Video Streaming Shabbat on Twitcam – Reflections

August 1, 2009 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

I would say that our first Twitcam Shabbat was a lot of fun…  (By the way, thanks for all of the great comments here and on Twitter!)

We had no idea what to expect since it was our first time (and nobody else has done it before us!).  We were thrilled to have 23 active participants with us live – and we also know that many of you watched the archive.  That’s part of the joy of streaming Shabbat – you can watch it anytime – regardless of your schedule (or time zone!).

We did get one request to light candles… which I definitely think is a great idea.  We were hesitant to do that for our first week – it seemed like a minor fire hazard. But, we’ll see what we can do to make it work.

We would love your feedback on what else you would like to see during our Twitcam streaming Shabbat services.  We plan to combine some Shabbat readings, some rituals (wine, challah, or candles), and some discussion.  Would you like to see more service and less discussion?  Fewer readings and more discussion?  Do you have ideas for what you would like us to talk about?  How long do you want the total streaming Shabbat experience to last each Friday?

We have some ideas – and we’ll keep experimenting.  Please feel free to share your thoughts- we’re building this online synagogue together!

By the way, we will continue to have video-streamed Rosh Hashanah and video-streamed Yom Kippur services this year (we started those last year).  Those are streamed live during the services at Congregation Beth Adam – so they are a bit more formal.  We’re picturing the streaming Shabbats on Twitcam as a quicker and more casual experience.

We’ll be giving away prizes for the near future… although some would argue Shabbat is a gift in itself!

Congratulations to Nathan from California who won a Home Service Set for his participation in our streaming Shabbat service last night.  I asked Nathan to share a little more about how he found us.  Nathan wrote me that he found us on Twitter- after searching for rabbis, reading their bios, and deciding who to follow.  Nathan said: “I like what you have to say about our people. Judaism has recently become more important in my life than before, and I thought what a great way to reach out, the internet. I am on a computer all day anyway, and I thought the online service yesterday was the exact reason I reached out. I whole heartedly agree with what you are doing.”  Thanks Nathan!  We’re glad you’re here!

See you every Friday at 6PM EST on Twitcam.  Please spread the word – you are our best advocates!  Shabbat Shalom!

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Comments

3 Responses to “Video Streaming Shabbat on Twitcam – Reflections”

  1. tmana Says:
    August 1st, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    I was a bit confused — I’d expected more of a traditional Shabbos evening service (songs, Mincha/Ma’ariv, etc.)

    Perhaps what you’re aiming for is more of an Oneg Shabbat, where there is merriment and discussion/celebration of Shabbat, but in a more collegial and interactive fashion than the traditional prayers?

  2. Cynthia Tyler Says:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    For me, Shabbat means candles, wine, challah.
    If you are worried about safety, you could use
    one of the Shabbat travelling candle sets: they
    are small, the flame is low and contained. And
    after all, the service is travelling all over the
    internet! I am planning to watch in the future.
    I don’t make too many Friday services at my own
    synagogue – I’m a Saturday morning Torah study
    girl. and through ‘the season’, traffic can get
    bad: there’s an amphitheatre between me and shul, and there is always a concert on Fridays in the summer.
    Another point, I’m sure I’m not the only single
    Jew who’d like to observe on Friday night. But mostly it just reminds me that I’m….single, alone. So Twitcam is great!
    By the way – do you remember Brad Levenberg? He was in the class one year ahead of you at HUC-C.
    He is my Rabbi. I’m sure he’d send greetings!
    Shalom, cynthia

  3. s(b.) Says:
    August 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    “a traditional Shabbos evening service (songs, Mincha/Ma’ariv, etc.)” I think this would be great — not just for those in remote locations without communities, or those stuck at work, but also for the elderly and the disabled who can’t make it to a 3D synagogue, for whatever reason (interfaith families and families with infants and small children, too, and even just those who are curious what it’s all about and/or what a Friday night synagogue service is like). Will they be archived for those who wish to watch it again? (I realize participation wouldn’t be an option in a rebroadcast.)

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