelers.

3. Clergy Support for Remote Members

Assigning clergy to remote members is a great idea, but how can synagogues with limited staff sustain it?

Potential Solutions:

• Utilizing retired or junior clergy to provide virtual pastoral care.
• Training volunteer digital chaplains from within the congregation.
• Creating an online pastoral care network where members check in on one another.
• Subscription-based models, where distant members contribute financially to help fund virtual clergy support and digital programming.

4. Campus Model: Merging Physical and Digital Spaces

If synagogues treat multiple properties as a single campus, how can digital engagement strengthen these connections?

Expanding the “Synagogue Campus” Concept

• Could there be VR synagogue spaces or 3D interactive environments (e.g., a virtual Kotel for prayer)?
• Remote members could attend digital havdalah services or participate in Shabbat candle-lighting circles via livestream.
• Synagogues could create hybrid communal gatherings, blending in-person and online participants into one interactive space.

Addressing Community Concerns

Some worry that virtual engagement erodes traditional Jewish experiences. Others embrace digital spaces as a way to make Judaism more accessible. How do we balance these perspectives?

 Fears of Losing In-Person Community

Some members worry that prioritizing online experiences reduces the intimacy of Jewish life—the touch of the Torah scroll, the shared meals, the spontaneous conversations in the lobby.

Possible solution: Establish “hybrid-first” policies—where digital participation enhances, rather than replaces, in-person engagement. For example:

• Encouraging remote attendees to attend in-person gatherings periodically (e.g., annual synagogue retreats or in-person Shabbatons).
• Designing services that integrate both digital and physical elements—ensuring those online still feel included.

 Generational Perspectives: Bridging the Digital Divide

Older members may see remote worship as isolating, while younger Jews may find it empowering. How can we bridge this generational gap?

Possible solution:

• A mentorship model, where older congregants help preserve traditions, while younger members introduce new technologies for engagement.
• Hybrid programming that includes phone-based options for older members less comfortable with video platforms.

Expanding the Conclusion: A Vision for the Future

The congregation of tomorrow must be one that transcends geography while staying deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. Reform Judaism, in particular, has long been adaptive, embracing change while honoring core values. Remote engagement is not a replacement for in-person synagogue life—it is an expansion of what Jewish community can be.

 Jewish Globalization & the Digital Diaspora

The internet erases borders. Could digital spaces reunite Jewish communities globally in ways that physical synagogues cannot? Imagine:

• Israeli Jews joining American study sessions and vice versa.
• Remote learners engaging in global Torah study groups, sharing perspectives across cultures.
• Virtual Shabbat services bringing together Jews from different countries and backgrounds, fostering a new kind of Jewish unity.

 Jewish Ethics & the Future of Virtual Community

As Judaism has adapted to radio, TV, and modern technology, we must ask: What is the ethical framework for digital Judaism?

• Could synagogues develop halakhic (Jewish legal) frameworks for remote participation?
• How does Jewish tradition guide us in forming meaningful virtual relationships?
• Can we create new rituals and blessings for digital sacred spaces?

Conclusion: A Synagogue Without Borders

The Reform congregation of the future must be inclusive, innovative, and adaptable. Remote engagement allows us to:

• Expand access for distant and homebound members.
• Strengthen intergenerational bonds through hybrid participation.
• Cultivate a global Jewish network that transcends physical walls.

By embracing both digital and in-person experiences, we ensure that Judaism remains vibrant, relevant, and accessible for generations to come. In doing so, we honor the past, embrace the present, and build a future of true inclusivity and belonging.