What the Coronavirus Has Shown—and Concealed—about the Long-Term Health of America’s Many Synagogues

My thanks to Andrew T. Walker, Eli Steinberg, and Josh Beraha for joining the conversation about synagogue life during and after the pandemic. Each in his own way has broadened and enriched the discussion.

Andrew Walker offers a valuable comparative framework by reflecting on the experiences of Christian congregations, particularly evangelical churches. Well before COVID-19, some churches have offered what he names “digital spirituality.” By this he means “the ability for religious adherents . . . to mediate their spiritual lives through online communities, on their own terms,” as opposed to the in-person experience of “brick-and-mortar spirituality.”

I reported about parallel developments when synagogues pivoted to online services. Rabbis have marveled at their success in attracting hundreds, if not thousands, to view prayer services projected from their synagogues. Many proudly cite evidence of viewer satisfaction with the production values of the services and feedback they received from congregants about their pleasure at seeing services up close thanks to cameras sharply focused on the officiants. Rabbis also tout the high numbers of virtual attendees who presumably are attracted by the fine singing of cantors and choirs and thought-provoking sermons. Where congregants could see each other on the screen, they enjoyed reconnecting to one another and typing out chats during the services.