The Rise of the Online Synagogue

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected Jewish religious practice. For two years, American synagogues and independent minyanim have struggled to cope with the ebb and flow of this public health crisis. The continuing CDC warnings for people to avoid "congregate settings" -- the very definition of a congregation -- have undeniably altered in-person attendance patterns in all sorts of synagogue offerings, especially worship services. On the other hand, a potential "silver lining" of the pandemic is the extraordinary number of people who have engaged in Jewish experiences online.