54 Jason R osenberg

possibility is, of course, the most controversial, and will be addressed later.

May a Service be Broadcast Over the Internet?

Very often, when this issue is raised, people immediately begin discussing whether or not it is a valuable, worthwhile endeavor, and whether or not we can consider this true participation in a worship service. But, in fact, there is a prior question which must be asked: are we allowed, in a Reform Jewish context, to livestream our services? Although we may not be used to thinking in terms of allowed on these issues, the halakhah does raise some interesting and important questions.

Although the question of live streaming services is new, there are relevant precedents within halakhic literature. The permissibility of microphones during services, especially on Shabbat , has long been debated within Judaism . We also have long had the capability to make a video and audio recordings of our services, and many issues which arise with live streaming are relevant to those technologies. Rulings around those issues can definitely inform us as we explore this new technology.

The question of livestreaming should not be restricted to Shabbat services, the technology is useful for any service, though currently most of our worship happens on Shabbat , and that is certainly what most others are most likely to want to observe. Even though livestreaming may be anew technology, it relies heavily on older technologies including the microphone. Many authorities across the religious spectrum have ruled on the permissibility of using microphones in worship, on Shabbat as well as other