The Jerusalem Post recently published an article about a new phenomenon in the Jewish world: virtual mincha. Although many synagogues now webcast services for people who can't make it to schul in person, two new websites are creating Jewish communities that are 100% online.
PunkTorah.org was created by two young Jews in Atlanta who hosted their first online prayer service in June, while Cincinnati based OurJewishCommunity.org is led by Rabbi Laura Baum. Both websites aim to bring Jews together regardless of geographic location. "I can be your rabbi even if you're not in Cincinnati," says Rabbi Baum. "We are your rabbis and this is your community."
While online prayer groups meet the needs of those unable to get together in person, they also raise questions. As the JPost article notes, certain prayers require a minyan - a group of 10 Jewish adults - in order for the prayer to be recited. "But in an age of webcams and the Internet telephone service Skype," said Jewish Jumpstar founder Shawn Landres said, "spatial relations become altered and who's to say what 'together' means?"
What do you think: is the online age redefining what it means to pray together? Does an online minyan count?
Gtg, time 4 mincha, TTYL! [JPost]
Image credit: Getty Images/Vala Kondo
I think evangelical Protestant Christians, quickly followed by Roman Catholics, were the first to use television to broadcast services.
The Catholics made it clear that watching Mass on the idiot box did not have the same effect as attending in a church.
That seems to be an issue Jews are grappling with, for example, can one have a worldwide minyan.
It makes for interesting theological discussions, but as a Catholic, while I don’t like televised Masses, barring the crowning or the funeral of a Pope, there are many disabled and old people who could not get to services otherwise.