The Masorti rabbinate has ruled out the use of Zoom services for Shabbat and Yomtov but will permit the use of “passive streaming” of prayers under strict conditions.

The traditionalist movement had been discussing whether to follow Conservative synagogues in the USA in allowing streaming of services after the closure of buildings because of coronavirus.

But in newly published guidance to communities, their rabbis say that Zoom streaming for Shabbat or festivals – used extensively now by Progressive synagogues – involves “clear infractions of halachah and is not permitted”.

However, they have made an exception for ways to stream in “a minimally halachically invasive manner”, which alone could be used.

As Rabbi Jeremy Gordon of New London Synagogue explained, these “entail the installation of a ‘set and forget’ system using PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras driven by AI [artificial intelligence].

“The stream must be embedded in the synagogue’s website so as to broadcast from before Yomtov until after Yom Tov, functioning similarly to the synagogue’s existing security camera set-up.”

Technical guidance and support would have to be given to members in order to set up their computers before the festival, enabling these to run over Yomtov, “broadcasting such visuals and audio as appear in front of the cameras without the need for direct interaction with the computer at home.”

If rabbis of particular communities choose this option,  it would “only be with an anguished heart and out of a sense of profound need,” Masorti said.

Following the government’s go-ahead this week for religious service of up to 30 people to take place from July 4, the rabbis said it seemed possible that “some congregations may be able to have small gatherings for short services”.

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, “we will support our communities in conducting whatever in-person services are prudent and possible. These are likely to be short, and may be conducted in shifts, ensuring the core prayers and melodies of each special day are included.”

Every effort would be made to ensure that  everyone could hear the shofar for the second day of Rosh Hashanah (the first day falls on Shabbat, when the shofar is not blown).

More generally, the movement planned to provide study materials to members in print and online for the High Holy Days, as well as encouraging prayer leaders to pre-record key parts of the liturgy.